Romantic Rome Vacations

English: Panorama of the Trevi fountain at night. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The "Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi" (Fountain of the four rivers) by Gianlorenzo Bernini in piazza Navona in Rome, Italy, topped by the "obelisk of Domitian". Picture by Radomil 28.09.2004. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: A 4x4 segment panorama of the Coliseum at dusk. Taken by myself with a Canon 5D and 50mm f/1.8 lens at f/5.6 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spagna, Spanish Steps, Spanische Treppe in Rom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rome (Photo credit: tejvanphotos)

By []Asma Rofik

Rome - the undying town! splendid, celebrated, significant, idealistic! Discuss a Rome vacation and romance strikes you immediately. To be on an Italian holiday and not to take a vacation in Rome is actually, seeing Italy without its heart. It is not easy to describe Rome in words - it is simply overwhelming has architectural wonders are obvious in the haughty Vatican, the huge Coliseum, the enduring Roman Forum, majestic shrines, Renaissance palaces and decorative and elaborate churches, and its ancient bell towers. Not astonishingly, our Rome vacation packages make certain that you get to walk around all the magnificent delights this mysterious and treasured city provides - the Piazza Navona, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Consequently, for a Rome holiday, there are a large number of packages, each tailored for utmost satisfaction and pleasure.
 
 Perfect Packages
 One package that is Rome Special package lets you exist every second of la dolce vita in the undying City. Take pleasure in Christmas and the New Year Italian-style with the Rome Christmas Special or Rome New Year's Special vacation tours. If you are hunting for economical vacation, there are just the kinds of Rome holiday packages you desire for. Go for the Rome break in your journey, Rome Escape, Express Rome, or Rome Getaway -- actually great vacations and hard to resist prices!
 
  Rome combo vacations
 One can even unite a Rome vacation with other great Italian cities such as Milan, Venice and Florence. There is a selection of Italian vacation packages where you can mingle two or three great Roman towns together. You can go for Rome & Florence or Rome & Venice or Florence & Venice tour. You are improbable to find enhanced value for money than these inexpensive vacation packages!

 To get pleasure from Venice in its right fortitude, Venetian Lagoon Cruise where you discover Venice and its adjoining islands in an exhilarating and reinvigorating six nights cruise that gives you lifelong memories.
 
  Historic Capitals
 If you keen to see two of the most talked-about capitals of Europe in one vacation package, we let you get an excellent combo tour of the Historic Capitals - Rome, London, and Paris jointly by Eurostar and rail.
 The holiday Packages have also been planned and tailored for the convenience of the travelers. Italy vacation packages help you discover the country at your own speed.

Author is an associate editor for [http://www.makemytrip.com/holiday-packages/]Holiday Packages. Get all possible information about [http://www.makemytrip.com/holidays-international/tour-rome-all_packages.html]Rome travel Packages and Holiday Pakcages India.We also provide nformation about online hotel reservation, Holiday Packages in India and Flights Booking in India.

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5 Top Historical Monuments in Rome

Though in ruins, the Flavian Amphitheatre, now known as the Colosseum, still stands today (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Preety Gupta

Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. It is home to several historical monuments some of which can be seen for free while others require cards and passes. Most of these ancient monuments are located in the city's historic centre and so there are several places that you can visit in a single day. Even if you don't have time for an in-depth look, you will find walking past them an incredible experience. Over the past few years, some of these monuments have been renovated to make them more user-friendly. Here are just some of the historical monuments that you may wish to see while in Rome.

Finding the Best Deals While Shopping in Rome

English: Piazza Navona,(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So you planned a vacation or a business trip to Rome, and now you need to figure out where to go shopping. Where do you find the best deals?



You can find all of the famous designer names in Rome such as Armani, Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Dolce e Gabbana, and Versace. And many of these prestigious fashions originate here and in Milan (a few hours north).

