Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rome. Show all posts

Essentials: things to know before you go to Italy

Essentials:
1) Cash: Most important one. We travelled italy while residing in UK and had British bank debit cards. Last year we had been to swizzterland and had used the HSBC UK
debit card to withdraw money. Since there were no issues we were relectant to carry any cash. The ATM or the Bankomat machine allowed us to sucessfully withdraw 100 Euros at the Ciampino airport. In evening we tried using the ATM at Rome termine and our transactions were declined for all the cards. Even after calling up HSBC and Natwest call centers but the cards were rejected. Ultimately we exchanged few GBP at high rate to pay the Hotel bill for tonight. In the hostel we learnt that there were other tourist who had similar experince. However the good newz was that the British chip and pin cards were declined. Since we had US banks debit card with us, we had to withdraw our emergency funds from that bank. Moral of the story is that one should carry enough traveller cheques while travelling to Italy.
2) Summer clothes, petties, shorts, cotton T-shirts
3) Water bottles: There are lots of drinking fountains around rome. You can fill up your waterbottles using them. The shopkeepers near tourist attractions will try to sell you mineral water for 2 Euros and cold drinks for 4 Euros each. Which is too costly. At the waterfountain, splash bit of water on your hands, face and hair to keep you cool. This prevents you from dehydration and keeps you cool. Remember do not wipe out that splashed water.
4) Snack bars: There is lot of walking involved in these 2 to 3 days so stuff your sack with some snack bars.
5) Sun screen, Sun glasses, Caps, scarfs, fans, umbrella are helpful.
6) Locks and Keys: Italy is famous for pick pokecters and thiefs who snatch valuables from you. So its handy to lock your bags with small travel locks or use safety pins in case you have hand bag.

Rome Tourist Pass for 3 Days

Rome pass: It covers all the Rome attractions and also the local travel for metro and bus network in Rome , Italy. It is valid for 3 consecutive days after its first activated and is very helpful while visiting attractions in Rome , Italy.
Once you reach the Rome terminie you have to head to Platform number 24 to the Rome tourist Information Center. There are many private bus company stalls which might mislead you. You can also get Rome pass at various other tourist information centers located in the city.

The Rome pass has two options: 20 Euro and 25 Euros.
The first option gives you first two Rome attractions free and concessions or discounts on the next onces which you visit. It also includes local travel using metro and local buses. Its advisable to take road map of Rome either from the hotel reception which is sponsered by walking tours. The road map provided by Rome pass is not detailed enough. Trade secret of Rome pass is that we used it to see all attractions and were not charged single penny.

The second option covers first three Rome attractions free and has concession or discounts on others. The local travel is included.

Rome Pass does not cover Vactican Museum though.

With Rome Tourist Pass in your pocket you are now all set to explore the Rome attractions.

Attractions of Rome Italy, Rome in 2/3 Days

If you have plenty of time then rome can be covered in 3 days else two days is enough to see the important stuff.
1) Coloseum,Roman Forma and Palentine Hill,Arch of constantine, ,Pizza Venezia


2) Vactican Church, Vactican Museum,Campidogli, Roman Baths of Carcara.

3) Free stuff - Pantheon,Campo-de-Fiori and Area of Sacara ,Piazza Novona,Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio,Piazza Colona,Fontana Tevori,Piazza di spagna or Spainsh steps.


Before you read the blog contents, I will advise you to please check the Rome pass section as its big money saver tip.
Day1: Since our return flight was from rome we had decided to see the stuff

which is available for free on the first day. If you have only 2 days then you can skip this section.
From Rome termine we took bus number 40 and headed to the Pantheon.
End of Day1: Next day we caught train to Florence. We visited Florence and Venice and then come back to Rome for last two days. We used our Rome pass on the last two days.

Day 2: Early morning, we flew from Treviso (a cheap flight airport near Venice) to Rome Campiano Airport. Took Bus->Anangina->Metro->Rome Termine->Dumped bags in Hostel->Rome Termini ->Metro-Coloseum.

End of Day2: Took metro straight to Rome termine and headed to our hostel.

Day 3: The thrid day as usual started early morning at 6 o clk. We took metro from Rome termine to metro Ottaviano.
End of Day 3: All ready to pack bags. Get up early next day to catch flight next day to East midlands airport.

Getting to Rome Terminie from Ciampino Airport

Getting to Rome Terminie: We arrived in Rome in morning 10:30 at Ciampino airport. From the airport we had to take Cortal bus (1.2 Euro) which took us to Anangina Metro station. Then took metro A to Rome termini. There are other private bus operaters who quote themselves as 'Offical tour operaters' and have direct connection to Rome City. However they will charge you upto 15 Euros per trip. Also check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_Ciampino_Airport

Campidogli Museum

Campidogli Museum

The person at the Roman baths ticket window guide you to Bus stop for Piazza Venezia. Reaching the Piazza Venezia you have to climb the steps of the Campidogli Museum which is quiet unnverving if you are tierd. Couple of Snaps on the steps of the Museum is a good idea. The Museum was built on the top of Capitoline Hill and was designed by Michaelangelo. Various artifacts and statues were removed from the Roman Forma and Palantine hill and placed in the Museum. You have to go collect the entrance tickets by validating your Roman pass. The entrance is marked by huge statues of Agustus. The famous She wolf status who suckled Rome's legendary twin founders is placed in the Museum and is must see. However recently there are some controversies going on about the age of statue. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_on_re_eu/italy_how_old_the_she_wolf).

