| |
There's
no escaping it: Rome means history. There's layers of the
stuff - Etruscan tombs, Republican meeting rooms, Imperial
temples, early Christian churches, medieval bell towers, Renaissance
palaces and baroque basilicas. In this city a phenomenal concentration
of history, legend and monuments coexists with an equally
phenomenal concentration of people busily going about their
everyday life. It's hard to say what you'll find most breathtaking
about the eternal city - the arrogant opulence of the Vatican,
the timelessness of the Forum, the top speed of a Fiat Bambino
or the bill for your caffè latte.
Orientation
Rome
is halfway down Italy's western coast, about 20km (12mi) inland.
It's a vast city, but the historic centre is quite small.
Most of the major sights are within a reasonable distance
of the central railway station, Stazione Termini. It is, for
instance, possible to walk from the Colosseum, through the
Forum, up to Piazza di Spagna and across to the Vatican in
one day, but you wouldn't really want to. All the major monuments
are west of the train station, but make sure you use a map.
While it can be enjoyable to get off the beaten track in Rome,
it can also be very frustrating and time-consuming.
The
Palatine Hill and the Forum are the centre of ancient Rome.
Via del Corso runs north from the Forum to Piazza del Popolo,
with the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain just to its
east. The Vatican is northwest of the Forum, across the River
Tiber.
Most
of the budget places to stay are clustered around Stazione
Termini; this area is rife with pickpockets and gangs of thieving
children, so beware - do your best to look like you know where
you're going (pretend you're John Travolta strutting along
to 'Staying Alive'). It is only slightly more expensive and
definitely more enjoyable to stay closer to the city centre.
Good-quality, reasonably priced meals can be found in the
trattorie around Piazza Navona and in Trastevere.
Fiumicino
airport is about 26km (16mi) southwest of the city. Stazione
Termini is just northeast of the Palatine Hill and the Forum.
The main bus station is just outside Termini.
Rome
Flight from UK
|