Top Tips to See Rome on a Budget

Italiano: Collage di vari immagini di Roma. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Fabio Carrozi


Rome isn't exactly renowned for being the cheapest of cities to take a holiday in. Unfortunately, despite the imminent recession the credit crunch hasn't dampened people's desire to visit this expensive city. Help is at hand: I've been a Rome shuttle driver for more years than I care to remember, and have picked up a great deal of insider knowledge that should help you get by on - well, if not a shoestring budget, then at least significantly cheaper than you'd expect to pay.
I won't go into details of booking flights - that's not really my area of expertise - but do shop around, and make sure you get the best deal possible. Once you get there, there's plenty of ways to save money:

Pasta, Piazzas and Pizza - Rome is a Digestive Delight

Trevi fountain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)By Isla Campbell

Rome is a must-see destination on any European holiday. It has a rich mix of history, art, culture and architecture. Experiencing where the gladiators fought in the Roman Coliseum, the great architectural marvel of the Pantheon or the sublime beauty of the Trevi Fountain will take up a lot of your time in Rome, but you'll need somewhere to eat and relax as well. Many people enjoy Italian food at home; nevertheless experiencing Italian food in Italy's capital city is a must-do on any trip to Rome.
One of the best ways to make sure you get the most edible enjoyment out of your trip is to pair up the big sights with the local Italian markets. One of the best piazzas to visit in Rome is the Piazza Navona. Originally a competition arena, it now plays host to some exquisite architecture and sculptures. Piazza Navona is also surrounded by tourist-filled restaurants that spill out onto the square. If you feel peckish whilst at Piazza Navona and want to experience local Roman fare, Campo de'Fiori, just around the corner, is a must-see. Campo de'Fiori is a large outdoor market, brimming with fresh fruit and vegetables during the day, and providing a great meeting place in the evening with an abundance of cafés, bars and restaurants.
If you are on your way to visit the Vatican City, the Trionfale market is a handy and inexpensive place to grab a bite to eat en route. The authentic Italian cuisine and great local atmosphere in these markets make them a much more authentic local experience than sitting in one of the tourist restaurants across the city.

Eating Out in Rome

Spaghetti alla Carbonara. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Aidan Fitzgerald


