Rugby Six Nations – Rugby is not traditionally an Italian sport but year after year as the standard of the Italian team improves, so does the level of support for this prestigious international tournament. In recent years Italy has started to win a few games and the promise of a more competitive event gives you the perfect opportunity to go on a cheeky holiday.

Horse show

Roma & Lazio Football Club – Football is the most popular sport in Italy and these two clubs are the largest in the city. They share a stadium and both attract massive crowds of people who come to enjoy club football at the world’s highest level. (More on Rome football).

International Horse Show - This highly regarded horse show is held every year in Rome and attracts top standard riders from around the world. The location is wonderful and the competition riveting.

Rome Marathon – If you are the sort of person who likes to be involved in sporting events as opposed to watching then you should consider running the Rome Marathon. There are not many marathons in the world which have such glorious settings.

Colosseum Rome

Upon walking up to the Colosseum a tingle rose up my spine. Despite the fact that when the venue was abandoned the structure was exposed to severe pillagery, it still stands in an unmistakable and awe inspiring state. The arches can easily be made out and the detail of the design is still on view over much of the structure. Immediately upon viewing the Collosseum my mind was filled with visions of the thousands upon thousands of people who would visit the venue to bond over the bloody battles between warriors.

For my visit, I decided that once I had taken time to walk around the exterior of the structure I would invest in a tour to fully appreciate the experience. The tour guide was fantastic and his enthusiasm and obvious passion for the building was contagious, and I have to say the level of knowledge possessed was particularly impressive. What really rounded off the experience for me was the parading of actors dressed in authentic Roman soldier wear. This, together with the pictures being pained in my mind by the stories of the guide, left me in a world of my own and, at least for a minute, I felt as if I was really at the heart of a true Roman experience.  

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The Colosseum – A survivor of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum used to play host to the battles of gladiators. This was amongst the most popular event for citizens of Ancient Rome and was regularly attended by the Emperor.

The Pantheon – This was built by Emperor Haden in or around 126 AD as a temple to all gods. It still stands in good condition today and is an imposing and inspirational piece of architecture. (Staying in Pantheon?)

The Roman Forum – This collection of historical ruins used to be the epicentre of Rome’s political, commercial and religious activities. Today you can walk through the remains along the old market square, enjoying the old relics on display and imagining the flurry of activity which used to take place there.

The Vatican – The Vatican is the residence of the Catholic Pope and is therefore one of the most visited and significant religious sites in the world.

Trastevere – Wonderfully picturesque, this medieval neighbourhood has a charm unique to this area. The tight streets and hanging baskets make for an enjoyable and engaging walk.

Rome ice cream

If you have visited Rome and come back home without visiting one of its famous “gelaterie” or ice cream parlours, you are guilty of missing out on one of the most decadent cold desserts of Italian origin. The Romans give as much importance to their ice cream as they do to pasta and coffee and visitors simply must taste this delicious ice cream of Rome because it is not only top quality, but also original.

When I was in Rome, I learned the basic difference between “ice cream” and “gelato.” The Italian “gelato” is smoother and richer than the ice cream you will find in ice cream parlours elsewhere. This is because the Italians churn the mixture and avoid loading it with cream and sugar. They also sell it in cups and cones. Also, since you pay for your “gelato” per cup, you can request 2 – 3 flavours in your cup.

Never leave Rome without visiting San Crispino, a narrow and long shop, which looks just like Italian ice cream parlours did before glass display cases were invented. San Crispino offers several flavours of gelato made of nuts, fresh fruits and even liqueurs; you will find San Crispino branches all over Rome.

During my last visit to Rome, I had visited the Coliseum and was longing for some ice cream when I spotted the Tre Scalini. This delightful place is located in the Piazza Navona and you must not fail to taste the chocolate ice cream ball rolled in chunks of chocolate with a cherry at its centre. You can eat this delightful gelato delicacy as you people watch at the square.

If you are interested in traditional Italian flavours, you can visit the 19th-century Giolitti, which is located a short distance from the Pantheon. Try the rare combination of fudge chocolate with tart lemon sherbet and you will never forget it.

If you know where to look however, you’ll find good selection of quality restaurants that will give your tastebud a tingle.

Rome Restaurants

Firsty the Italians adore vegetables and fruits and many of the antipasti or appetizers and contorni or side dishes always included such vegetarian items such as sautéed spinach with garlic, grilled vegetables brushed with fresh olive oil or roasted potatoes with rosemary. Fresh mozzarella & basil with olive oil drizzled on top is one of my favourites. If you travel at the right time of year, porcini is practically on every menu across the city. The meat-like texture of Porcini, with its earthy and somewhat nutty flavor is unequaled among mushrooms.

