After a very hectic Christmas Holiday Season in Rome we decided to explore new vistas… and so we booked flights on Wizz Air to Bratislava. We’d never been to Slovakia before – actually never heard of the country. The opportunity to see a new country, and be within one hour of Vienna by train, was [...]
One of the most interesting sites to visit in Rome are The Catacombs. The catacombs are located primarily outside the city walls of the city. Roman law at the time – 2nd century AD – prevented burial inside the city walls. In the Pagan religion, death was celebrated by cremation. The early Christian rejected this [...]
Photo from Steve at Rome Underground
Catacombe di San Callisto/Catacombs of St. Callixtus
Via Appia Antica, 126
00179 Rome, Italy
tel. +39/06/51301580
fax +39/06/51301567
Website: www.catacombe.roma.it
Closed on Wednesdays
Hours: 9.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
8 € full price; 5 € reduced fee (effective 01/01/2010)
From The Christian Catacombs of Rome website:
“The catacombs of St. Callixtus are among the greatest and most important [...]
Catacombe di San Sebastiano/ Catacombs of St. Sebastian
Via Appia Antica, 136
00179 Rome, Italy
tel. +39/06/7887035
fax +39/06/7843745
website: www.catacombe.org
Closed on Sundays
Hours: 9.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
Currently, 6 € full price; 3 € reduced fee – projected increase 01/01/2010
The Catacombs of St. Sebastian were among the first Christian tombs to be built. The church here is one [...]
Picture from www.vatican.va
Catacombe di Domitilla/Catacombs of Domitilla
Via delle Sette Chiese, 282/0
00147 Rome, Italy
tel. +39/06/5110342, 06/5133956
fax +39/06/51354 61
Website: http://domitilla.soverdi.eu
Email: info@domitilla.soverdi.eu
Closed on Tuesdays
Hours: 9.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
8 € full price; 5 € reduced fee
The Catacombs of Domitilla are among the best preserved and oldest in Rome. These Catacombs are also among the most extensive [...]
From http://www.santagnese.org/
Catacombe di Sant’Agnese/ Catacombs of St. Agnes
Via Nomentana, 349
00162 Roma, Italy
Telephone +39 06 861 08 40
Website http://www.santagnese.org/
Closed on Sunday mornings and on Monday afternoons
Hours: 9.00 – 12.00 and 16.00 – 18.00
8 € full price; 5 € reduced fee (effective 01/01/2010)
The Catacombs of St. Agnes held the remains of the famous and very young Roman martyr [...]
The Vatican Museums – Musei Vaticani – are among the greatest museums in the world. The site is actually a collection of museums, all inter-connected. The museums display works from the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. Visiting the Vatican is an incredible experience… but if you’re not prepared [...]
Continue reading about 20 tips on Visiting the Vatican Museums
This story, published in the ITALY Magazine – the n.1 magazine for lovers of all things italian - shows that even the ”big clients” have trouble with their bills in Italy. We pay our power bill once every two months… and there IS NO consistency to the charges we receive. Our water meter is read twice a [...]
On travel boards I often see folks asking, should I rent a scooter to see Rome or Naples? The responses are often one-sided – Not just no, but NO, NO, NO, NO….NO! I certainly understand this as we drive a ride a motorino (scooter) and it can be quite challenging.
The motorino rules are simple [...]
The holidays are rapidly approaching… and in Rome, it’s already starting to look “a lot like Christmas.” Okay, so really it’s only a few stores but yes, there are Christmas decorations a twinkling! In the streets headed towards the Pantheon you’ll see STARS mounted in the narrow alleys. Rome is a WONDERFUL place to come [...]
For the next few weeks – at least until January 8th – tourists in Rome will get some “heavenly help” in the form of Tourist Information Assistants riding chariot Segways. There will be sixteen “chariots” operating in the city center, the Termini Train Station, and both airports.
They’ve been nicknamed Tourist Angels and will be quite [...]
For travelers coming to Rome in November, please be aware there will be a closure of the Sistine Chapel on Saturday, November 21, 2009. The Pope is welcoming artists from around the world and they will be meeting in the Chapel.
In a story posted on the Catholic News Service, Sarah Delaney wrote:
“Pope Benedict XVI has [...]
For years the bus system in Rome has relied on the “honor” system. It was expected you would purchase a ticket and then board and validate your ticket. Now, Rome is thinking of bringing back “conductors,” missing since the 1960’s.
In a recent article published in Il Messaggero, Alessandro Vannini, chairman of the Capitoline tourism, verified [...]
There are many spots in Rome from where you can take INCREDIBLE photos. Many folks ask me where to go and get the best views…. so here is a brief list – I’m sure you’ll find others!
From the top of the Vittoriano (Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II)
Looking eastward from the Vittoriano, you see the [...]
One of the most confusing aspects of traveling by train in Italy is which ticket to buy. There are probably – on some runs – more than ten different types and classes of tickets to purchase. And how do I get those great low-price tickets that I hear about? As a traveler, and if you’re [...]
