Rome For Dummies^®, 1st Edition

by Bruce Murphy; Alessandra de Rosa

• ISBN13: 9780764599507
• ISBN10: 076459950X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

When in Rome, do as the Romans doenjoy life! Take in the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The Coliseum, where you can walk a subterranean corridor that was once the passageway for gladiators and animals. Incredible museums, art, and sculpture. Rome enshrines centuries of history amid an atmosphere of modern vitality. From ancient ruins to nightlife hot spots, this friendly guide helps you experience it all, with information on: Figuring out the neighborhoods and getting around Shopping department stores, the market, or neighborhood specialty shops Great souvenirs, ranging from antique prints to cardinal socks Optional, more specialized itineraries, including Rome for Architecture Lovers and Rome for Michelangelo Lovers Five day trips, including Tivoli with its villas and The Castelli Romani and their Italian wines Like every For Dummies travel guide, Rome For Dummies includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't missand what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	4	(1)
Part I: Introducing Rome	4	(1)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Rome	4	(1)
Part III: Settling into Rome	4	(1)
Part IV: Exploring Rome	5	(1)
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: Rome's Nightlife	5	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: introducing Rome	7	(30)
Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of Rome	9	(5)
The Best Museums	9	(1)
The Best Churches	10	(1)
The Best Ruins	11	(1)
The Best Hotels	11	(1)
The Best Restaurants	12	(1)
The Best Buys in Rome	12	(1)
The Best Daytime and Nighttime Outings	13	(1)
Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into Rome	14	(15)
History 101: The Main Events	19	(1)
Architecture: From Ruins to Rococo	20	(1)
A Taste of Rome: Eating Locally	21	(4)
Antipasto	22	(1)
Primo	23	(1)
Secondo	23	(1)
Contorno and salads	24	(1)
Dolci and desserts	24	(1)
Wines	25	(1)
Word to the Wise: The Local Language	25	(1)
Background Check: Recommended Books and Movies	26	(3)
True stories	26	(1)
Art history	27	(1)
Works of fiction	27	(1)
The moving image	28	(1)
Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go	29	(8)
Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons	29	(3)
April through June	30	(1)
July and August	31	(1)
September and October	31	(1)
November through March	32	(1)
Perusing a Calendar of Events	32	(7)
January	32	(1)
February	33	(1)
March and April	33	(1)
May	33	(1)
June	34	(1)
July	34	(1)
August	34	(1)
September	34	(1)
October	35	(1)
November	35	(1)
December	35	(2)
Part II: Planninq Your Trip to Rome	37	(38)
Chapter 4: Managing Your Money	39	(14)
Planning Your Budget	39	(5)
Transportation	40	(1)
Lodging	41	(1)
Dining	42	(1)
Sightseeing	43	(1)
Shopping	43	(1)
Nightlife	44	(1)
Cutting Costs — but Not the Fun	44	(3)
Handling Money	47	(4)
Making sense of the euro	47	(2)
Using ATMs and carrying cash	49	(1)
Charging ahead with credit cards	50	(1)
Toting traveler's checks	51	(1)
Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet	51	(2)
Chapter 5: Getting to Rome	53	(8)
Flying to Rome	53	(4)
Finding out which airlines fly there	53	(1)
Getting the best deal on your airfare	54	(1)
Booking your flight online	55	(2)
Arriving by Other Means	57	(1)
Train	57	(1)
Ship and ferry	57	(1)
Bus	57	(1)
Joining an Escorted Tour	57	(2)
Choosing a Package Tour	59	(2)
Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests	61	(5)
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families	61	(2)
Making Age Work for You: Tips for Seniors	63	(1)
Accessing Rome: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities	64	(1)
Following the Rainbow: Resources for Gay and Lesbian Travelers	65	(1)
Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details	66	(9)
Getting a Passport	66	(2)
Applying for a U.S. passport	66	(1)
Applying for other passports	67	(1)
Renting a Car — Not!	68	(1)
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance	68	(2)
Staying Healthy When You Travel	70	(1)
Staying Connected by Cellphone or E-Mail	71	(2)
Using a cellphone outside the United States	71	(1)
Accessing the Internet away from home	71	(2)
Keeping Up with Airline Security	73	(2)
Part III: Settling into Rome	75	(68)
Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented	77	(18)
Navigating Your Way through Passport Control and Customs	77	(1)
Making Your Way to Your Hotel	78	(3)
Arriving by plane	78	(2)
Arriving by ship	80	(1)
Arriving by train	81	(1)
Figuring Out the Neighborhoods	81	(8)
II Centro	82	(6)
Finding information after you arrive	88	(1)
Getting Around Rome	89	(6)
By subway (metropolitana)	90	(1)
By bus (autobus)	90	(1)
On foot	90	(1)
By tram	91	(3)
By taxi	94	(1)
By motor scooter (motorino)	94	(1)
Chapter 9: Checking In at Rome's Best Hotels	95	(23)
