Rome, Tourism, Accomodations Blog – Roma Turismo

The best gelato in Rome

You have decided to spend your summer holidays in Rome and booked your apartment; in a post flight-reservation excitement you made up a visiting schedule that allows you to visit all the interesting monuments in Rome, but which slightly resembles a military training session and that your partner is struggling to accept.

Despite your shining expectations, the weather forecast seems to be against you… a bit too warm for you, way too hot for those who did not acclaim your thorough visiting plan. So, apart from studying a path that covers all the possible shadow areas of the Eternal city, what can you do?

A good suggestion comes from the National Geographic, in a March article from its travel blog section it suggests the three bet gelatos in Rome:

Il Gelato di Claudio Torcè proposes creative flavours like black sesame and chili-and-chocolate.

Fatamorgana, where all-natural flavours include combinations such as pear and Gorgonzola.

Come il Latte, whose name (“like milk”) says it all–fresh cream accounts for two-thirds of each scoop.

Why not taking a rest and try as many as you want and try to draft your own classification?

Xmas in Rome

Christmas time is coming and Rome is preparing to welcome the Holidays with lights, decorations and events.

Like every year, the markets of the Roman tradition will be the most important attraction of the Holidays. In particular the Christmas market of Piazza Navona will delight adults and children during the month of December, until after Epiphany. The numerous stands that will be among the ancient buildings and the wonderful Bernini’s fountain, the lights and the parfumes will give a unique athmosphere to the famous square.

But also in other places you will find traditional events, such as concerts and exhibitions of cribs in via dei Coronari, in via dell’Orso and in Sant’Eustachio area. Walking in the city centre you could also meet minstrels and fictional characters.

Even Piazza Re di Roma has been honoring this tradition for some years with stands full of sweets, decorations and crafts, in a setting reminiscent of the Advent markets of northen Europe (in fact this square is twinned with the ones of Heidelberg.

The conditions are excellent for nice walks in the heart of the Eternal City, at the sound of pipers and the possibility to warm holding in your hands a bag of roasted chestnuts, drinking a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine.

Free entrance to the Museums in Rome

More than 60 museums will be open not only until 2 am, but for free!!! If you happen to be in the eternal city during the night of this saturday October 6th, you might want to plan a different evening between art, concerts and even cinema.

There are many places worth to see, like: Musei Capitolini, Modern Gallery Art of Rome, Macro, Maxxi, Ara Pacis Museum, Museum  of the Vittoriano, Ancient Art  National Gallery in the Palazzo Barberini (designed by Bernini), National Roman Museum (Palazzo Altemps), Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Planetarium, Casa del Cinema, Casa del Jazz, even the Chamber of Deputees will open its door for this extraordinary event.

Consult the full program using this link: http://www.museiincomuneroma.it/mostre_ed_eventi/eventi/(p)/in_programma

Alternative Museums in Rome

Is not your first time in Rome and you want to see new and original things?
Then you could schedule a visit to one of the following museums:

National Museum of the musical instruments
The pieces on exhibition are the best preserved in Europe. Inside you can find the famous Barberini harp.
Where: piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 9/a
When: From Tuesday to Thursday, 8.30 -19.30

Museum of the Roman Walls
A route to follow where you can discover the history of the city.
Where: via di Porta San Sebastiano 18
When:From Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00- 14:00

Vintage Carriages Museum
A private collection with more than 300 carriages from different origins and periods.
Where: via Andrea Millevoli 693
When: From Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 -13:00 and 15:00-19:00

If you want to visit something more like in an english style, try to see the:

Wax Museum
With figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, Pavarotti and Francesco Totti.
Where: piazza SS. Apostoli 68
When: Everyday, 9:00-21:00

If after you have seen the wax statue of Bonaparte, you still want to see more about him:

Napoleon Museum
A house-museum that hosts artpieces, relics and memorabilia of the Bonaparte family.
Where: piazza di Ponte Umberto I, 1
When: From Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-19:00

If you are a fan of supernatural events, then we can recommend you:

Museum of the Souls in Purgatory
A Neo-ghotic little church where you can see “evidence” of the departed that wish to contact this world from beyond.
Where: lungotevere Prati 12
When: From Monday to Saturday, 7:00-11:00 and 18:30-19:00

In case you want a hair-raising experience:

Horror Museum of Dario Argento
You can see the props that the celebrated italian director used on his movies.
Where: via dei Gracchi 260
When: From Monday to Saturday, 10:30-13.00 and 16:00-19:30

May the fun begin!

