Brochure for issuu

ROME n on

r

u yo

ow

a self guided tour see and do everything at your own pace

ROME n r ow u on yo

More and more people are traveling on their own and do not wish to be part of a large tour group which quickly takes you thru all the tourst locations but does not allow you to experience the clture, youre just a tourist.

Rome on your own lets you make the decisions on how much you want to see, what you want to see and when. We peovide you with all the tools so you can plan as much, or as little as you like. We customize your trip based on your wishes, but don’t worry, if you don’t want to plan much before you go.

We provide you with lots of information so you can make decisions on the spot. If you decide you want to take a guided tour, we will make sure we connect you with the best rated guides. If you want to see Rome on your own without any guides, we provide you with all the information you may need, so you can plan your days as you go.

Don’t forget :

¨¨ power converter ¨¨ camera ¨¨ waterbottle ¨¨ small backpack ¨¨ sunblock (Summer)

¨¨ extra memory stick (or film) ¨¨ extra camera batteries ¨¨ comfortable walking shoes ¨¨ light rain jacket (Summer) ¨¨ jacket & scarf (Fall/Winter)

tip: Water freeflows out through the fontanelle (little fountains) placed around the city, don’t be afraid to drink it, so re-fill your water bottle and stay hydrated!

Hotel Romance your home base

Outside of The Hotel Romance

One of the newest hotels in the Eternal City, combining elegant accommodation with great value for money and a fantastic central location just a few minutes’ walk from the city’s most famous landmark, the Colosseum.

The 3 star Hotel Romance Rome offers a vast range of services and facilities to all of its welcomed guests with the exclusive aim of making your sojourn as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.

A few of the emeneties include: • Multilingual staff, speaking: English, German, Spanish and Italian • Free Wi-Fi internet connection • Hydro-massage showers Every morning you can start your day of with a complementary breakfast and a cappuccino, or an espresso.

your room

Colosseo The Colosseum

The Colosseum, Rome’s most famous architectural attraction, it is open every day except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. The best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for. During the high season in June and July, lines can be long and slow-moving. But this is also the best time to visit if you want to take an evening tour, as the Colosseum stays open until 7 p.m. during the summer.

Plan on Colosseo at night spending at least a couple of hours inside the Colosseum. If the Third Tier is open, climb the steps to the top.

Not only do you get the best views of Rome from up there, you can also see the entire Colosseum.

Wear comfortable shoes when visiting as there are many steps and a great deal of walking. If you want to save time, you can pre-buy tickets and tours online, before you even leave the United States. Companies such as Viator and Presto Tours sell prepackaged tours that will get you into the Colosseum without having to wait in line.

tip: avoid the ticket line, get a Roma Pass at most

newspaper stands, for €20 it includes 2 sites/museums & free public tranportation for 3 days & discounts for other museums tours and events.

Foro Romano The Roman Forum

Foro Romano

Nowadays an impressive – if rather confusing – sprawl of ruins, the Roman Forum was ancient Rome’s showpiece centre, a grandiose district of temples, basilicas and vibrant public spaces.

The site, which was originally an Etruscan burial ground, was first developed in the 7th century BC, growing over time to become the social, political and commercial hub of the Roman empire.

Landmark sights include the Arco di Settimio Severo , the Curia , and the Casa delle Vestali.

Like many of Rome’s great urban developments, the Forum fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire until eventually it was used as pasture land. In the Middle Ages it was known as the Campo Vaccino (literally ‘Cow Field’) and extensively plundered for its stone and marble.

The area was systematically excavated in the 18th and 19th centuries, and excavations continue to this day.

La Bocca della Verità

Fontana di Trevi The Trevi Fountain

Fontana di Trevi

The Fontana di Trevi, scene of Anita Ekberg’s dip in La Dolce Vita, is Rome’s largest and most famous fountain. A flamboyant baroque ensemble of mythical figures, wild horses and cascading rock falls, it takes up the entire side of the 17th-century Palazzo Poli.

The famous tradition is to toss a coin into the water, thus ensuring that one day you’ll return to the Eternal City. On average about €3000 is thrown in every day.

The water comes from the aqua virgo, a 1st-century-BC underground aqueduct, and the name Trevi refers to the tre vie (three roads) that converge at the fountain.

The fountain gets very busy during the day, so it’s worth trying to visit later in the evening when you can appreciate its foaming majesty without the large crowds.

tip: Great spot to get a gelatto, have a seat and people watch.

Scalina Spagna The Spanish Steps

Fontana della Barcaccia and Scalina Spagna

A magnet for visitors since the 18th century, the Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) provide a perfect people-watching perch and you’ll almost certainly find yourself taking stock here at some point.

With its irregular butterfly design, the beautiful “Scalina Spagna”, or Spanish Steps are just one of these must see places when in Rome and a great example of Roman Baroque Style. It’s a great place to just sit down and enjoy the atmosphere and views of the Eternal City. The steps are a wide irregular gathering place consisted of 138 steps placed in a mix of curves, straight flights, vistas and terraces. They connect the lower Piazza di Spagna with the upper piazza Trinita dei Monti, with its beautiful twin tower church dominating the skyline.

