Rome Overview

Capital of Faith and Culture, Rome is the birthplace of western civilization, where past and present join together in perfect harmony. The “Eternal City” provides the most spectacular backdrop for history and passion in the entire world.

Districts

It's hard to describe Rome in a few words; a city so vast and rich in art, monuments and exquisite views, a historic city, which has preserved its charm and independence throughout the centuries.

Rome’s history can be read in every monument, and palazzo; in fact, each and every stone bears witness to the periods of splendour, decay, wars, and numerous architectural styles. The city could be described as a gigantic open-air museum, visited each year by millions of tourists, scholars and pilgrims from all over the world.

It is hard to believe that Roman civilization began with a small settlement of shepherds and farmers near the Tevere river, on Palatino (one of the seven hills on which Rome was built and where most of the Roman archaeological treasures were found), tradition dictates that this is where Romulus founded the city and where Augustus, the first Emperor, built his house, which is now widely (and incorrectly) known as the house of Livia, his wife. The city extended over six other hills: Quirinale, Viminale, Esquilino, Celio, Aventino and Capitolino.

Rome has spread outwards in a rather haphazard manner, without much regard to town planning; many fields were acquired by the local authorities and simply transformed into new neighbourhoods. Quirinale, the highest of the seven hills, has Piazza Omonima on its summit and the Palazzo del Quirinale, where the president lives. Viminale stands next to Quirinale, it is smaller in size, split into two by Via Nazionale, and dominated by the huge Palazzo delle Esposizioni building (designed by Pio Piacentini) on Piazza della Repubblica. Esquilino is the home of the great poets Virgilio and Orazio. It has three peaks, one of which is Monte Oppio, where you can find the ruins of Domus Aurea, finally opened to the public after years of restoration. Initially, Esquilino was a suburb of Rome, which is the reason for the nickname 'exquilini' (non-tenants) given to its inhabitants, some believe that this is how the hill got its name. Further south stands Celio and Aventino. The former has a long promontory, called Monte delle Querce, as it was once home to many oak trees (querce). Both Aventino and Celio have few inhabitants. Last but not least is Capitolino, which stands between Palatino and Quirinale: this used to be the religious and political centre of the city during the Roman era.

Entertainment

Rome’s beauty is accessible both day and night and the same is to be said for its vast range of entertainment - theatre, cinema, opera, discos; the list is (almost) endless.

The theatrical season lasts from October to May and it can often continue through the summer months. The cinema scene in Rome today is characterized by a fair amount of small, independent cinemas and many large, modern multi-screen cinemas; these multi-screen cinemas almost exclusively show commercial films. Summer is definitely the most romantic time to enjoy a film. Many outdoor cinemas are set up from July to September, and show popular re-releases.

Live music is popular in Rome. There are an increasing number of places offering live music from Italy, America, England, Africa and South America. The most successful venues are concentrated in certain areas such as the Testaccio quarter. Classical music lovers are also catered for, the city has a varied concert season.

Discos are very popular amongst the glamorous Romans; the elegant, formal crowd (politicians, actors and VIPs) often like to go to '80s style clubs. The more 'serious' clubbers frequent the Locale, which hosts live, new-wave, Roman bands. During the summer months, many discos relocate to the beaches of Fregene and Ostia, and where they go, the people follow!

Discos aren’t the only places that are popular on the weekend; pubs, beer gardens, restaurants and bars all teem with life. Many of these 'locali' perform more than one function. For example, a cocktail bar will sell beer or allow you to surf the Internet before you hit the dance floor, and many cafés stay open late.

Dining and Drinking

There is a wide, varied selection as far as gastronomy is concerned in Rome; choices range from exclusive high-level cuisine, developed by some of the most famous chefs on the international scene to traditional, hearty Romanesca fare in all its manifold variations, from Jewish cuisine to testaccina recipes, from the specialties of Lazio to ethnic dishes, which can be sampled in the plethora of restaurants that offer delights from all over the world.

The only way to really understand the heart and soul of Rome is by tasting its culinary splendors in a popular restaurant, this allows you to steep yourself in Roman culture while you discover the tastes and flavors of traditional cooking through the ages.

Pizzerias are definitely the most popular places to dine in Rome: informal, economical and with speedy service, they are home to pizza alla romana, pizzas with a thin crust and a crispy edge, as opposed to the soft raised crusts of the Neapolitan pizza. Don't miss the delicious supplì al telefono, fried rice balls filled with mozzarella, potato croquettes, fried cod fillets, fried pumpkin flowers, and bruschette, (slices of toasted bread with tomato or oil and garlic). You'll find pizzerias in every corner of the city, but Trastevere offers an especially wide choice of pizza restaurants with wood fuelled ovens (these give the pizza a more intense flavor).

Wine bars tend to be laid-back, informal and welcoming. These are great places to have a snack while sipping some excellent wine. Pubs and beer gardens in Rome tend to have a British theme, they serve many different beers, and true to the good old 'Brit' style, you can enjoy a game of darts with your pint!

Where To Stay

The ‘Eternal City’ holds a fascination for young people, tourists, businessmen, pilgrims and anyone in search of history, art, culture, business and entertainment. This means that Rome’s tourist season remains uninterrupted all year round and despite the ample choice of hotels, it is not always easy to find a room at the last minute, so make sure to book at least a couple of weeks in advance.

Many of the traditional pensioni (bed and breakfasts), are privately run and manage to maintain a simple and friendly atmosphere. This makes them preferable to the big hotels, especially for prolonged stays.

Did You Know?

No wonder Italy heads international fashion. Starting only in 300 BC, there were barbers in Rome.

Orientation/Geography

Rome is on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea.


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