Tourist information: Rome
Rome, the Eternal City, with its unique and fascinating history, its thousand churches, palaces and fountains; Rome, where behind every corner and building lies a secret to be discovered, a legend to be told, history to be revealed, welcomes you.
Rome, Caput Mundi during the Roman Empire, capital of Italy since 1870, home of the Catholic Church and the Italian government, is placed on the banks of the Tiber, there where the river, running weakly among the seven hills, creates vast meanders which originate little plains.
With its 2,459,776 inhabitants (2001), Rome is today the biggest and most populous city of Italy.
Located in the middle of the Italian peninsula, the city is easily accessible from most important places both in Italy and abroad.
"Fiumicino" airport (also called Leonardo da Vinci), 26-km south-west of Rome, is the airport for both international and domestic air services.
Non- stop trains run from Stazione Termini every half hour from about 07.00 to 21.15 and metropolitan trains every 15 minutes from Stazione Roma Tiburtina via Ostienze and Transtevere from about 05.00 to 23.00.
There are also night bus services between Stazione Tiburtina and the airport.
Ciampino airport, 13-Km south-east of Rome, is a subsidiary airport used mainly for domestic flights and international charter flights.
Rome can be reached via Eurostar train and by an efficient railway line that link it with the most important Italian and international cities.
A network of motorways approaches Rome, including the A1 from northern Italy (Milan, Florence), this joins the busy Rome
ring-road (Grande accordo Anulare) at settebagni, from which there are well sign-posted exists to all districts of the city.
The city is well served by two underground railway system besides the fairly efficient bus and tram services.
The climate is temperate, with breezy winters and hot summers.
Monuments and Archaeological Areas
The ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA CARD - Euro 20,00 and valid 7 days includes the entrance to all the sites of the Roman National Museum, to the Colosseum, the Palatine, the Baths of Caracalla, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintili.
The card can be purchased from the ticket counters of each site, except for the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintili, and also from the Visitor Center of Rome Tourist Board (APT) in Via Parigi 5.
The APPIA ANTICA CARD - Euro 6,00 - valid 7 days includes the entrance to the Baths of Caracalla, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintili.
Colosseum (Amphitheater of Flavius)
In the amphitheater, the most important monument of ancient Rome, bloody battles between gladiators and against ferocious animals were once held.
Divided into four levels of seats, it could hold at least fifty thousand spectators.
Piazza del Colosseo
Information and reservations: phone 06 39 96 77 00
The Visitor Centre of the APT - Via Parigi, 5.
Booking is compulsory for groups of over 14 people.
The reservation includes free audioguides.
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset.
Admission Euro 9,00 + Euro 2,00 for exhibitions(ticket valid also for the Palatine).
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the political, economic, and religious centre of ancient Rome, the site of temples, tribunals and other buildings used for public and private business.
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Information and booking of guided visits phone 06 39 96 77 00
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset.
Admission free.
Palatine
A walk of incomparable beauty along the most ancient memories of Rome: the Domus Augustana, residence of the emperors,
and other private houses.
Via di S. Gregorio, 30 or Piazza S. Maria Nova 53 (Foro Romano) - phone 06 39 96 77 00
On-line booking: www.pierreci.it or at the Visitor Centre of the APT - Via Parigi, 5. Booking is compulsory for groups of over 14 people.
The reservation includes free audioguides.
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset.
Admission: Euro 8,00 (ticket valid also for the Colosseum)
Roman Houses on the Celio Hill and Antiquarium
The Roman Houses on the Celio Hill contain more than 20 frescoed underground rooms dated between the 2nd and the 4th Century A.C. According to tradition, St. John and St. Paul were martyred there in 362 A.C. Clivio di Scauro - phone/fax 06 70 45 45 44
E-mail: prenotazioni@spazioliberocoop.it
Internet: www.caseromane.it
Hours: winter 10-13/15-18, summer 10-13; Tue and Wed closed.Only guided visits by prior arrangements.
Thu and Wed closed.
Admission Euro 6,00.
Markets of Trajan and Trajan's Forum
The markets, with their tabernae and bargaining rooms, are the ingenious building complex expecially designed to support the ground of the Quirinal Hill, dug out for the construction of the Imperial Forums, where the centre of public life had shifted.
