IgoUgo

Rome Journals

When in Rome...

Best of IgoUgo

A May 2007 trip to Rome by pointofnoreturn

Colosseum Photo - Colosseum (Coliseum), Rome, Italy More Photos
Quote: Rome is truly the epitome of Italy for any traveller!
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When in Rome... Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:
We spent five wonderful nights in Rome, one of the most thrilling cities in the world. Although we spent five nights, it was nearly not enough. I would have loved to spend two weeks exploring Rome and making a few day trips here and there. Rome is truly an experience all by itself and definitely not to be missed on a trip to Europe. Quick Tips: 1. If you plan on staying in Rome for 3-5 nights, you may want to invest in the Roma Pass which costs 20 euros. This can be purchased at the Termini Train station or any other valid retailer. The Roma Pass lasts for 3 days when activated and gives you free entry to the first two sights and discounts on the others. The pass is good for un...Read More

Beehive Hotel Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Beehive"

Quote:
We booked a twin private room at the Beehive’s Acacia Apartment. The apartment is on the 5th floor (I believe) of a building but there is an elevator for those of you non-stairs fans! The Acacia has four private rooms but all occupants share a single bathroom, which is spacious, clean, and bright. There is also a shared kitchen that is stocked with condiments and utensils free for everyone to use. There is a MAC computer with free Internet that is to be shared between everyone along with various things like irons, hairdryers, etc. We paid 70 euros for our room per night (not per person), which is a steal because Rome is expensive when it comes to lodging and for a self-serve apartment, you won’t ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Beehive Hotel
Via Marghera 8
Rome, Italy 00185
+39 0644704553

Cremeria Monteforte Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
This place is right next to the Pantheon and a bargain if you want to try the famous gelato. I had just bought myself a small cup from a nearby gelateria and I loved it so much that I decided to try another place, this time, with different flavours.

I believe I paid 2 euros for a cup and I had the chocolate and caramel and it was delicious and mouth-watering. This is great especially on a hot day which was in my case (30 C!).

Gelato is now my favourite kind of ice cream and I sorely miss Italy due to that!

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Cremeria Monteforte
Via della Rotonda 22
Rome, Italy

Della Palma Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
A gelateria near the Pantheon and undoubtedly one of the best places to get your gelato in Rome. I decided that I'd give gelato a try and this was my first stop. I paid 2 euros for a decent sized cup with coconut and chocolate flavours and believe me...it was heavenly. Two euros, in my opinion, is a steal when you look at all the other gelaterias around Rome (where they may charge you 4 euros upwards for a small-sized cup!).

Make sure you stop by this place after visiting the Pantheon or Trevi Fountain!

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Della Palma
V. d. Maddalena
Rome, Italy

Colosseum (Coliseum) Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Colosseum (The)"

Colosseum Photo - Colosseum (Coliseum), Rome, Italy
Quote:
After taking many photographs and taking a nice stroll through Palatine Hill, we decided to walk over to the Colosseum, which is essentially next-door! On the way to Colosseum, we saw quite a few gladiators walking up to tourists and asking them if they wanted a photograph. Don’t fall for this trick – they’ll con you in taking a photograph with them and after that, they’ll demand you to pay 5-10 euros just for that. If they approach you, just simply say “No thank you” and walk away quickly. With our Roma Pass, we were able to bypass the endless lines and get direct entry. It is a bit overwhelming because this place is the most popular tourist sight. It wasn’t what I expected for I expected gle...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Colosseum (Coliseum)
Piazza Del Colosseo
Rome, Italy 00184
+39 (06) 7004261

Borghese Gallery and Museum (Galleria Borghese) Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Galleria Borghese"

Galleria Borghese Photo - Borghese Gallery and Museum (Galleria Borghese), Rome, Italy
Quote:
If you’re wondering what the Galleria Borghese is, it’s a renowned art gallery situated in the lovely property of Villa Borghese in Rome. It is owned by one of Italy’s royal families – the Borghese family. We visited this gallery in the late afternoon after visiting both the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Reservations are required in order to visit the gallery so we booked our reservation two months ahead of time for a 5pm reservation. You are required to pick up your tickets 30 minutes prior to your reservation. Galleria Borghese is part of the Roma Pass (see my review of Palatine Hill for more details) so admission was free for us, not to mention, the reservation fee of 2 euros was also w...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Borghese Gallery and Museum (Galleria Borghese)
Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5
Rome, Italy 00197
+39 068413979

Palatine Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Palatine "

Palatine Hill Photo - Palatine, Rome, Italy
Quote:
If you’re visiting Rome, you cannot miss the Colosseum as well as Palatine Hill. This review will focus on Palatine Hill and there is a separate review for the Colosseum itself. If you plan your time effectively, you can visit both in half a day, which is what most people tend to do because both places are right next to each other. We had bought the Roma Pass the day before at Termini station, which costs €20. This gives someone free access to the first two sights part of the pass (go to the two most expensive places first) and later on, discounts on the rest of the sights. It also gives you free access to the public transport system (bus/metro) within Rome for three days, which is how long the p...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Palatine
Via San Gregorio
Rome, Italy 00184
+39 066990110