Go green during your next visit to Rome!

Are you always trying to help the environment? Are you interested on the ecology?

There is an easy way to do it during your next visit to Rome. While you are visiting the main attractions, you can fill your bottle of water for free, at one of the many fountains distributed throughout the city. The water is absolutely fresh and is coming from the mountains outside of Rome. You may buy a normal  plastic bottle, which after a day may end up crashed at the bottom of your backpack.

Therefore if you want an original and durable bottle,  buy the Eco-water, it costs only €2 and it could be a special souvenir because it has printings of the Colosseum, the roman aqueduct, and the unmistakables “Nasoni” the drinking water fountains. You can get it at any Tourist Information Point or in the museum shops.

I personally recommend to drink this water, is one of the most important romans prides, they even protested last year when the government tried to charge for the water. Luckily they had positives results and nowadays this service continues to be available to everyone. Enjoy it and salute!

Paulina Ceballos

Best Roman Piazzas

Are you keen on visiting all the great Roman Piazzas?

Write this down, because these on the list, not only are beautiful but also contain a large quantity of stories and legends behind them, moreover they host many art masterpieces.

1. Piazza Venezia: in the middle you will see the impressive monument Vittoriano. In front at the left you’ll see the balcony from which Mussolini used to give his speeches.
2. Piazza Navona:One of the most splendid piazzas, with the Fountain of the four Rivers of Bernini. During day and night is full with street artists and lovely restaurants.
3. Piazza di Spagna: The spanish steps are actually french, because they were sponsored by that country. The piazza took the name after the Spanish Embassy situated just at the end of it.
4. Pizza della Repubblica: Near Termini, outside the Metro Repubblica. The walls that surround the piazza are beautifully floodlit by night, check the 4 nude nymph on the fountain, their nudity and relaxing poses were outrageous for the church.
5. Piazza del Campidoglio: Next to Piazza Venezia. Originally designed by Michelangelo, including the 12 points star on the floor.
6. Piazza della Rotonda: Here is the perfectly well maintained temple the Pantheon (free entrance), which was the first pagan temple converted to the catholic cult. In Roman times, the dome was considered to be built by the devil, because of its great size.
7. Piazza della Minerva: just behind the Pantheon, here you can see a curious obelisk which lies on an elefant designed by Bernini.
8. Piazza della Bocca della verità: where you can find the famous stone where Audrey Hepburn put her hand in the movie Roman Holiday. It is definitely worth to see also the 2 roman temples in front of the church that host the stone.
9. Piazza Colonna: Approximately at the middle of Via del Corso, where you can see the Column of Marco Aurelio.

There are many more Piazzas in Rome, no matter where you go, there   is a Piazza, big or small. Just make sure that on your next visit to Rome, you don’t miss the ones from this list, because they are definitely enchanting!

      Paulina Ceballos

From the airport to the center in Rome

If you are arriving by plane to the eternal city, take a look at the many possibilities you have to get to the center:

By train:

The Leonardo Express, direct connection to the main train station Roma Termini (without stops), cost: €14, time: 30 minutes.

Train FR1 Fara Sabina Fiumicino, it stops at: Tiburtina, Tuscolana, Ostiense, Trastevere and Termini. Cost: €8, time: 45 minutes to Termini.

By bus:

There are many bus companies that offers you a direct connection to Termini station, the ticket costs €5 approximately. Go to the Terminal 3, and follow the instructions to “Bus Station”

Car pick up service:
You could enjoy a convenient price that will allow you to begin the Roman holiday in the best way. A driver will be waiting for you at the airport, to take you to the apartment without any worry. Rates for the service for each route (including luggage transport)

1-3 persons: €50
4 persons: € 55
5 persons: € 65
6 persons: € 75
7 persons: € 85
8 persons: € 90

Order this service to: info@sleepingrome.com

If you are heavy loaded, try to have €2 in coins because that is what it costs the luggage trolley.

