Survival Guide BEST BRING YOU TO ROME
1st- 3rd March 2013
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Index Page 3
1. About Italy and Rome
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2. A bit of History
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3. Geography and Structure of Rome
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4. Monuments and Historical sites
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5. Transportation
Page 6
6. How to get to Rome with us
Page 6
7. How to get to the hostel
Page 7
8. Restaurants
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9. Shops
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10. Pubs and discos
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11. Emergency Local numbers
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12. Some Prices (â‚Ź Euro)
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13. Contacts
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1. About Italy and Rome Italy is right in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, it is about 58 million people country and it consists of a main continental peninsula, almost completely surrounded by the sea, plus two large islands (Sicilia and Sardegna) and a large number of small islands. The main land is about 301 000 squared kilometres and its shape is similar to a “boot” and so Italian people use to call their country “lo stivale” (“the boot” in Italian). Rome is since 1870 the capital of Italy, and historically it has always been considered the most important city of Italy for arts, politics and social life.
2. A bit of History The legend says that Rome was planned by the Gods themselves. After the fall of Troy, the Gods led a band of Trojans to a promised land in the west. There Romolo and Remo were born from a Vestal Virgin and nursed by a friendly She-wolf. Upon reaching manhood, the twins founded Rome on the banks of the river “Tevere” (April the 21st of 753 B.C.). Soon, after digging the borders of the new city, Romolo claimed and promised on his own life «anybody who dares to pass this borders without permission, will find here sure death! ». His brother Remo then, wanted to challenge Romolo and crossed the borders. Without hesitation Romolo killed Remo and became the first king of Rome. Many legends are involved in the history of Rome and it is still difficult to tell what is true or not; the most reliable theory tells that Rome was originally just a small village on a hill and close to the river “Tevere” from which Romans could control the commerce. The small village became bigger and bigger and eventually Romans formed an army which started conquering the surrounding kingdoms, turning them into Roman provinces. This is the beginning of the huge spreading of the Roman Kingdom first, then the Roman Republic and finally the Roman Empire, who took over all the populations of the Italian peninsula and began to spread beyond, in central Europe and in the northern part of Africa. After the transition from Republic, the Roman Empire reached its biggest extension under the Emperor Traiano who he conquered Dacia (Old Romania). Then it turned out that the Empire was too big and so it was divided into two empires, the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire. The Eastern Empire managed to survive till the arrival of the Muslims, but the Western one had a quite short life due to several invasions by barbaric populations. During the middle-age only the Church was able to keep culture and knowledge alive. The Church played a main role in the roman area and exerted its influence until the year 1870. This is the reason why people say in Rome “there are more churches than houses” which is partly true as you will see. During the modern age Italy has been conquered by many foreign countries (mainly from France and Germany) and was formed by a lot of small States often fighting each other. The definitive reunification of Italy culminated in the late 19th Century, after a lot of attempts against the occupants (mostly Austrian in the North and Spanish in the South) with the coordination of the Kingdom of Piemonte (a northwestern italian region), whose king became the king of Italy. At this point all Italy was reunited again with the only exception of Rome, which was the capital of the Vatican State, ruled by the pope. After a formal invasion, the Italian army conquered the city and church power was defeated (20th September 1870) and eventually Rome became the capital of Italy (June 1871). 3
3. Geography and Structure of Rome Rome has a circular shape and is bounded by a huge highway called “Grande Raccordo Anulare” or GRA which is like the border between the city and the outskirt. Most of the main roads were used in the past to connect the city to the provinces and that’s why these streets (like via Appia which was the most important in the past) start from the centre of the city and lead radially outside the city forming an asterisk. The city was once completely surrounded by the ring (GRA), but now as the population has increased beyond 4 millions of people, a lot of buildings are being built around it.The geometrical centre of Rome is the Colosseo. However the “living centre” of the town is mainly a little bit to the north, with all the famous streets like Via dei Condotti and Via del Corso with the finest fashion and jewellery shops.Last but not least, the political centre of Rome is the Hill called Campidoglio, located above Piazza Venezia and which is worth to be visited just to see the square in front of the City Hall, designed by Michelangelo. Rome was named the “City of Seven Hills”, but it is hard to see them since now they get confused among the urban area.
