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Trevi Fountain, Rome
by Jesse Andrews
Siteseeing in Rome
Check out these guided tours for the Eternal city: Walking
tours, coach tours, Tiber cruises, audio tours. Covering
Rome Monuments, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, The Vatican,
Ostia Antica and much much more
Statue of Vitorio Emanuele, Rome
Corinthian columns, Rome
by Jesse Andrews
Colosseum, Rome |
Welcome to Rome
From Jesse's Journeys in Italy
Population: 2,546,807
(2004) (4 million in entire
metro area)
Lat/Long: 41°54′ N 12°29′ E
Official website:
Rome
Wikipedia:
Rome
Maps:
MapQuest
Webcams:
Rome1
Rome2
The editors at ItalianVisits.com
are more than a little flummoxed
when it comes to dealing with
Rome, one of the planet's
grandest, largest and most
interesting cities - the Eternal
City as it has been called for
hundreds of years.
Our real mandate is to show you
the "undiscovered" parts of
Italy, those places that most
tourists never see, but,
naturally, we want to be of
helpful to all the people who
visit our website.
As you can see, we've provided
links to a few very good
websites that have a ton of
information about the city.
So, use the I.V. page as a
starting place where you can
quickly get connected to deep
sources of information and
knowledge about the city.
One thing we can
do, however, is put you in the
mood for thinking about your
trip to Rome. Here are a
few basic questions:
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What time of year are you
thinking about visiting Rome?
It's
very hot and very crowded in
July and August, so we recommend
you visit in late spring or
early autumn. |
How long are you spending in
Rome - a day, a week, a month?
Rome is a large, beautiful,
glorious city with a history of
well over 3000 years. The
shorter the stay, the more
planning you should do so you
can make your visit both
pleasurable and memorable. |
What's your budget?
Rome
can break the bank if you are
not careful, so do a budget and
try hard to stick to it. The
cost of accommodation varies,
but even at the "low end" it is
quite expensive in the high
season, and not that much less
expensive in the off-season.
There are many attractions in
Rome that are free, but you will
have to pay a fee to enter many
of the museums and galleries.
When it comes to eating, it's a
sliding scale from reasonable to
very costly, depending on the
restaurant. |
Who are you traveling with?
Are you coming with a tour
group, a lover, a close friend,
or on your own. Tour
groups typically cover a
well-trod path around the
so-called "high-points".
In a tour group you will see the
Rome that everyone sees.
If you are coming on your own,
or with a friend or lover, you
can experience Rome quite
differently. You can get
under its skin, penetrate its
heart, have a unique, individual
experience. |
Where are you staying?
There are great
hotels, good hotels,
not so good, and
downright deplorable
hotels. There
are great and good
hotels in the
noisiest parts of
the city, and some
in quieter areas.
There are hostels,
homes to rent and
bed & breakfast
establishments.
Here again,
pre-planning is the
key to selecting
your accommodation. |
Are you properly
equipped?
At a minimum you will need a
good city map. We
recommend you also get a good
guidebook which you can consult
as you move around the city.
Cars are not allowed in the
inner city, so you will be doing
Rome on foot and public transit,
with perhaps a taxi thrown in on
occasion. So, make sure
you have comfortable shoes and
clothes. It can get very
hot especially in the summer
months, so don't overdress.
If you plan on eating at good
restaurants, bring appropriate
attire. |
So, that's it. Rome is a
challenge, and it will take a
little research -
enjoyable in itself - to get the
most out of your visit.
The trick is to arrive in Rome
with a modest degree of
knowledge - and a great
attitude. Do that, and you
will have one of the most
enjoyable and memorable
experiences of your life.
It's virtually guaranteed!
by Vian Andrews, September 22nd,
2005 |
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