Have a nice trip to the Roman city!
Paulina Ceballos

5 Curiosities about the Colosseum

Did you know that the Colosseum is not round but oval?
It’s 189 meters long and 156 wide with 57 meters of height, its perimeter is 524 meters.

Did you know that the Colosseum is used to support the international campaign against death penalty?
Since the year 2000, every time a convicted to death gets its sentence commuted or is released, no matter the location, or when the death penalty is abolished somewhere in the world, the internal lights of the Colosseum change from white to gold.

Did you know that its real name is Flavian Amphitheater?
It comes from the latin Flavium, the family name of the emperors that began and ended the construction: Vespasian and Titus.

Did you know that it is believed that at least one million of animals died inside and 500,000 humans?
Only for the inaugural games 9,000 animals were slander and 2,000 gladiators lost their life for the battles for 100 days. The combats were between the animals and sometimes animal vs man.

Did you know that only a few celebrities have performed with the Colosseum as background?
Is no possible to host a concert inside the monument, but among the singers that have had this honour we can recall: Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli and Elton John.

Tip: If there is a long cue to buy the ticket and you wish to save time, get the RomaPass or the Archeologia card. The ticket for the Colosseum includes the entrance to the Roman Forum and the Palatin, is valid for 2 days (consecutive) so you can visit one of these monuments first.

Paulina Ceballos

Free things to see in the center of Rome: itinerary to follow

      This itinerary that we propose takes around 2 or 3 hours,  depending on how fast you want to walk; it covers many of the Must to see points of the Eternal City:

•       A) Church of  Santa Marìa della Concezione: The walls and roofs are  “decorated” with the Cappuccini Friar’s bones.  Offer: €1. Where:Red Metro A: Barberini, take the Via Veneto exit and find the number 27.
•  B) Spanish Steps: It was called after the king Ferdinand the Catholic, who gave the construcciòn of these steps as a present.
•  C) Piazza Navona: one of the most famous piazzas of Rome  and the whole world, due to the beauty of the sculptures, fountains and churches in it.
• D) Pantheon: Circular temple built in the beginning of the Roman era, dedicated to all the gods, it is also known as La Rotonda, because is placed in this piazza. This is the onlypagan temple of the antique Rome that has survived intact.

• E) Trevi Fountain: Don’t forget to throw a coin above your shoulder if you want to come back to Rome. Another legend assures that if you throw 2 you’ll have a new romance, with 3 you’ll get married.
• F) The Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia: the monumento to Vittorio Emmanuele II, has also received funny nicknames  as the “typewriting machine” or “the wedding cake”
• G) Campidoglio: When a tourist see a photo of this piazza, it is said that he or she will immediately identify it as roman. The Capitoline is also one of the 7 famous  hills of the city.
• H)Roman Forum: If your budget doesn’t allow you to buy the ticket you can walk along  Via dei Fiori Imperiali, you can admire it anyway. If you are in the Campidoglio, walk behind it and you’ll get to the beggining of the street. You will have the Colosseum in front of your eyes so don’t miss your camera.
• I)Constantine’s Arch: One of the most old arches of the Roman Empire.
• J)San Clemente Church: It has 3 levels, the lowest has a pagan altar, the second has a cristian basilica and in the superior level you can admire the middle age frescos.

Certainly there are other things that can be admire for free, among them: Saint Peter’s dome, the Bocca della Verità, the Storical Museum of the Roman Liberation, apart from the rest of the piazzas and public parks as theVilla Borghese.

Don’t forget to check this map!

Paulina Ceballos

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Bernini’s Fountain of the rivers: Piazza Navona

There is an urban legend which affirms that the position of Orinoco statue whit the arm lifted and the body moving backwards, is insinuating that the church was not built properly and it would have fallen. It’s said that there was a rivalry between Bernini and Borromini, who designed the church. Nevertheless, is not true, the church called Santa Agnese in Agone was completed after Bernini’s beautiful fountain.
Paulina Ceballos