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4. Monuments and Historical sites As we walk around the centre you will notice that buildings from different age are mixed together and sometimes they are built on several layers. This is due to the fact that the city has got many artistic influences according to the historical period and each artistic flow tried to rebuild the city in a new way. The impression you will get is that many historical periods survive at the same time in the same place. The Ancient Rome had hundreds of buildings with magnificent marble columns; if you wonder where the hell they have gone, the answer is inside the hundreds of churches that you can see. After the Roman Empire, many churches were built with columns taken from ancient and broken temples. Some parts of the Colosseum are missing and this is because it was allowed to use its stones as building material.In order to give a short list of what you are supposed to visit once in Rome you shouldn’t definitely miss some masterpieces as the Colosseo, the Vatican Museum, Piazza di Spagna, the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona, but as you walk in the city centre your attention will be caught by many other masterpieces and monuments which are really worth a look. Rome sights and attractions Great Squares (Piazze) Rome's squares are one of the main attractions of the Italian Capital, perhaps 'the core' of the city itself. In Piazza for meeting each other, to amuse, chat with friends, and for events or for the daily 'happy hour'. Piazza del Campidoglio (on the Capitol Hill) is the headquarter of the Italian Government; Piazza Venezia represents the 'heart of the city'; Piazza Navonadisplays the spectacular Baroque triumphant architecture; Piazza di Spagna is a masterpiece of the XVIII century with its famous Spanish steps and, last but not least, St Peter's Square is the majestic access to St Peter's Basilica, the centre of Christianity. Roman basilicas and churches Within Rome there are about 19 basilicas to be found, out of which 3 are patriarchal:St Peter's Basilica the world's largest basilica of Christianity; St John in Lateran(San Giovanni Laterano) - former seat of the bishop’s residence and the most ancient church in the world, Santa Maria Maggiore
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5. Transportation We will use ROMA PASS (http://www.romapass.it/) which includes free public transportation inside Rome. The Best way to go around the city is the underground: there are only two lines which connect the most important places in town. As we move outside the historical centre you will probably need to catch buses. There are 2 lines: - linea A (red): from Anagnina to Battistini Station; - linea B and B1(blue): from Laurentina to Rebibbia (B) or Conca d’Oro (B1) Station; They both meet at Termini Railway Station, so you will have to get off at Termini whenever you need to switch line. Tiburtina Railway station is the second main station and is located along the B line. Taxis are rather expensive, especially if you are a tourist and you don’t speak Italian and at night they use to charge more only because it is a night service. Bus lines cover all the most important destinations and you just need one ticket which lasts 100 minutes. For further information have a look at: http://www.atac.roma.it/index.asp?lingua=ENG
6. How to get to Rome with us We will leave from piazza Leonardo ( opposite to building N and S) by bus Friday 1st March early around XX.XX
7. How to get to the Hostel Our hostel is: Conte Verde Hotel & Roma Mansion Hotel. Adress : Via Conte Verde, 4 & Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 54. Both next to Termini station, and Vittorio Emanuele subway stop. GOOGLE MAPS: Conte Verde Hotel: https://maps.google.it/maps?q=hotel+conte+verde+roma&ie=UTF8&ei=wjLcUKizDM2ChQeyvoDoBA&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAA Roma Mansion Hotel: https://maps.google.it/maps?q=hotel+roma+mansion&ie=UTF8&ei=AjLcUM6NCauQ4gTbgYHQBQ&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAA
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8. Restaurants Prices vary according to the place, just keep in mind that in many restaurants you have to pay a fixed amount of money for each person (1 or 2 euro) that is only cover charge (tablecloth etc.). This doesn’t apply to fast food and McDonald’s in which there’s no tablecloth. A small tip is always a good habit but it is not compulsory. Don’t forget CARBONARA!!!
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9. Shops Shops close around 7:30 p.m., meaning that some of them will close at 7:00 and some at 8:00. In the centre you will find small shops and little supermarkets; keep in mind that taxes are always included in the price. Especially for girls there are some streets in the centre where you will find many most famous brand’s fashion in the world; these streets are Via del Corso, Via Nazionale and Via del Tritone but you will find much more. The whole area around these streets is really worth a walk. For more specific information you can always ask us where to go.