Via IV Novembre 94 - phone 06 67 90 048 - www.mercatiditraiano.it
Information and reservations: phone/fax 06 69 78 05 32
Hours: winter 9 - 16.30, summer 9 - 18.30, Mon closed.
Euro 6,50.
Domus Aurea
Magnificent ruins of the Domus (Golden House) built for Nerone after the fire of 64 A.D.
The villa extended for a square mile between the slopes of the Caelian and Palatin hills.
Via della Domus Aurea - Giardini di Colle Oppio
Hours: 10.00am-4.00pm from Tuesday through Friday.
Reservation compulsory: phone 06 39 96 77 00
On-line booking: www.pierreci.it
Pantheon (Church of Santa Maria ad Martyres)
One of the most magnificent Roman buildings, which has survived almost intact up to the present day.
Dedicated in 609 to St. Mary ad Martyres, it holds the tombs of the painter Raphael and of the Kings of Italy.
Piazza della Rotonda - phone 06 68 30 02 30
Hours: 8.30 - 19.30, Sun 9-18, holidays 9 - 13.
Admission free. Masses Sat 17; Sun 10.30.
Baths of Caracalla
One of the most beautiful and luxurious Baths' complexes in Rome.
Equipped with sophisticated plumbing systems, they could hold up to 1,600 persons.
Via delle Terme di Caracalla 52
Information and reservations: phone 06 39 96 77 00
On-line booking: www.pierreci.it
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset, Mon 9 - 14.
Admission: Appia Antica Card Euro 6,00 - Archeologia Card Euro 20,00.
Mamertine Prison
Ancient State prison.
A legend tells that St. Peter was imprisoned there.
Once a venerated place, it was dedicated in 1726 to St. Peter in Chains.
Clivio Argentario 1 - phone 06 67 92 902 - fax 06 67 93 533 Hours: winter 9 -17, summer 9 -18.30.
Admission: offering.
Ara Pacis Augustae
A monumental altar erected in 13-19 B.C to celebrate the peace established by Augustus in the entire Roman Empire.
Lungotevere in Augusta - phone 06 82059127 - www.arapacis.it. Hours: Tue-Sun 9.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Mon. closed. December 25th, January 1st, May 1st closed.
December 24th and 31st open from 9.00 a.m. - 2p.m. Guided visits on request. Admission: Euro 6,50. Reduced fee Euro 3.00.
Auditorium di Mecenate
Belonging to the Villa of Mecenate complex, the apsed room is partly undergrounded and was probably used as a triclinium for summer banquests.
Largo Leopardi 2.
Hours: 9 - 13.30. Mon closed. Advance booking necessary ph./fax 06 67103819. Admission Euro 2,60.
Circus of Maxentius, Mausoleum of Romulus
and Imperial Residences
Built by Maxentius in honour of his son Romulus, who died young and was buried in the nearby mausoleum.
Via Appia Antica 153 - phone 06 78 01 324 Hours: 9.00 - 13.00,
Mon closed. Admission Euro 2,60.
Tomb of Cecilia Metella
Famous funeral monument, dating from the last decades of the ancient Roman Republic.
Via Appia Antica 161 - phone 06 39 96 77 00
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset, Mon closed.
Admission: Appia Antica Card Euro 6,00 - Archeologia Card Euro 20,00.
Villa of the Quintili
Magnificent, picturesque ruins of the villa whose main nucleus dates from the time of Hadrian.
Via Appia Nuova 1092
Guided visits booking: phone 06 39 96 77 00
Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset, Mon closed.
Admission: Appia Antica Card Euro 6,00 - Archeologia Card Euro 20,00
Park of the Tombs of Via Latina
In a protected area of the Roman countryside and not far from the city, are a number of funeral monuments of great interest.
Via dell'Arco di Travertino 151 - phone 06 78 09 255
Visits to the tumbs only on request: phone 06 70 04 261 - fax 06 70 08 416.
Hours: 9-1h before sunset.
Ancient Ostia Escavations
Impressive remains of the Roman settlement which used to be the military garrison for the defense of the river entrance as well as shipyard, gathering place for the Roman fleet, and provisioning centre.
Ostia Antica, Viale dei Romagnoli 717 - phone 06 56 35 80 99 - fax 06 56 51 500 - E-mail: ostia@arti.beniculturali.it
Internet: www.itnw.roma.it/ostia/scavi
Hours: winter 8.30 - 16, summer 9 - 18, Mon closed.
