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Tours in Rome: Three Less-Conventional Options

17 Feb

There are plethora of options when it comes to tours in Rome, but if you’ve already checked out the Colloseum and the Sistine Chapel, here are some off-the-beaten path options for the adventurous traveler.

Segway tours in Rome

There are several operators who run Segway tours of Rome’s main sights. Instead of sitting on a bus all day, you can be out on the streets in an intimate group. Sure, you’ll look a little funny, but if you’ve never ridden one before a Segway can be a lot of fun. And you’ll also get to see more of the city without getting as exhausted as you might on a walking tour. They can be pricey, however, what with the Segway rental, so shop around and make sure you find one that covers the things that you want to see.

Food tours in Rome

While you’re out, hitting the pavement and learning about this ancient city, why not enjoy some of it’s famous gastronomic delights? There are several options when it comes to culinary tours in Rome, from walking tours that take you to several shops, restaurants and markets, through to wine tasting tours, all the way to local cooking lessons! See the city, learn about it’s history, and get a taste of authentic Roman favourites, like espresso, pizza & gelato.

Day tours outside of Rome

If you’re in Rome for more then a weekend and want to venture out beyond the city, there are lots of guided tours you can take. You could venture to the ancient town of Tivoli to admire it stunning architecture and gardens, and even check out the UNESCO heritage listed Villa d’Est. Alternatively, why not take trip out to the pearl of the mediterannean, the island of Capri? Some trips return to the Port of Naples before shuttling you back to Rome. Another option is a day tour of the catacombs of San Sebastian or San Callisto. You’ll get to see the famous aquaducts and the Old Appian Way.

Rome city tours

Rome city tours

Modern Attractions in Rome

14 Dec

Many people visit Rome for the history and culture, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some of the modern attractions along the way. Below are just some of the modern attractions in Rome.

Stadio Olimpico

Football plays a huge part in the lives of modern Romans and this stadium is home to the city’s largest clubs, Roma and Lazio. Both clubs are giants in Italian football and have hoards of followers who regularly pack the 82,000 seats. Aside from football the stadium also hosts athletics meetings as well as pop concerts and various other events. The stadium has seen many changes over the years and the museum makes fascinating viewing. A tour of the stadium is an opportunity to see a modern stadium in its prime.

Museo D’Arte Contemporanea Roma (MACRO)

Contemporary art has a fitting home here in the MACRO. The modern building in Rome is located close to the main train station in the centre of the city and the artwork has an edge to it which cannot be found elsewhere in the city. The exhibits are visitor friendly with explanations in both Italian and English. The work on display includes paintings, videos, photographs and sculptures.

Museo D'Arte

Museo D'Arte

Via del Pigneto

This area as a whole is a great place to experience the modern and cosmopolitan side to the city. The pedestrianised street is packed with restaurants, entertainment venues, trendy bars and some of the most happening nightclubs in the city.

Roman Remains to Visit in Rome

15 Nov

Rome was the home city to one of the most successful empires the ever have existed, and you can still see evidence of this around the city today. Below are some of the best Roman remains to visit.

Forum Boarium

This was the site of the cattle market during the Roman times and still remains in remarkably good condition. As a result of the port which used to exist here there were high levels of commercial activity, meaning it was one of the focal points of the city.

Roman sites

Roman sites

Mausoleum of Augustus

With outer walls of this structure being 5 metres thick it should come as no real surprise that vast amounts of it have survived until modern times. This monument was once one of the most important in Rome, with many of the most significant people in its history buried here. There is not much of the structure left any more, but it is still an intriguing visit.

Forum of Trajan

In its prime, this forum contained libraries, markets and political buildings. The ruins of the forum are one of the best preserved examples in the city of life in ancient Rome, and upon visiting here it is easy to imagine the activity that once took place.

Aurelian Wall

This wall was built to protect ancient Rome from the threat of invasion, and it is a testament to how well the job was undertaken that significant parts of the wall have survived until today.

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Learning to Speak Italian in Rome

11 Oct

Whilst one can easily get by in Rome without speaking the native language of Italian, for many people the opportunity to learn aspects of the language is a big part of the experience of visiting another country. There are various opportunities to learn the language in Rome, and below are some ideas on how you can do so.

Phrase books – A good way to pick up the basics of the language is to purchase a phrase book, either pre or post arrival, and make an effort to speak in the language as much as you can. You will be surprised how quickly you pick up the key terms and phrases.

Italian Students

Italian Students

Language school – If you are staying in Rome for a number of weeks or months you can take advantage of one of the medium term courses which run in various institutions around the city. You can easily find details of these courses on the Internet, and will also see details advertised when in Rome. Attending one of these courses will help you to adapt to the culture and is also a great way to meet people.

