ABOUT ROME

History and landmarks

Located on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome (Roma) was once the administrative centre of the Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices.
The legendary beginnings of Rome are related in the tale of Romulus and Remus. Princess Rhea Silvia, ravished by Mars (the God of War), gave birth to the twins and abandoned them to fate. The River Tiber carried them to the Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf mothered the babes until their discovery by a shepherd. Romulus later killed Remus, before going on to found Rome in the marshy lowlands of seven hills. The anniversary of Rome’s foundation – 21 April 753BC – is now marked by a public holiday.
Rome saw a second period of development during the 15th-century Renaissance, when the Papacy took up permanent residence in the city. Although Rome’s power has since waned, the city remains the essence of European civilisation.
Monumental ruins dating from Rome’s glory days lie within an area known as Roma Antica (Ancient Rome) and include the Colosseum and the Foro Romano – a crumbling legacy of pagan temples, broken marble and triumphal arches. Buildings from the Renaissance period are concentrated within the centro storico (historic centre), between Via del Corso and the Tevere (River Tiber).
The romantic Piazza Navona with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain immortalised by Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1959), all lie within walking distance of each other.

Location: Lazio region, Italy (www.regione.lazio.it)
Country dialling code: 39
Area code: 06
Population: around 3 millions
Time zone: GMT +1
International airports: two: Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino; Ciampino (www.adr.it)
Metro lines: Two, the lines A and B (www.atac.roma.it)

Transport

Arriving in Rome

•    By plane
Fiumicino Airport (Leonardo da Vinci), Rome's main airport is well-connected to the centre during the day by a direct train and slower trains. The direct train between Fiumicino and Termini costs € 11,00 and takes approximately 30 minutes. It leaves from and arrives at track 24 at Termini (the main train station).

•    By train
Most Inter-City trains arrive at Termini Station. A few trains, particularly those arriving at night, arrive at the Tiburtina or Ostiense stations.
Termini Station, the hub of Rome's transport system, can be confusing when you first arrive. Once you have gotten off the train and walked down the platform, you will reach the main gallery. The exit by platform 1 will take you to the north side of Termini; the exit by platform 22 will take you to the south side of Termini. Continuing away from the platforms past the main gallery, you will reach the main hall. If you exit through the main hall you will find Piazza dei Cinquecento, where the largest bus terminal in Rome and access to the city's two metro (subway) lines, A and B, is also located. The night bus to Fiumicino airport departs from and arrives here as well.

•    By car
All roads lead to Rome, but it can be difficult to actually reach the centre. If you are on the A1 highway from the north, take the exit called "Roma Nord" . If you are on the A1 from the south, take the exit "Roma Est". Both of these exits, after a few kilometres, take you to the GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare), the road that forms a ring around the city.

Once in Rome

Metro
Rome's metro system is very useful and quite safe as long as you are alert. Although the bus network is extensive and buses run frequently (though will still be crowded), the metro is much simpler to master.
The metro system has only two lines, A and B, which cross at Termini. There are trains from 5.30 am until 10.30 pm every day (on Saturdays until 0.30 am). Metro stations on line A do not have facilities for the disabled (except the Cipro-Musei Vaticani and Valle Aurelia stations). Alternatively, bus 590 follows the same route of metro line A and has wheelchair access (see below). All the metro stations on line B have facilities for the disabled except the Circo Massimo, Colosseo and Cavour stations (direction Laurentina).
 
Bus
There are hundreds of bus lines, running from 5.30 am until midnight. In addition to the usual bus lines recognisable by a “U” letter on a blue background, the city Bus Lines are the following:
•    Express Lines: marked by an X letter in green colour covering long distances and connecting far away areas;
•    Exact Lines: marked by an E letter in bordeaux colour covering short distances leaving at fixed hours;
•    Electric Lines: for historic centre transportation. This bus is nicknamed "Pollicino" for its small size;
•    Night Lines: marked by and N letter. Service runs from midnight to 5.30am Stops are easily recognisable because they feature an owl sign;
•    Lines for the disabled: lifts allow getting on and off with a wheel-chair. In particular bus 590 runs along the Metro A route: from Piazza Cinecittà to Viale Giulio Cesare

Taxi
Taxis in Rome are white or yellow, have an identification name and number on the front door and show a taximeter inside. They can be easily found in every part of the city in special taxi parkings, each parking having its own phone number. You can also call one of the many Radio Taxi companies: an operator will contact the nearest taxi parking to where you are at the moment and tell you the name and number of the taxi arriving to pick you up to allow easy and safe identification. The operator should also tell how many minutes it will take for the taxi to reach your present location.

For further information please visit the web site of the Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali (the Ministry of Cultural Goods and Activities) at www.beniculturali.it. 

Interesting itineraries tips are available within the website of the Rome Tourist Board at www.romaturismo.com.