As an ancient city, Rome has many narrow, one-way streets. There’s also monumental traffic jams… and then of course, there are the driving habits of Romans. All these contribute to make the metro system in Rome a good alternative for getting around town. Romans called the subway system Metropolitana . Unfortunately, there are ONLY two [...]
When it’s hot in Rome, no better place to go than to a pool. Except this pool YOU can’t swim in! This year the FINA World Aquatics Championships are being held in Rome… Until August 2nd, you have a great opportunity to go see some incredible athletes, including Michael Phelps and the local favorite, Federica [...]
If you are uncomfortable heading into a Tabacchi shop and trying to purchase a bus ticket, there is another option. All over Rome ATAC ticket kiosks are being placed. You’ll always see these in EVERY metro station… but now they are being installed at many of the larger bus stops. These new kiosks replace the [...]
NOTE – In October 2009, the Terminal names were changed at Fiumicino (FCO). This posting has been updated to reflect those new Terminal names.
One question that always comes up on travel boards is, “We are arriving ahead of other people in our party and would like to know where would be the best place to [...]
This weekend was my wife’s birthday… so we escaped to Sorrento. Some friends loaned us their car and off we went on our weekend adventure. We stayed in a wonderful hotel just outside of town… so call this a trip report!
Leaving Rome early Saturday AM we battled the “holiday” traffic heading out of town. With [...]
How do you find out if Luggage Storage (deposito bagagli) is offered at a train station on the Trenitalia system? Simple, if you know where to look! Once you follow these instructions, you will see charts that will tell you if there is a Ticketing Office, if Self service kiosks are available, if Other Ticket Vendors [...]
The Galleria Borghese is one of the most incredible museums in town. Featuring the “best ” works of Bernini and paintings from other masters, the Galleria is a “Must See” for art buffs.
Unfortunately, the ticketing procedures for the Galleria Borghese are not as incredible as the artwork. If you plan to pre-purchase your tickets you [...]
One of the most beautiful villas in Italy is certainly Villa D’Este. The Italian garden of Villa D’Este is included in the UNESCO world heritage list. There are more than 500 fountains in the garden. Also incredible statuary, and beautiful flowers. The gardens were created by Cardinal Ippolito II D’Este after the disappointment of his [...]
By Mike Simmons
We had many day trip possibilities on this vacation but didn’t really spend much time away from Rome, with one exception… Orvieto.
I had checked TA for lodging options beforehand and had narrowed it down to two B&B’s in the historic (as opposed to the modern) town. I had hoped to make a reservation [...]
One of the most incredible, but rarely visited sites in Rome, is Aqueduct Park (Parco degli acquedotti).
The park actually hosts seven Roman aqueducts: Marcio, Anio Novus, Tepula, Mariana, Claudio, Iulia and Felice. These aqueducts took advantage of the natural hills of the area to bring water into the city.
The Aqua Claudio reached a height of [...]
“Bond, James Bond.” That’s the image you get of the incredible Italian Casinos. You’re just waiting for 007 to walk through the doors. Although there are very few Casinos in Italy, no other country has done more for the development of gambling than Italy. In ancient times, the Italians adopted the fortunetelling cards of the [...]
In a previous post we discussed the most popular “discount” card for sightseeing in Rome, the Roma Pass. Let’s look at what other options are available to you. Perhaps the greatest advantage of buying a “pass” is to save some money. Yet you can also use these passes to skip some of the longer lines [...]
Continue reading about Discount Passes, Cards, & Tickets in Rome
Many folks I’ve worked with have questions about those guys in the Gladiator outfits, seen at every major site in Rome. I always suggest they ignore the “gladiators” as many can be a little overbearing. This story speaks for itself. This following is an excerpt from the April/May 2009 edition of The Roman Forum, an [...]
One of the few discounts available to non-EU travelers in Rome is the Roma Pass. The Pass, currently priced at €25 (effective February 1, 2010) , has multiple benefits. First, it serves as a 3-day transportation ticket, good at all local metro, bus, and tram connections… and second, it acts as a museum or “site” card that gives you [...]
I’ve replied to many questions regarding the Train Station at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, also known as Fiumicino (FCO). The train station is easy to find and very convenient to get your tickets, helping you to avoid the long lines at Termini. You can get your Leonardo Express Tickets, your FM1 tickets, or those tickets [...]
One of the best things about living and traveling in Europe is how easy – and inexpensive – it is to fly from country to country. Often fares are advertised for €1! While flying is inexpensive, it’s not THAT inexpensive! There are so many new, cheap airlines in Europe it can get quite confusing. Prices [...]
Perhaps the most convenient way to get money in Italy is at an automatic teller machine. ATM’s in Italy, like in the US, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and bank-names. In Italy, ATM’s are usually called Bancomats! A Bancomat (sportello in Italian) may be just outside a bank, hanging on a wall in [...]
