For most of the summer, I was afraid to go to Italy. I was scared to hear the accent, to taste spaghetti Bolognese, to smell espresso. I worried that hearing my favourite Italian word, “Alora”, might send me straight over the edge. You see, I fell in love with an Italian last year. If this has …
When I clambered onto the full flight from Paris to Rome, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to a fellow passenger. I closed my eyes, exhausted after twenty hours of travel. Lunch arrived and my seatmate, a mild-mannered gent, said, “I always chat during the meal—I’m Peter.” My heart sank, but I …
For young Italians, nothing says “That’s Amore!” quite like heavy metal – and the rest of the continent is locking onto the trend. Maybe it’s just me, but when I think metal, chains and padlocks, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn’t romance. But leave it to the Italians to take those three things, add …
First Time Visitor Guide to Rome Most first-time visitors are filled with excitement and suspense when they first arrive in Rome. This guide will help you get to your hotel and plan the rest of your stay. Rome is so full of unfathomable beauty that it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into. Before you head …
Of all the cities in the world, there are few having more intriguing and rewarding areas than Rome’s neighborhoods. Standing proudly alongside such famous neighborhoods as the boroughs of New York City and the arrondissements of Paris, the neighborhoods Rioni of Rome are filled with historic sites and museums and each has its own style …
Here’s an overview of the most important sights in Rome. Let’s pretend that you’re just leaving the hotel for the first time since arriving in Rome. What do you want to see most? Luckily, many of the most important historic sites are within walking distance of one another. If you want to find out if …
The first question asked by most people flying into Rome is – “How do I get from the airport to my hotel?”Rome’s primary airport, Leonardo da Vinci, nicknamed Fiumicino or FCO, is 16 miles from the city center. The most popular way to get to the city center is to take the train, which leaves every half hour …
In the last edition of Planning your Italy Vacation, I wrote about traveling north from Rome, with Venice as the final destination. In this post we’ll explore the alternative: traveling from Rome southward. This alternative will be attractive to travelers who have already seen the major sights in the north of Italy, and to …
This article, written for first-time travelers to Italy, is intended to assist in itinerary planning for those who want to start in Rome while also wanting to see it all. It is the first in a series of articles which will address a variety of routes throughout Italy and, we hope,prove valuable to travelers with all degrees of familiarity with Italy. One …
Some of the best deals in Rome can be found in the beautiful outdoor markets. Located in timeless settings on ancient streets and in stunning piazzas, the markets offer every kind of merchandise imaginable, from immaculate floral arangments and high-quality produce to inexpensive clothes, shoes, and antiques. I first visited the markets as a …