From Campidogli/ Piazza Venezia we took bus to Coloseum metro station->metro to Rome termine->Hostel. That was end of day three.

Click here to go to Rome Main page

Roman Baths of Carcara

Roman Baths of Carcara

Being in Nottingham UK for more then year we always wished to visit the Bath. However we were not able to go there. So visiting Roman baths was inevitalbe in Rome. From Piazza Cavour we headed to see Roman bath. The bus from the Piazza Cavour takes you to San Giovanni in Laterano. One needs to change bus to Carcara. Three bus stops and you arrive at Carcara. You have to walk around to reach entrance. At the entrance you show the magical Roman pass and you are granted free entrance. The Baths are magnificent however there is hardly anything left over there other then the walls. The artifacts discovered during the escavations are now restored and stored in the Vactican Musuem and other museums around the world. Again not to mention, still is the Architectural proficiency of the building backed in 1 century. It is more or less similar to todays Hi-tech gymnasium or swiming pools. If you are planning for 2 day trip then one can skip the Baths.

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Piazza Cavour

Piazza Cavour

At the exit of the Vactican Museum you will get bus number 49 to Piazza Cavour. It is surrounded by buildings, including the massive Palace of Justice, the theatre-auditorium Adriano, and the Valdese church. The square is decorated with flowers and palm trees. We had our lunch at here in road side Pizza bar and Gelati to follow it.

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Vactican Musuem, Sistine Chapel

Vactican Musuem, Sistine Chapel

By the time you have finished the Vactican Church it will be already 10 o clk. Without wasting to much of your time, head straight to the Vactican church Museum. One has to walk towards the Ottaviano Metro and take left turn for the Museum. You have to buy separate tickets for the musuem entry. You can skip the line if you are in big group as the Museum has separate entry for those in a group. I would suggest to buy an audio guide at after climbing the cicular steps or the escalator. Be ready with your Id to be kept as deposit. The Museums path is one way and directions are pointed on map. If you are bound by time then I would suggest you skip the initial Egyptian, rooms and head straight to the Raphels room. The 10 highlights of the museum are listed at the following site http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Select/10select.html. I would personally recommend you the Raphels rooms and the Systine chapel. No photography is permited in the Systin Chapel.

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St Peters Basillica/ Vactican Church

St Peters Basillica/ Vactican Church

From the metro station Vactican church is 5 minuntes walk. Try to make it as early as possible to the Vactican church. You will save almost 1 to 2 hrs of wait time just by reaching early. The streched open arms of the vactican church gives you a warm welcomes. The photo session of the vactican church can be covered in the later part of the day. The church opens at 7 o clock and closes at 12:30 in noon. This is the biggest cathedral in world and unique piece of achitecture and connoisseur. There are several chapels in the church where preist from various parts of the world are performing rituals. You can easily spend 2 hours enjoying each chapel and the sculptures and paintings used to decorate it. Each piece of art narates story from bible or the renisance period. One of the Michelangelo's famous piece of art - Pietà resides in the St Peters Basallica. The marble statue was made for the cardinal's funeral monument. The audio guide counter starts at 9 o clk therefore we had to skip it. You can hire local guide if you want to. Each and every dome is decorated with Mosaic paintings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic. For beginer, the domes looks like one painted with colors. Once you have covered all the chapels inside the church you can come out and turn to your left to head to the Top of the Dome. There is ticket of 7 Euros for Elevator service or Ticket of 5 Euros to climb the Dome using the steps. The Evelvator takes you half way through. Once you get out of the Elevator you can enter the Dome and get close view of the Mosaic art painted on the inner wall of the Dome. Its worth spending those 7 Euros. One has to climb another 250 circular and small steps which swirl around the Dome to reach the top . There are cafeteria, restroom and dirnking water facilities before you start climbing the steps. If its not a clear day then I would recomend, its not worth climbing those steps for elderly person. You can head straight to the exit and take an elevator to the ground floor. If its clear day then you get scenic view of the Roman city. This is place for KodaK Moment :). Once you have done with it take an elevator to the ground floor. You can get change to see the Pope on Wednesday in front of the church. I think you have to register your name to get place in the auditorium in front of the church. You need to do more research about the same.

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Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia is huge open place. It has a huge marble monument Victor Emmanuel Monument and is often called as typewitter by Romans due to its shape. We dont know if they allow you to go and see it from inside. Just took pics from outside.

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Roman Forma and Palentine hill

Roman Forma and the palentine hill

Get ready for two to three hours tour to the Roman forma and the Palentine hill. There are multiple entrances to the Roman forma and the palentine hill. You need to swipe the magical Rome pass to grant you entry to the Forum. I would sugget you enter the Roman forma first. Walk straight towards the Piazza Venezia from the Coloseum Metro station.


