Another Chaotic Morning at Fiumicino’s Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO)

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Ron in Rome

Too soon, our son’s trip to Europe ended. On our last night in Rome we headed for one of our favorite restaurants, meeting friends and celebrating our good fortune. It had been  a busy but rewarding few days and we were tired, but in that “good sense” of tired… knowing we’d shown our son a glimpse of why we loved living in Italy. The people, the food, the relaxed pace… it was a wonderful and enlightening trip. Then we headed to FCO the next morning… Continue reading →

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Flooding in Rome Causes Major Disruptions

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Ron in Rome

October 20 Rain in Rome 9 small Flooding in Rome Causes Major DisruptionsOn Thursday, October 20 we traveled from Siena to Rome via the SENA bus. Our ride on the bus was great… until we got about 8-10 miles from Rome. Then we entered one of the largest traffic jams in Rome history. The reason – a torrential rain storm that dropped 3 inches of rain in less than 5 hours. The ancient city, especially the northwest section, was overwhelmed. Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno called for a state of emergency and also activated a toll-free emergency hotline for people to report emergencies and request information. Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Italy | 1 Comment

Our Recent Apartment Booking in Rome

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Ron in Rome

RomeIMG 1368A thumb Our Recent Apartment Booking in RomeLast week our oldest son came to visit us and we headed for a whirlwind tour of … Italy. This would be his first trip to Italy and so our agenda was filled with those “must-see, first-timer” sites. Unfortunately, his time – and ours – was limited so this would be a brief and busy adventure. Our last stop would be Rome and we only had three days in the city, certainly not enough time to show him ALL the spots we enjoyed… but we hoped to whet his interest so he would want to return to our “adopted” hometown. In planning this segment of the trip, I decided early on to seek an apartment. Continue reading →

Posted in Hotels & Spas, Traveling in Europe | 1 Comment

Metro Tram & Bus Map for Rome

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Ron in Rome

The buses in Rome are a great way to get around the city. Unfortunately, the ATAC website is often difficult to navigate. And the maps on their website are more difficult to read. One option is to purchase the Roma Metro, Tram, & Bus Map. This map is sold at numerous Tabacchi shops for €6. Continue reading →

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Pickpockets in Rome – Protect Your Vacation

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Ron in Rome

Carbinieri in Rome Pickpockets in Rome Protect Your VacationOne of the most-often discussed topics on any travel board is safety and security. More specifically, “How do I avoid the pickpockets in Italy?” For many first-time travelers the thought of losing your passport, money, credit cards, and identification in a foreign country can be intimidating. Many people ask, “Is Rome a safe city?”

Generally, Rome, like many European capitals is “safe.” Violent crime is almost nonexistent, but petty theft, and theft-of-opportunity… like pick-pocketing… is prevalent. And the pickpockets in Rome are artists! You may not even know you’ve been “targeted” until you reach for your wallet at a store. Believe me, they are that good. Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Traveling in Europe | 7 Comments

“Skip the Line” Ticket Options for the Coliseum (Colosseo) in Rome

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Ron in Rome

coliseum flavian amphitheatre 2 thumb Skip the Line Ticket Options for the Coliseum (Colosseo) in RomeOne of the must-see’s for many travelers to Rome is a visit inside the Colosseo. Additionally, your ticket to the Colosseo is good for entry to the Forum and Palatine Hill, also remarkable sites. This 3-for-1 combo ticket currently costs €12 for non-EU visitors. Years ago you could pay for entry ONLY to the Colosseo, but that is not an option today. To see the Colosseo, Continue reading →

Posted in Sites, Museums, Attractions | 9 Comments

Leonardo Express – The Trenitalia Nonstop Train to the Fiumicino (FCO) Airport

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Ron in Rome

img art leonexpress 125x80 Leonardo Express – The Trenitalia Nonstop Train to the Fiumicino (FCO) Airport10+ years ago I first rode the Leonardo Express from the airport to the center of Rome. It was far less expensive then it is today! Yet, ten years later it is still the only non-stop train transport from FCO to the center of town.

