2674 Visiting Rome

[QUOTE=Lizzie B]Hi everyone, this is my first post, although I have been visiting the site for a while. Enjoy reading about all things Italian, love the food and now 'the rugrats' are old enough to be left at home the other half and myself are going to start taking holidays with just our interests in mind.

I have recently started to learn Italian and we have decided to spend a few days in Rome in mid March. Have plenty of info from guidebooks and websites but would welcome ideas from anyone who has particularly enjoyed something / somewhere in Rome which we would not find in standard tourist info. We find ideas from others can add so much more to a short break.

Also, will take a taxi from Ciampino airport, a colleague says around 55euros but as we will have more time on return journey is it easy to return to airport by train.

Many thanks

Lizzie[/QUOTE]

Lizzie,

Very difficult to get to Ciampino by train as it goes nowhere near it. You can either get the metro to the end of Linea A (I think) to a station called Anagnina. From there you can get a bus to the airport. Experience tells me the bus is very infrequent and whilst cheap, not a good option.

Ryanair put on a bus from the centre of Rome which is very good, so long as you know where to catch it. I think it's about twelve Euros. This also runs from the airport, so could be a good option for the way there. From memory it stops at the main railway station. Whilst I've never had any problems there, some guidebooks say it's a good idea not to walk around iwith yer suitcases for too long looking like a daft brit. That said, that's good advice anywhere. Lots of taxis there anyway to take you to your hotel, and the advantage is you'll know where to catch the bus for on the way back.:D

Andy

[QUOTE=Lizzie B]

Also, will take a taxi from Ciampino airport, a colleague says around 55euros but as we will have more time on return journey is it easy to return to airport by train.

Many thanks

Lizzie[/QUOTE]

The easiest way to get to Ciampino is by bus from the huge piazza outside Termini station (the main station in Rome). Although Ryanair offer a deal (E8) with a company called Terravision, friends recently turned up paid E5 and were at Ciampino 40 mins later. I do not know the name of the company they used, they just walked out of the station, found the bus and were off, no advance booking required. Assuming you are not travelling at odd times the buses leave fairly frequently both to and from the airport.

As for Rome itself there is so much to see, just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. Explore the back streets, go to Trastevere, probably more tourists now, but still off the beaten track, and if you have time a trip out to Ostia Antica is well worth it, a mini Pompeii, it is an easy walk from the station. Good luck.

Lizzie, the Terravision bus from Ciampino to center of Rome is the best way to get into the city center. Read up on the city and try to check your itinerary on the map before you go out so you wont have to do the tourist thing. If you are looking for unusual museums, itineraries, historical info check my site after searching articles on Italy mag.

There is actually a local bus from Ciampino station to the airport - problem is that the terminal is on one side of the runway and the town of Ciampino with station on the other (ps don't think of walking - have seen some poor sods trying it -no footpaths etc etc.) From Termini to Ciampino station is only about 20 minutes and if you have the time to get the bus (pretty frequent during working hours) I have seen loads of independent travellers going this way.Otherwise most Ryannair travellers get the Terravision bus. If you get stuck, there are usually taxis at Ciampino station and it's only a 10 minute ride

as for Rome, I agree with Anne, just walk and walk and soak up the atmosphere especially on your first day. You will soon realize how most thing are within easy walking distance and will decide what sort of things attract you most - some love the churches, others the art, most the history but you can delve only so deep in a short visit so just let it all wash over you and don't tie yourself to too much of an itinerary - chill and enjoy the atmosphere - you don't need to seek it out, it's everywhere

Welcome to the forum, hope you find it informative. Do take the time to look at etruria's site, well worthwhile [url]www.elegantetruria.com[/url] Have a great time in Roma then when you decide you want to come and stay in Lazio again come to the Viterbo region, still only just over an hour from central Roma! Do contact us if you are ever in the area or want to be as we may be able to help with suggestions for accommodation.

Ahhh just returned from Rome 2 nights ago... ~sob~ ;)

I can only confirm what others have already said - walk, walk, walk!!! Your feet are killing you but you just can't stop...

We stayed at a nice hotel (great deal with excellent, if basic, service) 5 minutes walk from Termini station. Not the greatest area to be in but nicely suited for our late night arrival.

We pre-booked the Terravision bus through the link on Ryanair's website (tickets £9.50 return pp) and got there & back without any hassle.

We spent a whole day exploring the Colosseum & Palatine Hill, on lovely & sunny Tuesday! I wouldn't rush this area at all but take it very leisurely. It was my personal highlight!

You should go & see the Pantheon, as it's a really amazing building (my fiance's highlight of the trip). The area around there is quite nice, with quaint shops & tiny bars & restaurants. The Piazza Campo de' Fiori is nice too but we arrived just after lunchtime (had a nosy over the square but couldn't delay feeding time any longer and found a nice outdoors pizzeria 2 mins away), so we missed the market.

The queues outside the Vatican Museum were a bit annoying - we should've taken the bus instead of walking, despite setting up early it took us around an hour to get there! But what do you expect... :D

The Sistine Chapel was incredible but we then only managed to see the Egyptian part of the museum. Must go back another time for the other stuff. St Paul's is an impressive building, but oppressive at the same time. Didn't like it at all. I much preferred many of the smaller churches & chapels found in the narrow side streets of the centre - lovely paintings & frescoes and not so over-run.

It was fabulous just 'getting lost' in the area between the Trevi Fountain and he Roman ruins. I loved the idea that there are so many drinking water fountains all over the city. Didn't have to buy any bottled water at all... just stuck to bottles of wine instead!!

We didn't go off the beaten track as this was our first visit to Rome. There are still so many sights I want to see so we've agreed to come back one day!

Please send me a pm for any additional information... :)

Cheers,
Stephanie