Italian Food...
What is it that makes Italian food so unique? Well, it's exceptionally varied and every area in Italy has its own specialties. The North tends to use more cream, butter and parmigiano cheese while the south prefer to use olive oil, dried pasta, mozzarella and pecorino (sheep milk) cheeses. The pizza bases in Rome are very thin while the Sicilian pizzas are much thicker.
Don't worry about making a mess, as it can be quite hard to eat gracefully when in Rome! No one cares if you've dribbles of spaghetti or toppings of floppy pizzas around your chin! Just be sure to dab it off when the meal is over!
Mealtimes...
Breakfast - the most important meal of the day? The Romans don't agree! It's not really a big thing in Rome but instead; they make lunch the main meal of the day. They normally keep breakfast light with your typical morning fare consisting of a cappuccino, some sort of sweet pastry or just a shot of espresso coffee. Breakfast usually isn't eaten at home; instead Romans pop into one of the many coffee shops that line the city's streets.
Romans see lunch as the big meal! A typical meal begins with an antipasto - this is a type of starter, which can be hot or cold.
Then you'll have a primo piatto, which is a first course. Rice, risotto, pasta or other carbohydrates are popular choices!
The secondo piatto is your second and main course, with meat or fish being the main constituent. It's said that veal, pork and chicken are the most popular among Rome's citizens. This second course is usually served with a side dish consisting of either vegetables or a salad and then fresh fruit. This side dish is called the contorno. Sometimes a light dessert is had after the secondo. The Italian word for dessert is dolce. The meal is brought to a close with a coffee - caffe - or a strong liqueur.
Dinner was never a big thing but now it's similar to lunches. It's never eaten before 8.30 and you'll often see people sitting down to a four course meal as late as eleven o clock!
Rome's specialities...
Most of us are familiar with the Italian specialities pizza, spaghetti alla carbonara and even lasagne. All of these have been adopted into the western world but only in Italy itself will you get the authentic taste of these! Be sure to enjoy pizza from one of Romes array of top pizzerias.
In Rome a wide range of recipes can be found. These are just a few popular ones that you'll see in original Italian restaurants. Veal escalopes with ham, 'saltimbocca'; the famous Roman tripe; as well as a delicious plate of roast lamb seasoned with rosemary and thyme, 'abbacchio alla romana'. Ham is eaten together with figs, and there is a wide choice of vegetables including peas, asparagus and artichokes
A typical Roman menu contains the essential bruschetta, which is grilled bread cut into finger sized slices and is marinated in fine olive oil and garlic. There are many classic pasta dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, bucatini all'amatriciana and bucatini cacao e pepe. Choosing what you want from the restaurants menu will be the hardest decision. My advice is to go for something different, after all it's not everyday that you're in Rome!
Wine...
If your can't tell your chardonnay from your sauvignon blanc, I can't think of a better place to introduce yourself to wine than Rome. Italy has the best variety of Vino, ranging through nearly every colour, flavour and style imaginable. From well known Chiantis to rustic Pinot Grigio's, Italy's wine's are renowned to be the finest in the world.
For Italians themselves wine is food and no mealtime is complete without a glass of a fine white to accompany foul and fish, or maybe a sultry red to add to the flavour of a well seasoned pasta.
Italians waiters are among the finest in the world and will be glad to give you a taste of various wines before you choose which one you'd like to have to accompany your meal. And, if you're going to be really adventurous, why not enjoy a dessert of red wine and a selection of fine Italian cheeses, like Bel Paese, Gorgonzola and Romano.
Rome's best places to eat...
Wondering where to dine? Well Rome has loads of restaurants to choose form so you'll be spoilt for choice here!
If you see a place packed with locals, you know it'll be good, as the Italians love their food! You'll find a lot of restaurants are quite expensive, most commonly in the popular tourist areas like Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. If you're on a budget, avoid these as they are over priced and the food is just as good in other areas of the city.
On the other hand, there are many decent and reasonably priced eateries near by. The most popular areas being Campo dei Fiori, Trastevere, Via di Tor Millina (you'll find it just off Piazza Navona) and Via del Goveno Vecchio.
Popular restaurants include the Papa Re restaurant located in the Trastevere area (it boasts genuine recipes from Rome) or Dar Poeta, who're renowned for their pizzas.
If your looking for a vegetarian option, Marguta Vegetarian Restaurant is extremely popular and it is located at the corner of the Via Margutta.
Prices...
If all you want is a tasty authentic pizza and a beer altogether it'll cost about �15.
If your dining Italian style, your typical three course meal can vary in price - it all depends on where you eat. At a midrange restaurant, a three course meal could cost about �30 and in a top restaurant the price ranges from �50 upwards.
Know before you go!
Tipping is not essential - it's your own choice but the least you can do is round up the bill. The Italians usually don't leave a tip but the tourists are expected to (about 5% of your bill in pizzerias and 10% in top restaurants).
Opening Hours in Rome...
The opening hours vary from restaurant to restaurant and waiting for a table is not unusual! The best way to get a table is by arriving before 8.30pm or later than 10pm.
Restaurants tend to open for dinner at about 9pm but in tourist's areas, doors' opening at 7pm is a common practice. Lunches are the main meal of the day and normally served from about 12.30pm to about 3pm.
Ready to dine in Rome...
So now you've read this article you should be ready to face Romes restaurants! A big part of your holiday in Rome will consist of consuming superb foods and gorgeous wine! Remember the most important thing is to choose foods you like to eat while embracing Roman tradition at the same time.
Whatever your individual interests are when visiting Rome; you're guaranteed to come across a restaurant that you'll love! Ciao!
Aidan writes for top travel and accommodation website PlacesToStay.com
Visit PlacesToStay.com to book a wide range of carefully selected hotels in Ireland, Europe and throughout the world at great value prices!
Heading to Rome soon? Then check out our Rome Hotels page for a comprehensive range of budget, mid range and luxury hotels in Rome.