Pantheon Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Pantheon Photo - Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Quote:
The Roman Pantheon is one of Rome’s most preserved buildings. It was originally a temple and later used as a church. The Pantheon is within walking distance to Trevi Fountain and along with the Spanish Steps and Triton Fountani, these places can serve as a good half-day’s worth of activities. Inside the Pantheon is a great eyehole (“occulus”) and several tombs and monuments worthy of your attention. The most notable of these tombs is that of the great Renaissance painter – Raphael. If I can recall reading Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”, Raphael is not actually buried here – he’s buried in another church elsewhere. I am not sure if that is actually true but it’s a cool place to visit if you’re a fan o...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Pantheon
Piazza della Rotonda
Rome, Italy 00186
+39 0668300230

Spanish Steps (Scalinata) Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Spanish Steps"

Spanish Steps Photo - Spanish Steps (Scalinata), Rome, Italy
Quote:
If you plan on doing some people-watching and don’t know where to start, the Spanish Steps is your best bet. It’s full of crowds and colourful people and there will always be action going on. The steps are located in Piazza di Spagna and can be accessed by metro via Spagna station (Line A) followed by a short walk to the steps. There is exactly 138 steps but there are good chances that it’ll be over-crowded and completely full of people sitting on the steps enjoying the action. At the bottom of the steps, there is a pretty fountain sculpted by Bernini’s father. Many people opt to sit by the edge of the fountain and you may be surprised to find some people taking a dip in the water (although I am sure ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Spanish Steps (Scalinata)
Piazza Di Spagna
Rome, Italy 00187

St. Peter's Square Photo - Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy
Quote:
St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is the largest church in the world and it is within the walls of Vatican City. It is a good idea to combine both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s in one day because both places are within walking distance of each other. When you reach St. Peter’s by Via della Conciliazione, you will enter the great square which is surrounded by majestic tall columns. Walking across the square leads you to the entrance of St. Peter’s Basicila in which you’re required to wait in line for a good deal of time. I spent about an hour in line under the hot blazing sun and it wasn’t pleasant at all. The line was more of like a funnel – there’s no order whatsoever a...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

St. Peter's Basilica
Piazza San Pietro
Vatican City, Rome 00193
+39 0669883462

Trevi Fountain Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Trevi Fountain Photo - Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Quote:
One thing in Rome that you cannot miss is the massive Trevi Fountain. It is essentially the largest fountain in Rome and certainly the most breathtaking. There is a legend that if you throw a coin in the fountain, you are ensured a speedy return to Rome and if you throw in two coins, you will have a happy marriage. Right in the centre of the fountain is the God of the Sea, Neptune, who is flanked by bas-reliefs named after mythological characters. To get to Trevi Fountain, take the metro (Line A) and get off at Spagna stop and (usually) follow the crowd that will go straight to Trevi. A common mistake with many unsuspecting tourists is that when you exit Spagna station, you will see Triton Fountain ri...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Trevi Fountain
Piazza di Trevi
Rome, Italy 00187

Piazza Barberini Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Triton Fountain"

Triton Fountain Photo - Piazza Barberini, Rome, Italy
Quote:
Triton Fountain was designed by Bernini and is located in Piazza Barberini, close to the Spagna metro stop (Line A) and not far from where Trevi fountain is. It is much smaller than its counterpart and certainly has far less crowds. Bernini sculpted four dolphins that all combine to form the base of the fountain, which is a shell, that holds up a realistic-looking Triton, god of the sea in Roman legends.

It may not be awe-inspiring as Trevi Fountain but there are good photo opportunities at this monument, especially if you don’t want to face the crowds at Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. You can stop by this fountain on the way to the much-larger Trevi Fountain.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Piazza Barberini
Piazza Barberini
Rome, Italy 00187

Vatican Museums Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Vatican Museum"

Vatican Museums Photo - Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy
Quote:
The Vatican Museums, located within the walls of Vatican City, has one of the most spectacular collections of art in the world and also the home to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The Vatican Museums can be reached by metro (either Cipro Musei Vaticani or Ottaviano) or bus, or on foot, if you’re lucky to be staying in a hotel within walking distance of the museums. The museums are closed on Sundays and holidays except the last Sunday of the month, when admission is free. Keep in mind that these special Sundays are usually the most-packed ones. Opening hours vary by date but for the most part, it is open from 10am to 3:30pm. Admission is € 13 for adults, € 8 euros for students (under 26 years) a...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 23, 2007

Vatican Museums
Viale Vaticano
Rome, Italy 00165
0039 06 69884676

Quote:
Ways to get from/to Ciampino Airport, listed from the cheapest way to the most expensive:1. COTRAL Bus/Metro: Ride one of the COTRAL buses outside the airport (€1) which transfers you to Anagnina Metro station. You can buy your ticket on-board. Take the metro (€1) to your final destination. Buses run every 30-40 minutes but if there is a large demand, they will send for a second bus to accomodate the travellers. TOTAL COST: €2.2. Terravision: Direct bus from airport to Termini train station. You can buy tickets at the airport booths in Arrivals or book online. One-way ticket is €8, roundtrip €14. 3. Taxi: You can hop into a taxi outside Arrivals for a direct ride into Rome. It ...Read More

About the Writer

pointofnoreturn

pointofnoreturn
Ottawa, Ontario

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