Language lessons – If you are only staying in Rome for a short period of time but want to pick up bits of the language you can enjoy one of the one-day courses, some of which are delivered in picturesque surroundings which add a genuine feel to proceedings.

Speaking to locals – The locals in Rome will appreciate you making an effort to speak to them in their language instead of expecting them to speak in English. It is good fun to speak to people in bars and cafes and test your language skills.

You can learn more about Rome, Italy with the Free Rome travel guides online and via the Rome travel blog for extra articles. Learning more about the Italian culture and lifestyle can also make it easier to understands the language, given the way language and a county’s culture are integrated. Find Rome apartments in Italy.

Cafes to Visit in Rome

4 Sep

espresso coffee

Visiting a cafe is a great way to take a break from all of the tourist activity in Rome. Below are just some of the charismatic cafes which can be found in the city.

Caffè S. Eustachio

If you consider yourself an espresso connoisseur you should definitely try out this cafe which can be found just around the corner from the Pantheon. From the outside it may not appear that this cafe has much to offer, but it has developed a reputation by delivering high quality drinks for a number of years.

 Caffè Rosati

If in search of a lunch time coffee and sandwich you should definitely consider paying this place a visit. The coffee isn’t of the same standard as some of the cafes in the city, but the privileged location on Piazza del Popolo and good food ensure that it remains a positive experience.

 

Caffè Greco

A visit to this cafe tends to be more to enjoy the history than to savour the coffee. Being one of the oldest cafes in Rome, Caffe Greco is in need of having a bit of life injected back into it, but perhaps it is the tired and ‘real’ characteristics which make it appealing.

 Caffè della Pace

This place never fails to delight the tourist who is looking for a truly Italian cafe experience. The architecture of the cafe, its design, feel and service are all typically Italian and the place just oozes quality.

Museo della Pasta

25 Jun

Along with pizza, Pasta is one of the most famous Italian foods and also one of its most famous exports – it’s no wonder then that in Rome is a museum, the Museo della Pasta, which is dedicated to this healthy and diverse food type which offers an interesting and enjoyable experience to anyone visiting the city…

Pasta

Pasta Museum - Museo della Pasta

For many, pasta is synonymous with Italian cuisine and it accounts for a considerable amount of the food consumed a whole lot within the boundaries of Italy itself, and increasingly, all around the globe.

People all over the world have gradually adopted the culture of eating pasta and preparing home-made to gourmet pasta dishes.

A peak into the Museo della Pasta

The Museo della Pasta is made up of 11 exhibition tours and is packed with information and resourceful displays and videos which make it well worth a visit.

The museum takes you through the journey of pasta over the years from how and when it was first created to its place in the modern society.

Lots of resourceful information at the Museo della Pasta

You can also learn all about how pasta is produced, viewing some of the implements that have been used over the thousands of years that pasta has existed in many different forms.

There’s the opportunity to also learn all about the nutritional values of the different types of pasta, something which adds a different dynamic to what you can take away from your visit.

You can walk around the museum on your own or take advantage of one of the talking tours which run at regular intervals throughout the day. For those who do not speak Italian there is the opportunity to hire headphones which translate the talking tours into various different languages.

So there you have it, for everything pasta, the Museo della Pasta is your best bet, and a trip to Rome is not complete without visiting the pasta museum!

Physical Activities in Rome

12 May

When visiting Rome be careful not to get too caught up in the history and culture of the city. Whilst these two characteristics of the city are highly acclaimed, and rightly so, there are plenty of other attractions and activities around Rome to keep you entertained. Below are some of the physical activities which you can enjoy in and around Rome.

Cycling in Rome

This is a great option for getting around the city as you can meander around the various tourist sites and take advantage of the bicycle lanes which are present in many areas of the city. There is also superb countryside and landscape to explore around the city.

Golf in Rome

Golf in Rome

Rome Golf

For the golf lover, regardless of your capabilities, there are a significant number of courses in close proximity to the city centre. The Parco di Roma Golf Club is probably the nearest to the city centre and was designed by a leading architect. The views of the surrounding countryside are simply marvellous.

La Piscina delle Rose Swimming Pool

This facility has great swimming pools, both indoors and out. During the hotter months the outdoor pool is popular, but not so busy that it ruins the experience. This is the largest public pool in Rome.

Rome Marathon

Rome Marathon is one of the more popular marathons in Europe as it represents the opportunity to take in some of the famous sights and scenes, especially as it starts in St Peter’s Square. Another feature of this marathon is the opportunity to run with some of the world’s leading athletes.

You might also be interested in friends in Barcelona who offer events management for groups, including with activities such as Barcelona burlesque lessons and classes.

Skiing on the Italian alpi for a trip outside of Rome is also worth consideration!