The Leonardo Express began operating in 1990. Unlike many other larger European cities, there is no metro service to Rome’s primary airport. Thus, the Leonardo Express might be your best option. The only other “train alternative” is the FR1 Metropolitan, which stops frequently. In addition, the FR1 does not go to or through the Roma Termini train station and the FR1 takes longer to get to the airport Continue reading →

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The Roma Trastevere Trenitalia Rail Station

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Ron in Rome

RomaTrastevereStationtrainparkedSMALL thumb The Roma Trastevere Trenitalia Rail Station Roma Trastevere is one of Rome’s major train stations located on the southwest section of Rome. It’s a jumping off point for many people arriving in Rome. It’s also a connection station for travelers headed to Civitavecchia.  And lastly, it’s a alternative for getting back to the Fiumicino Airport.

The station first opened in 1911 and is currently operated, indirectly by Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), Italy’s state-owned rail company. Continue reading →

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The FR1 Metropolitan Train To and From the Fiumicino (FCO) Airport

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Ron in Rome

FR1atFCOsmall thumb The FR1 Metropolitan Train To and From the Fiumicino (FCO) AirportThe FR1 Metropolitan Service, also called the FM1, connects Fiumicino Airport with the stations of central, metropolitan Rome and travels as far as Fara Sabina and Orte, which are on the north east side of Rome.

For visitors, this is primary transportation getting to and from the FCO airport. For locals, it’s often a commuter train, to and from work. So early in the morning (07:00-09:00) and later in the day (16:30-18:00), this train can get crowded. The FR1 is a regional or local train so there is no reserved seating, no seat reservation fee, and it’s first-come, Continue reading →

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Transportation Options From Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the City of Rome

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Ron in Rome

“I’m arriving in Rome at the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport and I’m unsure of my Travel Options into the city – So how do I get to Rome?” This is a question posted daily on travel boards by visitors heading to Rome for the first time. And, as there is no, one, BEST option… it can be quite confusing. Unfortunately, unlike many other larger European cities (Madrid, Athens, Copenhagen, etc.) there is no metro service from the Airport to the City. At the end of this article is a chart that summarizes the current FCO transportation options. Continue reading →

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How to Get to Villa Adriana

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Ron in Rome

IMG 0385VillaAdrianasmaller thumb How to Get to Villa AdrianaIn a previous post, A Short Trip from Rome – Tivoli and Villa D’Este, we covered the journey the from Rome out to Tivoli, primarily to go to Villa D’Este. In this article, the focus will be on getting to Villa Adriana from Rome.

Both Villa D’Este and Villa Adriana are on the UNESCO world heritage list. Villa Adriana was constructed as a retreat for the Roman Emperor Hadrian during the 2nd and 3rd century AD. It’s literally the size of a small town, covering an area of at least 1 square kilometer! Continue reading →

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How to Read a COTRAL Bus Schedule

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Ron in Rome

COTRALbusLinessmallinsert thumb How to Read a COTRAL Bus ScheduleIn the city of Rome, the city buses are managed by ATAC. In the Lazio Region, the provider is COTRAL. They work in the city of Rome and also cover the surrounding areas. They transport more than 100 million people annually in the Lazio area, covering 376 municipalities and driving 9,000+ trips each day. Their ticket system is similar yet different – so often it’s just best to tell a vendor where you’re headed and they’ll know the number of zones or kilometers necessary… and thus Continue reading →

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Best Hotels and B&B’s at the Trevi Fountain

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ron in Rome

TreviFountainCloseUpBLOG thumb Best Hotels and B&B’s at the Trevi FountainOne of the most popular sites to visit in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. Immortalized in film and print, the Trevi Fountain is a must-see for many first-time visitors to Rome. And it’s a great place to stay in a hotel or B&B. Since many of the buildings in this area date from the 17th and 18th century, you won’t find large hotels. Many of the accommodations on this list have less than 10 rooms – some less than five. Because this is such a popular location, and with the smaller hotels and B&B’s, if you plan on staying here you might need to book early. Definitely a case of supply and demand! Continue reading →

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Hotels and B&B’s near the Colosseo

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Ron in Rome

Colosseosmall thumb Hotels and B&B’s near the Colosseo When we look at hotels near the Colosseo, we’ll also include the Monti area. When you do sorting through many online booking sites, they tend to mix the two areas – so we’ll do the same and detail the top twenty suggested accommodations in these “combined” areas. Monti is the name of one of the twelve Rioni of Rome, and you’ll hear it referred to as rione Monti – or the “district” of Monti. The name Monti literally means mountains in Italian. This name was applied to this section of Rome because the area includes the Esquiline and the Viminal Hills, and parts of Continue reading →

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