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Guide to Rome For Family Travel

Rome (Photo credit: ryarwood)
By James Burrows


Rome is one of the best-loved and most beautiful tourist destinations in the world and a visit to this city will give tourists a chance to visit some of the best museums, architectural wonders, churches and parks in Europe. There are a number of different sights and activities across the city which can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. Here is a guide to help visitors to Rome plan a family holiday.
If you are travelling to Rome with young children or elderly people, it is important to keep in mind any special needs they may have. This is especially important when choosing accommodation in Rome. There are many hotels across the city that are suitable for children that have many extra facilities like children's beds, play areas and day care centres or nannies available.
Another factor to consider when travelling with families is food. While there are a number of restaurants around Rome that cater to different budgets and provide excellent meals, you may have to do some research before hand on the different types of restaurants near your hotel if you are travelling with children or with elderly people who have special dietary requirements. It might also be a good idea to find a hotel or vacation rental that allows self catering.
The main attractions in Rome are architectural in nature, and when travelling with children, it is a good idea to plan the day ahead of time. Visiting the tourist attractions early in the morning, or at times when the crowds are smaller is a good idea, since it will allow you more time to enjoy the sights while not getting caught up with the many groups of people.
When you are choosing accommodation for a family holiday, it is also a good idea to stay in a place that has easy access to a number of attractions, which will allow you to cut down on travel time. Some of the most important sites in Rome are the Spanish Steps, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Campi dei Fiori, the Piazza Navona, Saint Peter's Basilica and the Roman Forum. In addition to this, there are many museums and galleries across the city. Visitors to Rome will also be able to enjoy the many concerts, shows and theatrical displays put up from time to time.
You could also take your family to one of the many gardens in Rome and have a picnic. The Temple of Hadrian, Hadrian's wall, the Piazza del Popolo and some of the temples in the area are also worth visiting.
James works in the travel industry and works with Rome family accommodation and Vacation Guides.

