ROME

Let the spectacular beauty and romance of the Eternal City sweep you away. Home to more than 2.7 million people, Rome is a city of many layers, with an illustrious history spanning more than 2,700 years, from the early Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire to the modern day. Live la dolce vita while exploring the areas near Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, where the streets are narrow, mouth-watering aromas fill the air and monuments draw closer with each step. Prepare to be rendered speechless upon seeing the city’s endless supply of historic sites.

GETTING THERE

Rome has two main airports: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), the main gateway, and Ciampino International Airport (CIA), the low-cost airline airport. The Leonardo Express train links the airport to the central train, bus and metro station (Stazione Termini) and runs every 30 minutes. Tickets cost about $20. Terravision is a shuttle bus service that runs from the airport to Termini for $8. From Ciampino, you can take the Line A bus to Termini for about $1.35. Taxis (white cars) charge a fixed rate of about $54 for service from Leonardo to downtown and about $40 for travel from Ciampino to the city center.

GETTING AROUND

A great way to navigate the city is by foot, as many of its points of interest are clustered together. Operated by ATAC, the city’s buses, trams and metro charge about $1.35 for a single ride ticket. The metro runs from 5:30 a.m. until about midnight, while buses run 24 hours a day. If you plan on using Rome’s extensive public transportation system often, pick up a one-day ticket with unlimited travel on any means of transport for about $5.40 or a three-day ticket for $14.75. Metered taxi service starts from about $3.75 for the first 1¾ miles and goes up approximately $1.50 for each additional mile.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Historic Center
Travel in time with a visit to Rome’s historic center, given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1980. The site includes several major monuments of antiquity, including the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Mausoleum of Augustus, as well as the public buildings of papal Rome in Vatican City. Previously restricted areas of the Colosseum have opened to visitors within the last few years, including its underground, where the gladiators rested and animals were stored, and its third anell (level), where you can enjoy fantastic views of its interior and the skyline of Rome.

Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
Admire beautiful paintings by Velázquez and Caravaggio while getting a glimpse of how aristocratic Rome lived at the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. The family palace features four art galleries overlooking a beautiful courtyard with hundreds of medieval and Byzantine masterpieces. Open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., tickets cost about $15 and include an audio guide.

Villa Borghese
Located near Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese is a beautifully landscaped park in the heart of Rome, covering 148 acres of verdant grounds and formal gardens. Enjoy a picnic of Roman delicacies under umbrella pines, rent a bike, visit the park’s zoo or take a tour of the Galleria Borghese, an art gallery that showcases paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Call ahead or buy tickets online for the gallery, as reservations are a must.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

Estate Romana Festival
The annual Estate Romana, or Roman Summer, is a collection of music, film and arts events that take place throughout the summer months. Highlights include the vendor stalls set up along the Tiber River and L’Isola del Cinema, an open-air cinema screening films on Tiber Island.

Festa di Primavera
Plan a visit in late March or early April to partake in Rome’s spring festival. The city welcomes the season with concerts on the colorful Spanish Steps, which get decorated with hundreds of potted, bright pink azaleas.

Natale di Roma Festival
Held April 21 each year, the Natale di Roma Festival celebrates the founding of Rome in 753 B.C. by its mythical forefather Romulus. The event includes mock gladiator battles, parades and dancing.

RESOURCES

For more information, visit turismoroma.it