Knowing Your Roman Hotels: What to Expect	95	(2)
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate	97	(3)
Finding the best rate	97	(1)
Surfing the Web for hotel deals	98	(1)
Reserving the best room	99	(1)
Finding Alternative Accommodations: Apartments to Convents	100	(1)
Arriving without a Reservation	100	(1)
Rome's Best Hotels	100	(14)
Runner-Up Accommodations	114	(2)
Index of Accommodations by Neighborhood	116	(1)
Index of Accommodations by Price	117	(1)
Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in Rome	118	(25)
Getting the Dish on the Local Scene	118	(1)
Trimming the Fat from Your Budget	119	(1)
Rome's Best Restaurants	120	(13)
Dining and Snacking on the Go	133	(5)
Bars	133	(1)
Picnics	134	(1)
Pizza a taglio	134	(1)
Pizzerie	135	(1)
Really good coffee	136	(1)
Snack bars, tavola calda, and rosticcerie	136	(1)
Sweet endings: Gelato	137	(1)
Index of Establishments by Neighborhood	138	(1)
Index of Establishments by Cuisine	139	(1)
Index of Establishments by Price	140	(3)
Part IV Exptoring Rome	143	(86)
Chapter 11: Discovering Rome's Best Attractions	145	(44)
Rome's Top Sights	147	(20)
The Vatican	167	(5)
Finding More Cool Things to See and Do	172	(14)
For museum buffs	172	(2)
For serious antiquity lovers	174	(3)
For families with kids	177	(2)
For religious-architecture lovers: More great churches	179	(3)
For secular-architecture lovers: More delightful Roman piazze and palaces	182	(2)
For art-gallery rats	184	(1)
For history buffs	185	(1)
Seeing Rome by Guided Tour	186	(3)
Bus tours	187	(1)
Walking tours	188	(1)
Boat tours	188	(1)
Air tours	188	(1)
Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores	189	(9)
Surveying the Scene	189	(2)
Checking Out the Department Stores	191	(1)
Going to Market	191	(1)
Discovering the Best Shopping Neighborhoods	192	(4)
II Corso	192	(1)
Navona/Pantheon	193	(2)
Cola di Rienzo	195	(1)
Via Nazionale	195	(1)
Trastevere	196	(1)
Index of Stores by Merchandise	196	(2)
Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary:
Five Great Options	198	(2)
Rome in Three Days	198	(1)
Day 1	198	(1)
Day 2	199	(1)
Day 3	199	(1)
Rome in Five Days	200	(1)
Rome for Architecture Lovers	200	(1)
Rome for Michelangelo Lovers	201	(1)
Rome for Outdoors Lovers	202	(2)
Chapter 14: Going Beyond Rome: Five Day Trips	204	(25)
Ostia Antica: Rome's Ancient Seaport	204	(4)
Getting there	205	(1)
Taking a tour	206	(1)
Seeing the sights	206	(1)
Dining locally	207	(1)
Tivoli and Its Trio of Villas	208	(4)
Getting there	208	(1)
Taking a tour	209	(1)
Seeing the sights	209	(2)
Dining locally	211	(1)
Spending the night	212	(1)
The Castelli Romani and Their Wines	212	(8)
Getting there	213	(1)
Taking a tour	213	(1)
Seeing the sights	214	(3)
Dining locally	217	(2)
Spending the night	219	(1)
Tarquinia	220	(4)
Getting there	220	(1)
Taking a tour	221	(1)
Seeing the sights	221	(1)
Dining locally	222	(1)
Spending the night	223	(1)
Nature Reserve of the Lago di Vico	224	(7)
Getting there	224	(1)
Taking a tour	225	(1)
Seeing the sights	225	(1)
Dining locally	226	(1)
Spending the night	227	(2)
Part V: Living It Up after Dark: Rome's Nightlife	229	(32)
Chapter 15: Applauding the Cultural Scene	231	(6)
Getting the Inside Scoop	231	(2)
Finding Out What's Playing and Getting Tickets	233	(1)
Raising the Curtain on the Performing Arts	234	(3)
Symphony	234	(1)
Opera	235	(1)
Dance	235	(1)
Theater	235	(2)
Chapter 16: Hitting the Clubs and Bars	237	(24)
Finding Out What's on Where	237	(1)
All That Jazz	237	(1)
Historic Cafes	238	(1)
Wine Bars and Pubs	239	(1)
Dance Clubs	239	(1)
Gay and Lesbian Bars	240	(21)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	261
Chapter 17: Non Capisco: The Top Ten Expressions You Need to Know	243	(3)
Per Favore	243	(1)
Grazie	243	(1)
Permesso	244	(1)
Scusi	244	(1)
Buon Giorno and Buona Sera	244	(1)
Arrivederci	244	(1)
Dov'è	245	(1)
Quanto Costa?	245	(1)
Che Cos'è?	245	(1)
Non Capisco	245	(1)
Chapter 18: Ten Great Roman Artists	246	(4)
Pietro Cavallini	246	(1)
Jacopo Torriti	247	(1)
Antoniazzo Romano	247	(1)
Giulio Pippi	247	(1)
Cavalier d'Arpino	247	(1)
Artemisia Gentileschi	248	(1)
Plautilla Bricci	248	(1)
Pietro Bracci	248	(1)
Giuseppe Valadier	249	(1)
Duilio Cambellotti	249	(1)
Chapter 19: From Antique Prints to Cardinal Socks: The Best Roman Souvenirs	250	(3)
Antique Prints	250	(1)
Art	251	(1)
Crafts	251	(1)
Fashion	251	(1)
Gold Jewelry	251	(1)
Handmade Paper Goods	251	(1)
Lace and Embroideries	252	(1)
Murano Chandeliers and Sardinian Pottery	252	(1)
Plaster Reproductions	252	(1)
Religious Paraphernalia	252	(1)
Appendix A: Quick Concierge	253	(11)
Fast Facts	253	(6)
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	259	(1)
Where to Get More Information	260	(4)
Visitor information	260	(2)
Newspapers	262	(1)
Other sources of information	262
Appendix B: Glossary of Italian
Words and Phrases	264	(1)
Basic Vocabulary	264	(1)
Numbers	265	(1)
Architectural Terms	266	(2)
Common Roman Foods	268	(5)
Index	273