One of my favorite restaurants is Il Margutta RistoArte” which is located a few minutes Piazza di Spagna. It’s a wonderful restaurant that has ive music each evening. Try the polenta with savory wild mushroom ragù and there’s an excellent stock of organic wine to wash it down.

The Naturist Club located in via della vita is another favourite. Homemade vegetarian/macrobiotic and organic food will be waiting for you.

If you’re feeling really hungry and you’re in a large group. Try out Lucifero – Ristorante – Fonduteria – Taverna • 00186 – Roma – Via dei Cappellari n° 28 – Tel. e Fax: 0668805536. http://www.tavernalucifero.it Lucifero’s is a hidden gem and sells fondo. It’s like nothing you have ever had before. If you are in Rome, please make your way here – you will not forget it. Not to be missed.

And remember, if you just want a good old fanshioned plate of pasta, you can find that in every trattoria in the city.

rome summer

I love spending my summers in Rome, because it is the off season for tourists and also because this is the time when many of the locals take their vacations or travel to the coast. Summer is the only time of the year, when you will get to see Rome minus all the throngs of tourists and people eager to see the Vatican, making it the most peaceful, not to mention most cost effective time to travel here.

Since the influx of tourists to Rome decreases during the summer, hotels, restaurants and tour operators tend to drop their rates in an effort to attract more customers. This gives me great accommodation at a budget price while cutting down my travel costs.

If you are looking to tour the city and understand its culture and beauty, mke it a point to visit the Coliseum, Campo de’ Fiori and the Trastevere. The Coliseum opens many of its cordoned off portions to visitors during the summer and the squares and fountains are not crowded with people milling about, giving you a great opportunity to take some fantastic pictures if you are photographer.

Another fascinating aspect about being in Rome during the summer is that you will get to attend many open air shows and entertainment events organised in the Via dei Fori Imperiali, many of which have free entry.

Music lovers will enjoy themselves in Rome as the city hosts many concerts in summer; jazz concerts and live readings take place near the Basilica di Massenzio, while the Villa Celimontana and surrounding areas host many shows.

During summer, Rome becomes a hive of activity featuring several summer special events and introducing new activities to keep tourists like me very happy. The city tends to hosts several open air concerts and events during the summer, some of which have free entry and some of which require tickets. For instance, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma puts on an open air opera and ballet show near the Baths of Caracalla, while the Villa Massimo stages a dance festival and the Castel Sant’Angelo hosts music events in the evenings.  Other interesting events featured in Rome include outdoor movies screened in squares or parks.

Rome living

There is always something to do in Rome on a summer evening and this is what I love most about the city. During the day, you can walk around the cobbled streets while enjoying a cappuccino gelato and visit local shops, stop to rest at small cafes in the square and shop at small boutiques. Even the museums in Rome often offer discounted rates and free hours during the summer, which travellers on a budget can take advantage of.

Another great thing about Roman summers is that the city is less crowded during this time and in an effort to make up for the loss of tourist traffic, everything in Rome from the gelato to the hotel rooms are cheaper. You will also get to see to some rare monuments and attractions in Rome that are closed to the public the rest of the year. These include the Temple of Romulus and the city’s oldest house – the House of the Griffins, if you make a trip to the coliseum during the summer, you will find that most of its sections are open to the public.

Catacombs Rome

Whilst many people think of catacombs as simply ‘mass graves’ the truth is that they are much more complex than that. The Roman catacombs are located over a labyrinth-like network of tunnels and passageways, chiselled out of the soft volcanic earth underneath the Appia Way.

Although popular culture has often told us that the catacombs were used as secret burial places for persecuted Christians, it is only half the story. During the time of persecution, martyrs were buried in them, and later on Christians chose to be buried here for several reasons; One was that they wanted to be buried next the early martyrs, and another was that they disliked the idea of cremation, (which was the norm in Rome at the time) and wanted to buried underground—as Christ was. Another, and wholly more romantic theory is that early Christians had a strong sense of community, and they wanted to be together during the ‘sleep of death’.

The most famous of the catacombs along the Appia Way is the Catacombs of San Callisto. Extending some 20kms, almost 500,00 people rest here, including Santa Cecilia.

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

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.