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.