10. Pubs and discos While disco-pubs are places where you can both drink and dance from 5 up to 15 euros, the entrance at a disco can instead range from 15 to 30 euro. Usually the ticket includes the first drink, while the next ones can be about 10 euro. Pubs are usually quite expensive in the centre (5 euro for a 0,4 l) while they are cheap as you get out of the centre. Rome’s nightlife starts late. You have to be aware of the fact that Rome is unique, even when it comes to nightlife and entertainment. She is different from any other capital in the world. And for a specific reason. There are surely loads of bars & pubs, clubs & disco spreaded all over the city( although, as we’ll see, some areas offer a higher concentration of possibilities) but the best way to enjoy the culture, vibe and spirit of the city is outdoor. As the weather is mild here for most part of the year, every square turns often into a big outdoor bar. The locals love their evening ”passeggiata” (slow(!) walk through the old town) and to stroll around the cobble stoned streets( just for your info, cobble stones streets are dangerous for the high heels, as the ladies know well), sipping a beer while chatting with friends just outside a pub or sitting at a table outside a cafe. This will allow them to practise one of the national sports here: seen and be seen. Take a walk at Campo De Fiori right before midnight and you can entertain yourself observing bunches of sleeked young man coming down from the suburbs to show themselves off and to try to chat up the foreign girls like modern( but harmless) predators. Something folkloristic and stereotyped maybe, but not so far from the truth.
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When the night is almost over and it’s time to go home, locals usually like to indulge in one of their favorite habits connected with the nightlife in Rome: they grab a “ cornetto”( croissant) and drink a hot cappuccino on the way back home. They stop in one of the coffee bars still open or in one of the ”cornetterie”( laboratory that produce those delicious sweet treats) spread all over in town( whose address is sometimes one of the city’s best kept secrets) and feast over a warm cornetto( plain, filled with jam, with custard cream, with nutella or honey) to say goodbye to the night. LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ROME'S NIGHTLIGE AND NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AREAS( mostly concentrated downtown or nearby), each with its own characteristics: The area around Piazza Navona and Via della Pace is quite chic, with wine bars and cafes and its labyrinth of alleys. Campo De Fiori is heterogeneous and loud and it is where tourists mix up with local youngsters, a 30’s and 40’s year old crowd, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and with frat students from the the several American colleges Rome hosts. Trastevere is a little bohemienne, so roman but also so international, with coffe shops, restaurants, pubs and wine bars good for the aperitif. San Lorenzo is where the main university is located so it is a young, laid back area where students hang out in the many pubs. The atmosphere is informal and lively. Testaccio/ Ostiense: the main streets of Monte Testaccio and via Ostiense and the surroundings are packed with bars, from hip, posh spots to housemusic clubs, from salsa or gay discos to risto-bars( places where you can drink, eat and dance). There are still a few things you should know to get accustomed with nightlife in Rome. Romans are very fond of irish( or pseudo irish) pubs so you’ll find them almost everywhere. The car traffic does not necessarily slow down at night- on the contrary, it can get chaotic especially around the main nightlife zones. And Romans are not big drinkers at all, but this is not necessary a negative side, we believe.
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11. Emergency Local numbers 112 Public emergency service 113 Police 118 Ambulance emergency 06 67 691 Municipal Police 06 58 20 10 30 Emergency Doctor 06 49 06 63 Poisons emergency Taxi companies 06 66 45 Pronto Taxi 06 88 177 Cosmo Taxi 06 41 57 Radio Taxi
12. Some Prices (€ Euro) 1 beer 4-5 € (0.4l in a pub) 1,50-2 € (0.66l supermarket) 1 pizza + 1 beer 8-15 € (according to the area) 1 packet of cigarettes 4,50 € (Marlboro) 1 can of Coke 1,50 € 1 ice cream 1,50-3 € 1 sandwich 1,50 € (at our uni) 3 € or more outside 1 McDonalds Maxi Menu 6-7 € A bottle of wine (supermarket - restaurant) 4-15 € 1 postcard 1 € 1 Bus/Tram/Metro ticket 1,5 €
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13. Contacts email for contact and doubts: viaggi@bestmilano.it main organizers: Marc Coll: mcollp80@gmail.com Stefania Marcas: stefania.marcas@gmail.com
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