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How to Do Rome in 48hrs

By Katy Hyslop


You've just arrived in Rome with a couple of days to kill. How is it possible to see all there is to see in such a short time? This is the guide to get the most out of Rome in the shortest amount of time.
19:00
Hopefully check in at the hotel has been fairly straightforward so now it is to venture out in search of a good meal. A meal in the old Trastevere part of the city has several benefits. Firstly there is a multitude of touristy type sidewalk restaurants and pizzerias to choose from and secondly they are within gentle strolling distance of several significant landmarks, including the well preserved Pantheon.
Rome is just as appealing by night as by day, with the heat of a Roman summer, night time walks may just save a few hours of excessive sweating during the day. Any of the little back streets between the Pantheon and the Spanish steps are perfectly placed to allow a generous meal of pasta and a good carafe of wine to be walked off quite easily.
21:00
Make your way to the Spanish steps to sit and hang out with the locals, while the view from the top of the steps in front of the church Trinita dei Monti offers a great view out over the city. Wander through to the Trevi Fountain and buy dessert in the form of a gelato and try your luck with the change. Throw one coin over your shoulder to come back, two coins to come back and get kissed or three coins to come back and be married.
22:00
Keep on walking through the streets until you reach Piazza Venezia, so named because of the Palazzo overlooking the piazza that resembles the Doges Palace in Venice. The balcony on the second floor may look familiar, it was the podium from which the dictator 'il duce' Mussolini delivered his fascist speeches. The other landmark overlooking the piazza is the unmistakable monument to Vittorio Emanuele II.
This has earned several nicknames over the years including the Wedding Cake and the Typewriter. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies here under armed guard along with the eternal flame. If the monument is open there is a fantastic view over the Rome rooftops, a glimpse into the Roman Forum and the Colosseum behind it. This is closed at dusk but many of the ruins are lit up at night.
23:00.
If the night air has revived you there is the option of checking out the local night life as there are plenty of bars and clubs open around the central city area. Also there are some in other piazzas such as Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori that stay open until the early hours. Otherwise it's back to the hotel to get ready for tomorrow.
08:00
It pays to start early, particularly in the summer to beat the crowds and the temperatures but luckily the city is not too spread out to get from one sight to the next. The metro system is basic to use to say the least, there are only two metro lines that criss-cross the city and the buses are clearly marked with destinations. Termini is the central bus and metro terminal. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated in the yellow machines, starting from EUR1 for one journey.
No visit to Rome is complete without a trip to the Vatican. San Pietro is on the western side of the river Tiber with the dome of St Peter's visible from most parts of the city. The Vatican museum rooms are open from 8.45 in the morning until 4pm, with the last entry just before 3.30pm, during the busy summer months. It is open until 1pm on Saturdays and low season, while it is closed on Sundays and religious observances. You need plenty of time to walk through the 7km of museum rooms to reach the Sistine chapel where you can admire the detail and wonder at the creation on the ceiling by Michelangelo. It pays to have some sort of description of the frescoes handy to explain what you are looking at. The Pope gives his public address on Wednesday mornings at 11am.
13:00
If you are still hungry for more there is the vast interior of the Basilica itself, the crypt below and the view from the dome above down into the square. Now is probably a good time to find some lunch before taking on the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Take plenty of water with you in the summer months as wily vendors will sell small bottles at exorbitant prices. Along lunch also gets you out of the hottest part of the day.
15:00
Entry tickets to the Colosseum can be bought at the gate but if the line is too long you can go to the ticket window at the base of the Palatine hill and buy them there. The line here is generally much shorter as not many tourists go up the hill. The remains of the Emperors palace stands at the top overlooking the forum and quite stretegically down on the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. This hill is also said to be where Romulus founded Rome.
Beside the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine, which was an exercise in recycling of old monuments by Emperor Constantine to reward himself for beating Maxentius. The Colosseum has been damaged over the last 1800 years by earthquakes, invaders and marble merchants but the recent restoration projects has seen parts of it restored to give a good idea of its original state.
16:00
The Via Sacre leads from the Colosseum up into the Foro Romano, the centre of the ancient Roman trading world. The ruins include the original forum, Julius Caesar's funeral pyre, his Senate building, the Temple of the Vestal Virgins and the arch of Septimus Severus. The forum was buried over several hundreds of years of flooding, each layer has been stripped back to reveal another Roman era, and in some cases where two eras have merged, as in the case of the Temple of Antonino and Faustina. The door that stands halfway up the exposed wall shows where the ground level was during the 8th Century when the 2nd Century temple was converted to church.
There are plenty of tour guides available as history students and licensed guides offer their services with tours of the forum and the coliseum. The stories they tell really help the ruins to come alive. Across the road is Trajan's Forum with the very conspicuous Trajan's column. This marks the edge of ancient Rome and the continuation of the modern city. Unfortunately most of ancient Rome lies beneath the Via dei Fiori Imperiali, the road built by Mussolini to parade his troops up and down before going off to battle.
17:00
The rest of the day can be spent either indulging in some people watching at any of the cafes in Piazza Navona and admiring the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi sculptured by Bernini, or relaxing in the shade in the park at the 17thC Villa Borghese. Then its back to those clubs you missed last night.
08:00
This really depends on when you decide to leave. An early evening departure may enable you to take in one of three options provided you start early. The baths of Caracalla is a 10 hectare space that once held 1600 people there to take advantage of the bathing, shops, libraries, gardens and public entertainment. These open at 9am closing 1 hour before sunset and 2pm on a Monday. You would need around 3-4 hours including travel time to view these.
The other option is to visit one of the vast catacombs that are buried beneath the city. These are miles and miles of tunnels, burial vaults and Churches dug by the early Christians to escape persecution by the Romans. The burial vaults are countless metres tall and the tunnels run down over several levels. The resulting rabbit warren requires a guide to take you through and out again safely. You can choose from the ones on the Via Appia Antica, which are the largest, or the Catacombs of San Callisto which are next door to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. They open at 8.30am closing at noon, reopening in the afternoon from 2.30pm until 5pm. Again you would need 3-4 hours to take one site in.
10:00
The third and final choice is to leave the whole touristy thing out and indulge in some authentic food experiences. The food markets north of the Vatican are held just off Viale dele Millizie and the ones in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele near Termini offer a selection of fresh and locally made produce.
There you have it, all the major attractions of Rome achievable in just 2 days. The choice now is, do I really want to leave just yet?
Katy Hyslop has spent the past 6 years travelling, tour guiding and generally hanging around the European tourism industry. She is now based in Italy and in charge of keeping the crew under control at Plus. If you want to know more on what to see or where to stay in Rome click here [http://www.plusvillages.com/HostelsInRome.aspx].