At the lower end of the stairs you can find an early baroque fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia, or “Fountain of the Old Boat”.

Vatican City

Piazza San Pietro

For the visitor, the vast majority visit St Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square and couple this with a visit to the Vatican Museums.

Looking at the picture right shot from the top of Saint Angelo Castle by the River Tiber you are looking west with your back to the ancient centre of Rome. The long straight avenue leading up to St Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s Square is called Via della Conciliazione. This is where all the hop on, hop off open top sightseeing buses stop.

The Vatican Museums are behind St Peter’s Basilica to the right. To get to the Vatican Museums you have to walk around the Vatican walls from St Peter’s Square, about 5 minutes. If you come by tour bus, you’ll probably be dropped off by the Piazza Risorgimento mid-way along this walk from St Peter’s Square to the Vatican Museums.

Musei Vaticani e Cappella Sistina The Vatican museum and the Sistene Chapel

See the famous Sistene Chapel ceiling, the spiral staircase, and learn about all the history of the Vatican. This guided tour runs about 4 hours.

Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel Ceiling

Your guide will take you to the Sistene Chapel, thru the museum and it’s grounds. The tour will end inside the Saint Peter’s Basilica where your can climb the 551 steps to the top of the Dome of St. Peters Basilica - this is called the Cupola - when you go into the Basilica there is an entry to the Cupola - the view is fantastic you should not be scared of heights and need to be reasonably fit.

Guiseppe Momo’s spiral staircase

Note: Wether you go with a guide or on your own, there may be some long lines because everyone goes thru a security check.

Important: There is a dress code, of sorts, inside the basilica, no tank tops; shorts, shirts or dresses should hit or cover the knee.

tip: We recommend booking your Vatican Museum

visit in the morning, the crowds are smaller and you will see the Sistene Chapel ceiling with only a handful of visitors, and the security just might let you take a picture of it (without flash, of course). Later in the day the Chapel becomes very crowded.

In high tourist places you will find most signs in English, as well as people able to communicate with.

Most restaurants have menus in English, but it’s always fun to try and speak the native tounge.

helpful words numbers number Italian

pronunciation

1

uno

OO-no

2

due

DOO-way

3

tre

tray

4

quattro

KWAH-troh

5

cinque

CHEEN-kway

6

sei

say

7

sette

SET-tay

8

otto

OH-toh

9

nove

NO-vay

10

dieci

dee-YAY-chee

20

venti

VENT-tee

30

trenta

TRAYN-tah

40

quaranta kwa-RAHN-tah

50

cinquanta

cheen-KWAN-tah

60

sessanta

say-SAHN-tah

70

settanta

seh-TAHN-tah

80

ottanta

oh-TAHN-tah

90

novanta

no-VAHN-tah

100

cento

CHEN-toh

1,000

mille

MEEL-lay

All Italian words are pronounced as written, with each vowel and consonant sounded.

Only the letter h is slient, but it modifies the sound of other letters.

days of the week English

Italian

pronunciation

Monday

Lunedí

loo-nay-DEE

Tuesday

Martedí

mar-tay-DEE

Wednesday Mercoledí

mair-coh-lay-DEE

Thursday

Giovedí

jo-vay-DEE

Friday

Venerdí

ven-nair-DEE

Saturday

Sabato

SAH-baa-toh

Sunday

Domenica

doh-MEN-nee-ka

Yesterday

ieri

ee-YAIR-ee

Today

oggi

OH-jee

Tomorrow

domani

doh-MAHN-nee

Day after tomorrow

dopo domani

DOH-poh dohMAHN-nee

& phrases the basics

English

Italian

pronunciation

Do you speak English?

Parla Inglese?

PAR-la een-GLAY-zay

I don’t understand

Non capisco

non ka-PEESK-koh

I’m sorry

Mi dispiace

mee dees-pee-YAT-chay

How much is it?

Quanto costa?

KWAN-toh COST-ah

That’s too much

É troppo

ay TROH-po

Good day

Buon giorno

bwohn JOUR-noh

Good evening

Buona sera

BWOH-nah SAIR-rah

Good night

Buona notte

BWOH-nah NOTE-tay

Goodbye

Arrivederci

ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee

yes

si

see

no

no

no

please

per favore

pair fa-VOHR-ray

thank you

grazie

GRAT-tzee-yay

Excuse me (to get attention)

Scusi

SKOO-zee

Excuse me Permesso (to get past someone)

pair-MEH-so

Where is?

Dov’é

doh-VAY

...the bathroom

il bagno

eel BHAN-yoh

...train station

la ferroviaria

lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah

...the museum

il museo

eel moo-ZAY-yo

...the church

la chiesa

lah key-YAY-zah

...the cathedral

il duomo [or] la cattedrale

eel DUO-mo [or] lah cah-teh-DRAH-leh

When is it open?

Quando é aperto?

KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh

When does it close?

Quando si chiude?

KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day

ticket

biglietto

beel-YET-toh

to the right

à destra

ah DEH-strah

to the left

à sinistra

ah see-NEEST-trah

straight ahead

avanti [or] diritto

ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh

information

informazione

in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay

tip: Before you go, download a translation app to your

smart phone if you don’t want to carry around a pocket dictionary.