Rome is the capital of Italy and of the Lazio region. It's the renowned city of La Dolce Vita, the Vatican City, the Seven Hills and Three Coins in the Fountain. The Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Being one of the most magnificent and passionate cities in the world, Rome has an attractive mix of flamboyant highlights and lively city life. Italian designer shopping, delicious ice cream, foamy cappuccino and superb wines are just some of the things that make this city so special. In addition to the Roman heritage there are also medieval neighbourhoods, elegant squares, colourful markets and of course the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica.

REASONS TO GO 

The Art - Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Bernini, and Borromini

High-quality life – shopping, gastronomy and ice-creams

The beautiful squares and fountains

TO AVOID

Avoid visiting in August, as it gets too crowded and too hot.

BEST TIME TO GO

The best time to visit is during spring or autumn. The weather is quite pleasant then, and there won’t be so many tourists as in July and August.

ORIENTATION

Rome is located in the central-western Italy, on the Tiber River, between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city has been one of history's most influential and significant centres. Remains from the imperial era include the monumental Colosseum, the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), and the overwhelming Pantheon - a Roman temple, conserved as a church. 

Renaissance treasures are concentrated within the historic centre, where the Piazza Navona, sweepingly romantic Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain are all placed quite close from each other. To the west, in the other side of the river, is the Vatican State - the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church, and the well-known Sistine Chapel.

HOW TO GET THERE

BY PLANE

Rome has two main international airports:

- Rome’s main airport, Leonardo da Vinci, is located in Fiumicino, 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) from the city. From Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino airport, you can take the Leonardo Express trains. They leave every 30 minutes to the central train station Roma Termini (35 minute trip). Tickets cost €11 and are available at the counter as well as the Termini news stand.

A good choice from Fiumicino is to take the bus to EUR Magliana (stops directly at the metro station, which belongs to line B) and then take the Metro. It's the cheapest way to get to the centre (€2 bus + €1 metro). The sign on this bus reads "Fiumicino-Porto-Magliana" number 771.

Taxis charge a flat rate of €40 for the same trip.

- The city’s second airport Ciampino is mostly served by low-cost airlines and package tours.

From Ciampino airport, you can take the bus to Metro Line A Anagnina station (ticket: €1.20). A metro ticket to central Rome costs another €1. There are also buses at the same price to Ciampino local train station; from there, there is a train to Rome Termini station (ticket: €2). The buses operate every hour or 30 minutes and take at least 45 minutes.

A taxi ride from the airport and central Rome takes 20 minutes and costs just over €32.

There are a few direct bus services from Ciampino, all of which go to the Termini in Downtown Rome:

Sit bus shuttle runs a line that costs €6 one-way or 10€ with return (approx. 40 min, with about 25 services a day).

Terravision this is a dedicated airport-city transfer only for the major low cost airlines. The price is €6 one-way or €12 return when booked online (approx. 40 min, with a service every 30 min).

COTRAL's direct line costs €5 one-way (approx. 40 min).

BY CRUISE SHIP

Cruise ships dock at the port of Civitavecchia, about 50 miles north-west of Rome. A shuttle bus plies between the various cruise-ship quays and Forte Michelangelo at the entrance to the port; from here it’s a short 10-minute walk down Viale Garibaldi to the train station.

On the way (at No 34) you will pass the morning-only tourist information bureau. Consider investing in a BIRG one-day travel pass (€9.50/£8.30) at the station: this includes travel down to Rome and back, and bus/metro travel within the city. The journey from Civitavecchia to Rome San Pietro station takes about 45 minutes. 

BY TRAIN

If you like overland travel, the train can be a good way of getting to Italy – for example via the daily Palatino night train from Paris Bercy, which takes a leisurely 14.5 hours (www.eurorailways.com). The main station is Roma Termini, to the east of the centre.

Some trains also stop at the outlying Roma Tiburtina station, which is connected to Termini and other points beyond by metro. Italy’s high-speed trains have come on apace in the past decade and are good ways of exploring the country, too (timetables and prices at www.trenitalia.com).

TRAVELLING AROUND

Walking in the city centre is a very good way to get to know this amazing city.

If you choose to travel by public transports, ATAC operates the city's buses and trams, covering the entire city.

There are two lines, crossing at Termini station. Line A (red line) runs northwest past the Vatican, and then heads south. Line B (Blue Line) runs southwest past the Colosseum and then heads northeast.

Night buses run between 00.00-05.30, along 22 routes, and are marked on bus stops and buses with the letter ‘N'.

Roman taxis aren’t cheap: though the official minimum fare is €2.80 (£2.40), most journeys have a way of coming out at €10 (£8.80) or more, and a cross-city crawl in traffic can set you back as much as €25 (£22). There is a €3 (£2.60) night surcharge between 10pm and 7am.

For a receipt, ask “Mi fa una ricevuta, per favore?” Two reputable radio taxi co-operatives are Samarcanda (06 5551; www.samarcanda.it) and Cooperativa Radiotaxi 3570 (06 3570; www.3570.it).

Bicycles, scooters and motorbikes are available to rent and are a good way to move around.

INFO

http://www.turislazio.it/

ROME WALKING TOUR

Here is a good idea to a passeggiata, the pre-prandial Roman ritual. Here's the most famous route:

Begin your prowl around 5 p.m. at the 1 Piazza Navona, where you can people-watch in front of the Bernini fountain. Continue toward the Pantheon and, after a few minutes of staring at the great domed roof, indulge in a granita di limone from Giolitti (Via Uffici del Vicario 40). 

It's now about —time to head toward the Via del Corso. The Piazza di Montecitorio is home to the Italian parliament's Chamber of Deputies. The red-granite obelisk dates from the sixth century B.C. and was claimed by Augustus as a trophy of his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra. 

Just beyond is the Piazza Colonna, named for the second-century-A.D. column commemorating Marcus Aurelius's military victories.

Cruise north on the Via del Corso, taking in the shop windows and the festive atmosphere.  

On the Via Condotti, you'll pass Italian icons of more recent vintage— Bulgari! Ferragamo! Gucci!—on your way to the Spanish Steps. Every visitor to Rome ends up in the Piazza di Spagna at some point.

Take a minute to pose in front of the Fontana degli Artisti, a tribute to artists and their changeable outlooks.

Continue toward the monumental Piazza del Popolo, which offered ancient travelers their first view of Rome. In the center of this vast traffic-free square, you will find another of Augustus's Egyptian trophies—as well as a phenomenal Michael Jackson impersonator. 

The Church of Santa Maria del Popolo has paintings by Caravaggio and the Chigi chapel, designed by Raphael.

And now you are ready for a superb Roman dinner.