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Pasta, Piazzas and Pizza - Rome is a Digestive Delight

Image via Wikipedia

By Isla Campbell


Rome is a must-see destination on any European holiday. It has a rich mix of history, art, culture and architecture. Experiencing where the gladiators fought in the Roman Coliseum, the great architectural marvel of the Pantheon or the sublime beauty of the Trevi Fountain will take up a lot of your time in Rome, but you'll need somewhere to eat and relax as well. Many people enjoy Italian food at home; nevertheless experiencing Italian food in Italy's capital city is a must-do on any trip to Rome.

Rome Areas and Neighbourhoods

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By Sarah Dudleymore


Your trip to Italy should be a memorable one and therefore must be programmed carefully. Before booking your flight and accommodation, read and find out more about the areas, famous places or most popular neighbourhoods in Rome.

1) TRASTEVERE
... grew in the middle ages with narrow, winding, irregular streets. There was no space for carriages to pass, therefore Trastevere remained a maze of narrow streets what is known today. All year round the Trastevere area is a major attraction for its restaurants, cabaret clubs, movie theaters, crafts artisans and picturesque maze of narrow cobbled alleyways. During the evenings, cafè and restaurants tables spill out over to the pavement, one area in particular is around Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. During the morning hours, this friendly neighborhood of antique charm and unique narrow alleyways of Trastevere is better appreciated.

2) THE SPANISH STEPS
... in Italian means "Scalinata". They can be easily found and recognized by a rectangle like shape and an early Baroque water fountain called "La Fontana della Barcaccia" ("Fountain of the Old Boat"), built in 1627-29 at the foot of the stairs. It is without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe; one of the most popular and famous places in Rome. Nowadays, the Spanish Steps area has become a meeting point and also an attraction if you want to take a romantic or scenic ride in a carriage pulled by a horse around Rome.

Piazza Navona - One of Rome's Many Beautiful Tourist Attractions

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By Jill Kammer


Rome thrives on outdoor life. Naturally, it is obvious that Rome has a lot of museums, restaurants as well as churches, theaters and many other kinds of indoor activates. But the places to see Rome that really shine are the many piazzas.
"Piazza" can be translated to mean public square. But the piazzas of Rome are unique from other famous cities because they are genuine places for lovers of outdoor art to gather and enjoy such beauty together.
Probably the finest location of Bernini's "Fountain of the Four Rivers" can be found at Navona. Four striking sculptures that Bernini's students executed are artistically arranged around a rocky mass at the center of the fountain which holds up an obelisk.. One of those stunning sculptures named "the Ganges" was created by Claude Poussin who went on to become a well known master as well.

Events and Festivals in Italy (Winter Season)

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By Kristie Haller


WINTER
There are fairs, markets, and religious events up and down the country at this time of year. Neapolitan Christmas cribs are famous and nearly every church has one. The Christmas holiday itself is low key; more is made of other religious events such as the liquefaction of San Gennaro's blood in Naples and the Carnevale in Venice.

