The Eternal City

Italy has a reputation for being an expensive destination for Europe, but you can still find city breaks very reasonable accommodation for 45 usd a night or less.

PLACES

The downtown of Rome is car free and fit for pedestrians, and walking is definitely the best way to get around. A recommendation is to buy a daily ticket and lets you use all the transport systems all day.

Check out the Piazza Navona too, once the Emperor Domitian's Circus, an endless parade of colorful characters. Along with the nearby Via Frattini and Via Condotti you're also in shopping heaven. Italians are really serious about fashion - and that is reflected in the prices.

The dome of St Peter's Basilica dominates the skyline , obviously you need to see the Sistine Chapel. You can get a lift to the gallery or climb the stairs up to the dome for incredible views across the city

MUSEUMS

Th Vatican Museums are rightly known for being some of the finest museums in the world.

The museums are located in what was formerly the Papal Palace. The museums are referred to in the plural because the different sections are considered separate museums, which contains some beautifully illustrated bibles

There are rooms of friezes and frescos painted by Raphael, Michelangelo and many more lesser-known artists.

I definitely recommend taking one of the CD Rom tour, which you can hire at the entrance to the museums.

RESTAURANTS

Eating in Rome is a pleasant and satisfying experience providing you take a few elementary precautions. Finding cheap, quality, food in Rome can be tricky and there is an old saying in the Italian capital that the rich are never hungry.

For breakfast you can hop along to a Bar and do as many wise Romans do

For lunch make your way to the nearest Pizzeria and look for the sign " Pizza al taglio o al metro" which means pizza cut to size by the meter, no more than you want but no less either.

Anyway a pizza makes a thoroughly satisfying and filling quick snack and are relatively inexpensive as well. If you want a change from pizza head to the Tavola Calda, which means hot table, at such haunts you will find hot entrees, pasta and cooked vegetables, served-upfrom a display cabinet to eat standing-up at the counter, at prices which will not break the bank.

If you enjoy people watching make tracks for one of the chic coffee houses along the Via Veneto - Hollywood on the Tiber, which although no longer the street of La Dolce Vita, if it everwas, is still a fascinating area. Among the well-known coffee houses are Doney, De La Paix and Harry's Bar.

Meal times in Rome are generally from 12.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 8.30 p.m. to 11p.m. or midnight for dinner but you can get something to eat at all hours. Indeed one of the favorite pastimes of young Romans is to head for a bar in Trastevere across the Tiber and partake of hot sweet croissants after midnight.

A ristorante is often expensive - the tab for a dinner can run from Lire 30,000 up to Lire 100,000 - a trattoria less so and a osteria may be even cheaper. A cover charge and service is usually included and tipping more or less mandatory at around 10 per cent.

If you do want a change from Italian food, Rome will not disappoint you. Apart from fast food joints - there is even a MacDonald's in the Piazza Spagna, there are scores of Chinese restaurants in town, as well as Greek, French, Austro-German, Indian and Japanese eateries to try. Still when in Rome do as the Romans do - enjoy the delights of Italian food and wine.

RECOMMENDED ROME RESTAURANTS

Ambasciata d'Abruzzo, Via Pietro Tacchini 26 is located in the Parioli area of the city and this fun eatery is very popular with visitors. It is not hard to see why either for you get value for money at this eatery which is unofficially called The Abruzzi Embassy.

Il Caminetto, Viale Parioli 89 is an exceedingly comfortable dining spot with starched white tablecloths and impeccable service. The menu is extensive and makes a good attempt at offering a good selection of regional cuisines.

Mimi, Via G. Belli 59 is in Vatican area near the Palace of Justice and is a well-established, intimate, little restaurant which provides seafood specialities, all of which are outstanding.

Mastrotefano, Piazza Navona 94/100 is an old style place but very much in fashion with a solid selection on the menu which should please most people.

Nightlife is quite sedate for a capital city and tends to go to bed quite early. In general drinks in clubs are extremely expensive.


Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May