Driving in Italy…If the thought of THAT is not stressful enough, there seems to be a lot of confusion about what is an International Driver Permit – also known as an IDP. Do I need this IDP-thing? DO rental vendors ask for it? Is an IDP required by law in Italy? What about all those [...]
By “Kent of Oregon”
Will your Italy itinerary or day trip unexpectedly turn into a Death March as you realize you’re seeing more of the inside of trains than the sights you went all that way and paid all that money to see? And all because you didn’t fully appreciate the travel time it takes to [...]
One of our favorite Sunday morning activities is to head over to Porta Portese, the largest “flea market” in Rome. Thank goodness it’s only open on Sundays. The vendors, thousands of them, start setting up early in the morning, and the market usually opens around 7 AM. Depending on the weather – and the crowds [...]
The VAT Refund is probably one of the most confusing aspects of shopping in Italy. VAT stands for Value-Added-Tax. In some countries the VAT can be as high as 25% of the cost of the item you’re purchasing. Unlike America, where the “sales tax” is added on once you get to the cash register, in [...]
No doubt one of the most hotly debated topics on any Rome travel board is the question: Do I pay extra and purchase a “skip-the-line” ticket or do I chance it and wait in line to get into the Vatican Museum? There are many stories of 2-3 hours lines to get into the Museum and [...]
Continue reading about Vatican Museum – “Skip-The-Line” or Not?
Easter, April 12 this year, is rapidly approaching. I thought this would be a great time to talk about my experience in St. Peter’s last year – and if you’re coming, prepare you for the “scene.” This pictures below were taken at the Easter 2008 Mass.
We had friends visiting from the States and they really wanted [...]
Living here in Italy, we try to travel as often as possible. If we rent a car we always take our GPS with us. I have an older Garmin 660 with the European Memory Flashcard installed.
I find a GPS to be tremendously useful in Italy. And we “don’t leave home without it!” One of the [...]
On many travel sites, this seems to be one of the most frequently asked questions. Many travelers ask the question differently. Most often it’s phrased as, “I have an early morning flight from FCO and would like to know the best Airport Hotel to stay at – Can you make a recommendation?”
Like many folks who [...]
Continue reading about Getting to Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO) Early in the Morning
Strikes are very commonplace in Italy – especially transportation strikes. They are a way of life here and you just have to adjust your plans if you get caught up in one. Strikes are on the rise. Reports indicate that in 2008 strikes were up more than 17% over 2007 – OUCH! In 2008, unions [...]
We’ve discussed purchasing a train ticket (see March 05, 2009 posting) so let’s talk about riding trains in Italy! Here, train travel is much less expensive than in other parts of Europe. But on the downside, the trains tend to be more crowded, especially the Regional or Local lines. Seats can be hard to find [...]
When people travel, many folks bring electronic gear with them. One question asked over and over on travel boards is, “Will my _________ work in Europe? The answer is…. CERTAINLY – with the proper preparation!
For most travelers, converting your North American appliance and electronic equipment to European electricity is a real pain! So deciding what to bring [...]
I was riding the bus a few weeks ago and had an interesting conversation. The folks sitting in front of me were obviously Americans and they were very confused. I asked if I could help and we managed to determine what bus stop would work best for them. As they readied to get off the [...]
Continue reading about Tickets for the Bus, Metro, Trams, & Met.Ro Trains
Taking a break from the travel information, here’s a post on some of the technology challenges of “Living in Rome.”
When my wife Jeff (yes, that’s her name – No, it’s not short for anything) first came to Italy she took our Nintendo Wii with her – a great sacrifice on my part! Unfortunately, we found [...]
On many travel boards one of the main complaints, over and over, is how difficult it is to buy tickets online through the Trenitalia website. For many US-based credit card holders, it’s almost impossible. In order to purchase their tickets prior to arriving in Italy, many folks turn to “ticket middlemen” such as RailEurope. Price [...]
We come to Rome for the sights, the history, the food… but mostly we come for the Gelato. Almost everyone I meet has a favorite gelateria – and they are passionate about their selection. I’m very fortunate (or maybe unfortunate?) to have the opportunity to try them all. Research must be done… and I’m willing [...]
Many folks contact me regarding how to get from the Cruise port, Civitavecchia, into Rome for the day and back before their ship departs. There are a few options for a one-day excursion to Rome. The biggest challenge is that Civitavecchia is about an hour from downtown Rome.
First, you can utilize the shore excursions or [...]
Roma Termini!
The name brings different images to everyone who hears it. For locals, it’s a busy connection point for the two metro lines, multiple bus routes, and Regional, National and International trains. For tourists arriving in Rome for their first visit, it’s often perceived as chaotic, dirty, and “filled with gypsies, rip-off taxi drivers, and [...]
NOTE – In October 2009, the Terminal names were changed at Fiumicino (FCO). This posting has been updated to reflect those new Terminal names.
The first step of a vacation in Rome is just getting here! Sometimes that can prove to be quite a task, especially if you’ve never traveled to Europe. If you’re flying from [...]
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