The Magic of Christmas in Rome

Image by paparutzi via Flickr
By Danielle Russo


Perhaps best of all about visiting Rome at the holidays (certainly not the weather, December can be close to freezing) is the experience of the wonderful and exuberant traditions of an Italian Christmas which can be seen all across the city.
Piazza Navona, one of Rome's most popular squares becomes a center stage during the holiday season. A Christmas market is set up here which includes all sorts of games, candy and toys for children as well as holiday crafts, artists and food for the adults. Children here get their stockings for the "Befana" also known as the good little witch which brings candy to the kids on the day of the epiphany. Even Santa makes his special appearance here.

Guide to Piazza Navona Christmas Market, Rome, Italy

Image by oneillsdc5 via Flickr

By Orson Johnson


If you happen to be in Rome during the Christmas season, you should not fail to pay visit to the Piazza Navona Christmas Market. From the market, visitors will be able to spot famous Roman architecture in the surrounding areas. The market square is an important part of the city's architectural history and was built in the first century to serve as a Roman Circus where the people could enjoy games, horse races and theatrical shows. The piazza Navona was once known as the Stadium of Domitian. It is is hedged in by a beautiful church and three fountains, namely, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Fountain of the Moor and the Fountain of Neptune. There are a few other buildings around the piazza as well.

Exploring Rome on a Budget

Image via WikipediaBy Joseph Z Williams


Rome has a reputation for being an expensive destination, but much of the city can be seen without spending a euro. From wonderful religious architecture and world-famous fountains to free museums and parks, Rome has plenty to offer those on a budget.
First up on many tourist itineraries is the 2nd century Pantheon at the historic heart of the city, which at almost two thousand years old still boasts the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. This impressive temple is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings still standing, with a portico of massive granite Corinthian columns. In continuous use ever since it was built, its current use as a Catholic church means it's open and free to visitors.

Rome Best Coffee

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Author: leonhouses

If you wish to enjoy one of the best espressos in Rome you should stop at S. Eustachio coffee following what is certainly considered a real daily ritual in Rome (number 82 of Sant'Eustachio square more or less between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon even not far from Rome Piazza Venezia Attractions).

The coffee in this historic bar of Rome is recommended by many guides. Flickr, for instance, considers it as "the best espresso in the world". You can decide to taste one of the S. Eustachio specialties (e.g. Monachella: coffee, chocolate and cream) directly in the bar or take away and enjoy the aroma at home. It is also possible to order through the web-site. If you wish to follow italian tradition, an option could be to come here and take an espresso after a lunch or dinner in one of the typical restaurants of Rome in Piazza Navona hidden in the small alleys of Rome city centre.

5 Rome, Italy Annual Cultural Festivals Not to Be Missed

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By James Burrows


With Rome being absolutely crammed with culture it is no surprise that the locals like to share this culture with the rest of the world. Throughout the year there are a number of events which take place which, whilst enjoyed by the local residents, are also a great excuse for tourists to visit this marvellous city. The festivals, whilst varying in nature, are consistent in the pleasure and richness that they add to the already charming culture of Rome. Below are just some of these festivals which you may like to attend:

The Best Roof Top Bars

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Author: mp3cityguides

Any good city break involves an evening spent in a bar overlooking the city you've been walking around during the day. When I'm writing my mp3 tours and my audio walking tours for http://www.mp3cityguides.com I'm also careful to include at least one rooftop bar.
So, here are my top ten rooftop bars:
1. The Rainbow Room, New York. This beautiful art deco bar at the top of the Rockefeller centre is a must for anyone looking the best bars in New York. I once saw Elizabeth Taylor here – she looked less than impressed to see me.
Rockefeller Plaza,
2. Coq D'Argent, London. Near the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange this rooftop has elegant lawns and box hedges. The City isn't great at night but this is one of the best places to have a drink and look at the new skyscrapers being built. For more information see our Guide to the City of London