Admission Euro 6,50.
Note: The Archaeological Area of the Harbour of Trajan, in Via Portuense, and the Church of St. Ercolano, at the Cemetery of Ancient Ostia, can be visited on request to be addressed to the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Ostia
- phone 06 56 35 80 99 / 06 65 29 192.
Castle of Jules II
One of the first examples of modern military architecture;
it was built in 1483 by Jules II, a cardinal at the time.
Piazza della Rocca, Borgo Medievale di Ostia Antica
- phone 06 56 35 80 24
For reservations: phone 06 56 35 80 86 Hours: 9 - 12.45, Tue and Thu also 15.00 - 17.00, Mon closed.
Free admission with guided tour.
Necropolis of Porto
Over one hundred brickwork tombs with cippi, sculptures and terracotta pieces. Fiumicino, Isola Sacra - Via di Monte Spinoncia 52 - phone 06 65 83 888
Guided visits by appointment: phone 06 56 35 80 03 Hours: 9 - 1h before sunset, Mon closed.
Admission free.
Arch of Malborghetto
An archaeological area that includes the remains of a monumental arch from Roman times and a small museum.
Via di Malborghetto 1 - Via Flaminia Km. 19,400
- phone/fax 06 33 62 55 95
Guided tours by appointment.
Hours: 9 - 14, Sat 16 - 19, Sun 9 - 19, Tue closed.
Admission free.
Archaeological Area of Veio
Ruins of the important Etruscan city that was Rome's enemy before it became a Roman colony.
Località Isola Farnese, Via Riserva Campetti - phone 06 30 89 01 16/06 32 26 571
Hours: 8 - 14; Thu and Sat 8 - 16, Mon closed.
Admission Euro 2,00
Vittoriano - Monument to King Victor Emmanuel II
The monument inaugurated in 1911 and devoted to the King Victor Emmanuel II contains since 1921 the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and it is now completely open to the public.
Piazza Venezia - phone 06 69 91 718
Hours: winter 9.30 - 16.30, summer 9.30 - 17.30.
Admission free.
Basements of San Giovanni - Addolorata Hospital
Charming archaeological itineraries (2/4 hours) along the basements and the monumental courtyards of the hospital.
It is possible to see: the "Villa degli Anni", the "Villa of Domitia Lucilla" and the "Villa of Licinio Sura".
Azienda Ospedaliera "Complesso Ospedaliero San Giovanni-Addolorata " Ufficio Patrimonio Immobiliare- Via dell'Amba Aradam 9
phone 06 77 05 30 11 - fax 06 77 05 34 95
E-mail: fpontoriero@sangiovanni.roma.it Visits on request.
Admission: free offering
Religion in Italy
Religion is an all-pervasive force in Italy and one cannot know the true nature of this country and its people without understanding the role faith plays in Italian life.
Travelers to Italy have no choice but to visit the churches, shrines and monasteries if they want to examine some of the greatest art and architecture ever created.
Not to mention the great masterpieces of the Renaissance are mostly religious in nature.
Unlike many churches in other European countries, the churches in Italy are not museums and small but active congregations keep even remote parishes alive.
Rome has been a religious capital for thousands of years and the Eternal City is still the focal point for the world's over one billion Roman Catholics. For the faithful traveler a visit to the hundreds of churches within Rome, with their amazing number of holy relics could be a pilgrimage
all on its own.
The Pope is not only the head of the Catholic Church; he is Bishop of Rome and successor to Rome's first bishop, Saint Peter.
However, his title of Pontifex Maximus is of even older origins and dates back to the founding of Rome.
Italy has been a land of deep faith since time immemorial and its landscape is still dotted with the beliefs of the past.
Throughout Italy are Christian holy sites that have been venerated for thousands of years, even in pagan times.
Countless churches in Italy are built from ancient Roman temples, or above shrines of the old mystery religions such as Mithraism.
Although the daily masses are usually occupied by a dwindling population of old women, and monasteries are almost empty, feast days and religious holidays still see the churches filled to capacity.
The shrines and tombs of Catholic Saints including the very popular Saint Francis of Assisi can be found in Italy and still attract thousands of pilgrims each year from all corners of the world.
Be it a small mountain chapel in Val d'Aosta or the Norman/Byzantine Cathedral of Monreale in Sicily the faith of the Italian people
is well represented.
