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Rome Information

Click here to check out the links in the database for Rome

Some helpful information about Rome gathered from various sources

Arrival in Rome

You will probably be arriving at the Fiumicino International Airport to which all flights from the United States go. (Fiumicino is also known as the Leonardo DiVinci Airport). The airport is about 20 miles or so south of Rome.

First, there are airport shuttles. Here are a couple of links that might be useful:
AirportShuttle
Rome-Shuttle

Second, there is train service. The train you would want is the EXPRESS train to Stazione Centrale Roma Termini (Central Rome train station, called Termini for short). Be sure not to get on one of the non-express trains that stop at other places.
The express train is just under ten Euro per person. (As of August, 2002)
Once at Termini, you may need a taxi depending on where your hotel is. (There are always plenty of taxis there.) There would be a surcharge for luggage. When you take a taxi, make sure it is one of the official white or yellow taxi's with the "Taxi" sign on top, otherwise you are in for a major rip-off.

Third, if there are three or more, you might be better off arranging for a limo to take you from the airport to the hotel. Here is one that is reported to be very good and very reliable:
RomeLimousines

Fourth, you can take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Cost will be about 50-60 Euro depending on luggage surcharges, time of day, traffic, hotel location, etc. Again, just like with taxi's at the Termini, do not take any taxi that is not official.

Things to do

When in Rome...10 Free Things to do in the Eternal City

Lodging

The Beverly Hills hotel is a very nice hotel. It is about 1 1/2 miles East of Via Veneto, a very nice street where the US Embassy is, and perhaps about two miles from the Spanish Steps.

Albergo del Senato: a luxury 3 star hotel located in the heart of the ancient city of Rome. This charming hotel in Rome's center is situated in Piazza della Rotonda, an excellent location directly in front of the Pantheon, Rome’s most renowned ancient temple, originally built in dedication to the Roman Gods in 27 BC and later rebuilt during the reign of the famous Emperor Hadrian.

Dining

When in Rome...10 Slow Food Trattoria to Taste Real Roman Food!

Eating on a Budget in Rome from Parla Food blog

Some of the best pasta in ALL of Italy is at a little place called Trattoria Al Simeto, and is on Via Simeto 34. It is likely that you will be the only tourists in the place. You can't get in until about 7:00 PM at the earliest. (Italians each much later than Americans do, usually). The house wine is cheap and exellent, so drink all you can with dinner. Great service, and friendly, and almost no English is spoken, but you will still do very well!
If you ask your hotel for a restaurant recommendation, they will probably send you to a place that is for tourists. Food is okay, but very touristy. Try the Al Simeto instead.

Arguably the best cheese shop in Rome and the 'Oasi della Birra' are 50 yards apart in a part of Rome called Testaccio. Take the underground line B to 'Piramide' and head for the pyramid. Volpetti (Via Marmorata 47, Testaccio Rome, Italy), the cheese shop, is on via Marmorata just past the pyramid, and the Oasi (Piazza Testaccio, 38/41, Rome IT, 00153) is just round the corner. There are no working breweries in Rome as far as we know but the old 'Peroni' beer factory is still at Porta Pia and part of a huge complex which is now a mix or shops, offices, markets etc. Do head to the Peroni cantina near the Savoy cinema (Via Bergamo, 17, Rome IT, 00198) where you can sample the Riserve beer and eat sausage and mash in a 1920's atmosphere.




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