Rome Romance

Image via WikipediaRome Romance: "
Rome – the undying city! Splendid, celebrated, serious, idealistic! Discuss a Rome vacation and love strikes you immediately. To be on an Italian vacation and not to take a vacation in Rome is in fact seeing Italy without its heart. It is not simple to describe Rome in words – it is simply overwhelming has architectural wonders are apparent in the haughty Vatican, the huge Coliseum, the iconic Roman Forum, majestic shrines, Renaissance palaces and ornamental and complicated churches, and its ancient bell towers. Not astonishingly, our Rome vacation packages ensure that you get to walk around all the wonderful pleasures this mysterious and treasured city provides – the Piazza Navona, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Consequently, for a Rome vacation, there are a large number of packages, each tailored for complete satisfaction and pleasure.

Perfect Packages

One package that is Rome Special package permits you to exist each second of la dolce vita in the undying city. Take pleasure in Xmas and the New Year Italian-style with the Rome Christmas Special or Rome New Year’s Special vacation tours. If you’re chasing cheap vacation, there are just the categories of Rome vacation packages you desire for. Go for the Rome break in your journey, Rome Escape, Express Rome, or Rome Getaway — basically great vacations and tough to resist costs!

Rome Combo Vacations

One can even unite a Rome vacation with other great Italian cities such as Milan, Venice and Florence. There is a selection of Italian vacation packages where you can mingle 2 or 3 great Roman towns together. You can go for Rome & Florence or Rome & Venice or Florence & Venice tour. You are improbable to find augmented value for money than these cheap vacation packages! Book one of our Ferienwohnungen Rom now and revel in the romantic of Rome.

To get pleasure from Venice in its right fortitude, take a Venetian Lagoon Cruise where you discover Venice and its adjoining islands in an exhilarating and reinvigorating six nights cruise that gives you lifelong memories.

Historical Capitals

If you eager to see two of the most talked-about capitals of Europe in one vacation package, we let you get a brilliant combo tour of the historic Capitals – Rome, London, and Paris jointly by Eurostar and rail. Explore Rome with our Apartments Rom.

The vacation packages have also been planned and tailored for the benefit of the travelers. Italy vacation packages help you discover the country at your own speed. 

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24 Hours in Rome (2)

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Rome is a city that has a long time of history. You can track the rudiment of history here. In Rome, you should stay in good spirits. You should grasp every minute to get to know the magnificence and glory of Rome. On the full schedule, if you have only one day to tour around Rome, the following things can help you know Rome quickly.

Via del Governo Vecchio

If you cross the Plazza di spagrla from Giorgio de Chirico House-Museum, you will see the window of the guest room of ol' Giorgio as well as the famous Via Condotti where most of those Italian designers get together. However, for the sake of money, I will choose to go to Via del Governo Vecchio which is located in the other side the this city. Although it is not that famous, you can still go shopping happily here. You can buy nearly all things here, from fur to bathing suit.

Walk to Ponte Sisto

The best way to understand a city is to choose some cheap and typical store to go around. Here is a two-hour walking route---start from the noisy and crowded Piazza Navona, walk southward to Campo de' Fiori where you can find coffee shops, daily food and flower market, then you will arrive at Dafarr plaza where there are springs and palaces during Renaissance, next continue you walking until reaching Ponte Sisto. The Ponte bridge here provide you with the best prospective of taking view of the beauty of Rome. Then you can walk across the river Tiber. You can continue your walking. Different kinds of charming things will arrive one by one.

Pizza

If you feel hungry, but do not have enough time to stop to having lunch, you can try some pizza with which you can eat standing up. There are a lot flake pizza everywhere in Rome. What you should do is to point out the kind of pizza that you want to buy. Apart from the standard Magarit pizza, there are also other kinds of pizza such as potato pizza and pumpkin pizza. My favourite kind of pizza do not has a name. You can taste the eggplant one in Via del Piedi Marmo.

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