The Roman forma cover the ancient Rome city and the plaentine hill covers the Roman palace. Once you enter the Forma turn to your right to see the Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vespasian and Titus, Temple of Castor and Pollux, bla bla bla bla. Please refer to some good travel site or wikipedia for further details.


There are two arches on the extreme end of the Roman forma to mark the two entrances of the Roman city.Once you have covered the right area head to the left. In middle you can see the huge palace entrance marked by the white marble steps. Next to the steps are the old market place with numerous shops. Once you climb these steps, once can see a beautiful fountain. This fountain runs though out the Roman palace and was used as air-conditioning technique in the ancient days. This is again perfect piece of classic architecture. The Casa di Augusta - Home of the Emperor August is worth watching. For some security reason only six people at time are allowed to go and watch site. There are varoius other rooms including dinning room with courtyard in front of it, the stadium etc on the palantine hill.










Arch of Constantine


Arch of Constantine

At the exit of the coloseum if you turn to your left you can see the arch of Constantine. The most recent of the three remaining imperial arches in Rome.

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Coloseum

Coloseum

The huge and magnificient building of the coloseum is visible immediately you get out of the Coloseum Metro station. And with the super power of the Rome pass, you can sur-pass a big Q and directly enter the coloseum. All you need to do is to swipe your Rome pass. There will be crowd of American students who will lure you to take giuded tours to Coloseum & Roman Forma. Or you might even think of buying audio guide just before swiping your Rome pass. But I will suggest you to buy a video guide. The video guide counter can be seen once you enter the coloseum after swiping the Rome Pass. The video guide comes for 5 Euro. You have to keep your Identity card at the counter. The video guide gives you historic view of the coloseum. And explains you who, why and how the coloseum was constructed ? If you compare the coloseums architecture with todays mordern statdiums there is hardly any differnce between them. This itself proves that the people in Roman times were true genius. After completing the Coloseum if you feel thirsty and are out of water then there is fountain next to the Coloseum metro exit.

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Piazza Di Spagna or Spanish steps


Piazza Di Spagna or Spanish steps

Piazza Di Spagna is on top of hill is along the famous Spanish steps. The perfect place to wind up your day. Fontana della Barcaccia is at the foot of the Spanish steps. Its design of a small boat. We took metro and headed back to our hostel near Rome termini. The hostel had hosted today nights dinner and drinks. Hot pasta and wine was perfect dinner to end the day in Rome.
One can find many Bed and Breakfast facilities and hotels around this area.

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Fontana Tevori

Fontana Tevori

From Pizza Colona we headed to Fontana Tervi. It is the same fountain in Chalte Chalte Movie where Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherji sit and chat. Its a huge fountain and you will se a lot of people hanging around it. Trying to grab a seat right in middle of the fountains edge to take a memorable snap. We also tried a few times to take the snap of the fountain. You can make wish by tossing a coin in the fountain with your back at it. Ohhh ya one more tip. I had carried Indian one Rupee coin instead of tossing one pound in it. I know I am such a miser. Well all the folk tale says its coin and it need not be European one. It was almost end of the day and we grabed couple of Pizza and Gelato from shop (couple of streets away from fountain so that its cheap) and enjoyed the fountain for some time. Came back to the main road and took train to barberini. Enjoyed one more fountain and headed to metro Spagna

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Piazza Colona


Piazza Colona

One more Piazza :) and column in front of it. The column has carvings on it which depict an age old story. (Note: There is bus number 163 or 169 which takes you around this area.)

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Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio

Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio

In search of some important site, we happened to visit the church. Its not marked as must see at any tourist site but still its full of surpise for any visitor. There is statue made of marble on the right hand side of the chapel which is amazing. One cannot make diffrence between marble used in the statue and the curtain depicted in it.

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Piazza Novona

Piazza Novona

From Campo-de-Fiori we headed to Piazza Novona.
Its huge open place with two identical fountains on the extreme end. You will get to see a lot of artists and painters either performing their art live or selling the paintings. The area is flooded with different countries embassys.
There is a small sized bus which can take you from Campo-de-Fiori market place to Piazza Novona.

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Campo-de-Fiori and Area of Sacara


Campo-de-Fiori

A market square where there are lots vendors selling grocery and day to day stuff. We even sighted couple of Auto-rickshaws. It reminds you of the market in Mapusa-Goa.

Area of Sacara

One area near the Pantheon.
It has Four un-named temples.
There are lots of wild cats roaming in that area.

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Pantheon

Pantheon

To reach Pantheon from Rome termine we took bus number 40. It was huge dome shaped monument. Entry is free. Its must if you are planing to see the free stuff in Rome.

The pantheon was the first Rome attraction which we saw and therefore will remain as memorable. You can walk around the pantheon to get the feel of its gigantic diameter. You can enter the monument and sit inside and enjoy the dome. There is small chapel inside the monument.
The dome has hexagonal depressions. The combination of the light coming in the Pantheon from the center dome and the hexagonal designs gives the pantheons dome an intresting character.

Since our return flight was from rome we had decided to see the stuff which is available for free on the first day. If you have only 2 days then you can skip this section. There are many other intresting locations located around pantheon at walkable distance.

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