The most famous squares in Europe

10 May

In the last post I talked a bit about Europe’s most emblematic streets, and this time I thought I’d take the topic a bit further and talk about its most gorgeous squares. My criteria are fairly simple; they need to be architecturally stunning and have a handful of outdoors cafes from which you can enjoy their beauty.

Probably the grand dame of all European squares is Venice’s San Marco, a simply divine stage surrounded by richly detailed baroque and renaissance architecture, including the basilica of the same name. Has there anyone that has not been captivated by it? I actually prefer it at night, when tourists have retired to their hotels and the resident pigeons have flown home.  To

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

admire its beauty you can’t beat an outdoor table at the Florian, a café seeped in the city’s history.

Also in Italy, Rome’s Piazza Navona has Bernini’s gorgeous fountain, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi as an Italian centrepiece surrounded by sumptuous palazzi. As the foal point of the centro storico, it’s also busy most of the time. My favourite thing to do here is buy a gelato and sit of the edge the fountain to watch the passing parade.

In Barcelona, the Plaça Reial, just off Las Ramblas has a faded glory that is particularly lovely during the day, whilst Madrid’s Plaza del Sol, scene of medieval bullfights, never fails to impress with its perfect symmetry.

In Paris, the Place de la Concorde, is the largest in the French capital and of course has the famous Obelisk. But my personal favourite is the Place de l’Opera, with the beautiful opera house and the Café de Paris, one of the nicest terrace-cafes in the city.

The Theatre of Pompey: The Might of Ancient Rome

31 Mar

The Theatre of Pompey was one of Ancient Rome’s largest and most celebrated structures, renowned throughout the empire for a good part of the first millennium. It was instigated by General Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, modelled on a classical Greek design and erected in the central Campus Martius, or Field of Mars, in central Rome.

Theatre of Pompey

Theatre of Pompey

The theatre was simply enormous complex that included temples, sacred areas, a garden, meeting areas, an auditorium with semi-circular seating, a 300-foot stage and spaces for musicians. Pompeius dedicated the Theatre to Venus and added a large shrine to the goddess. There were also four other temples in an area, now known as the Largo di Torre Argentina.

Despite its gigantic size and incredible achievements in engineering, the Theatre of Pompey is also significant for being the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination. On the Ides of March (March 15th), Caesar was accosted by senators near the Theatre and then stabbed by more than sixty men. As most people know, Caesar’s assassination is of considerable historical significance, and marked the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.

Today, little remains of the Theatre of Pompey. Its original site is now one of Rome’s most congested areas. After serving as a fortress in medieval times, huge chunks were carted away to build housing in the area. Parts of the theatre can be seen throughout the city, particularly the Palazzo della Cancelleria, a Renaissance Palace that has used much of the theatre’s old columns and travertine.

In the context of present day Rome, the site of Theatre of Pompey covers areas such as the Campo Dei Fiori (named after the woman Pompey loved) and the Via dei Chiavari (which means ‘Street of Keymakers’).

Galleria Doria Pamphilj near the Spanish Steps

8 Mar

An art gallery with a history and a rich collection of artwork, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj is located near the Spanish Steps area of Rome. This gallery is home to a treasury of seventeenth century art, collected by the Doria-Pamphilj family of Italy.

The family, whose umbrella name of Doria-Pamphilj embraces the families of Doria, Pamphilj, Aldobrandini and Landi, is an illustrious and wealthy one, with Popes and Princes among its members. The Galleria Doria Pamphilj was once the home of Pope Innocent X, who belonged to the Pamphilj family.

An English heritage line runs in the family and the quarter-English Princess Orietta Pogson Doria Pamphilj and her English husband were responsible for the restoration of the family’s art collection. The collection was opened to the public soon after the collection was restored. Some of the seventeenth century artists represented here includes Annibale Carracci, Jan Bruegel, Caravaggio, Gaspard Dughet, Guido Reni, Claude Lorrain and Guercino.

In addition to paintings, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj also houses fine sculptures by Bernini and Algardi. Some of the sculptures in the Galleria Doria Pamphilj collection date from ancient times; the gallery also boasts interesting antique furniture and furnishings on display. The gem of the collection housed at the Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a portrait of Pope Innocent X, painted by Velázquez.

Some of the other much appreciated works at the Galleria Doria Pamphilj include works such as the:

  • Salome with Head of John the Baptist by Titian
  • Carracci’s Mary Magdalene
  • Saletta del Cinqecento by Raphael
  • Madonna in Adoration of the Child by Reni and St. Joseph by Guercino
Rome art

Rome art

Located off Via del Corso at the Piazza del Collegio, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj is open between 10 am and 5 pm seven days a week. You can also request a private tour of the gallery. Admission costs €9 for adults.

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