How to save money in Rome on food, water, excursions, shopping, hotels, etc. Useful tips! Rome secret places that you won't find in a typical travel guide What a tourist needs to do in Rome

See Rome and die ... from the effect of reality, which does not coincide in any way with expectations. The oldest city that we dreamed of seeing for a long time has worked for us as for the Japanese, Paris (read about the Paris syndrome and everything will fall into place). But it's not that bad!

The main thing is to try to enjoy the city, setting aside your fabulous expectations and, as a bonus, not spend your monthly budget in pursuit of the million city attractions that are on every list “see with your own eyes at least once in your life”. Now I will tell you how to see Rome on a budget. Expensive metropolitan housing does not count - there is no getting away from it.

As with any tourist city, Rome has its own free days to visit all kinds of museums and attractions. There are several such days in the capital of Italy: the last and the first Sunday of the month. Ideally, the best time to plan your trip is to cover these two periods. If you are traveling to Rome only for one weekend, then choose the attractions on which you would definitely like to save money. Hope you enjoy the Eternal City!

Roman seasons: when is the best time to visit the city

While the whole world and, especially, the central cities are bursting with the flow of tourists, you need to carefully approach travel planning. Now attention is paid not only to good weather conditions, the relative cheapness of housing, but also to the number of people in the city. For Rome and Italy as a whole, there is no such framework as the concept of "season / off-season".

The climate, in general, is warmer than in our homeland, but the temperature in the apartment must be taken into account. No heating - spoiled impression, mark my words. In hotels, there is no question of any heating (especially in old buildings), but on Airbnb, after checking with the host, you can find excellent warm apartments with autonomous heating. What am I talking about heating? Discover Italy and Rome in particular during the off-season! February and March are ideal times. This is when there is practically no rain and you can already go to an aperitif or lunch on the terraces of restaurants and cafes!

The plus of February and March is that there are no serious and religious holidays for which sights and museums are closed. After it is already Easter and May 1 - Labor Day.

Evergreen pine

Part one: the last weekend of the month

Here you come to Rome on Friday, for example. The next morning, Saturday, wake up early and head straight to the Vatican. And this will be your first, but not your last visit to the Vatican.

Saturday plan

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican

In order to take a good look at everything and not spend a lot of euros in the Vatican, it is better to divide your visits to St. Peter's Basilica (with a rise to the dome) and to explore the museums.

By 8 a.m. and not a minute later, you should already be in line to enter the cathedral (a usual check with a metal detector), otherwise you risk standing in line for up to three hours first and getting into the cathedral exactly when there is nowhere for an apple to fall - the cathedral will be packed to capacity with tourists or let in the soft light until noon as the sun shines through the basilica's huge curved windows and creates a unique “holy” atmosphere.

After admiring the grandeur of the cathedral, do not pass by Michelangelo's forgery - the sculptural composition of Pieta ("Lamentation of Christ"), which is kept under glass.

Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica: in the off-season from October 1 to March 31, the cathedral is open from 7 to 18:30, and the rest of the time - half an hour longer until 19:00.

Price: the entrance is free. There is also an option to pay 15 euros for admission out of line, but within the framework of this article we are considering only budget and free leisure options.

How to get to the Vatican: Take public transport to the Vatican to save money and use your budget wisely. For example, take the metro on the red line to Ottaviano station, tram 19 or buses 32, 81, 590 to the Piazza dei Risorgimento stop.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Peter in the cathedral

Swiss guardsman
Light!

Dome of St. peter's cathedral

Unfortunately, climbing the dome costs money... But believe me, the views of the city that open from the dome of the cathedral will beckon you and on your next visit to Rome you can hardly deny yourself this.

The shape of the key of St. Peter's Square is a unique idea of ​​Michelangelo's follower, peeped from the master's past works. On the galleries on both sides of the square, you can measure the length of the human queue, who, having had a good sleep, also want to get to the cathedral (but first they will have a queue for at least 3 hours).

Time to rise: in the off-season from October 1 to March 31, the dome opens at 8 and closes at 17:00. The rest of the time (from April 1 to September 31) - from 8 to 18.

Ticket price: at the time of this writing (2018), it costs 8 euros to climb the dome on the steps that are difficult to conquer (550 steps), and the lift (only 320 steps, the rest will still have to be conquered on our own two) - 10 euros. In the off-season, you can get on the balloon in the form of restoration of the steps and, if you're lucky, you can be taken down by an elevator. In short, you can save 2 euros and later eat up the calories burned on the steps. mango gelato ?

A little hint: if you go outside the cathedral immediately to the entrance where the Swiss guards are standing, through the point with the guards, then you will not be allowed back into the cathedral.

The city in all its glory!

Postcards based on the Sistine Chapel
Vatican Post Test

Piazza del Popolo and Il Pincio observation deck

Piazza del Popolo is almost the last place where you cannot enter a car. A true pedestrian paradise! Although, after climbing the dome of St. Peter, I doubt that you will get a buzz from the subsequent walks? The square is always entertained by street performers, and the hated "sellers" of bracelets and all kinds of unnecessary trash seek out their victims.

Be careful in Rome: do not accept any gifts from strangers on the street and do not buy anything hand-held. Even selfies! I am generally shocked that there are still buyers on them! In large tourist cities Italy has already been banned from selling all sorts of things on the streets, a fine can be issued not only to the seller, but also to the buyer. In fact: except for the Vatican, no one drives these sellers and they shamelessly get into the personal space of tourists.

One of the easy options to get to the Pincio Hill is from the Piazza del Popolo side. Another unforgettable view of Rome opens up from the hill. Pincio is also home to the famous Roman park Villa Borghese.

View of Piazza del Popolo from Pincho Hill

Spanish Steps and Plaza of Spain

On the famous Spanish Steps, you can relax after a busy city program. Sit on one of the steps and enjoy one of the busiest streets in Rome. Is free.

Top of the Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain - undoubtedly considered one of the business cards Rome. Every year, whole riches are withdrawn from its waters, with pleasure left by tourists from all over the world. Last year from the Trevi Fountain! Unprecedented popularity and benefit to the country! This is because travelers definitely want to return to Rome by throwing coins over their shoulders.

If you find yourself in this cramped square, where the fountain is located, later than 5 am, you risk being trampled in the crowd ... and eaten with gelato. The fountain is surrounded by all kinds of gelateria and it seemed to me that the area in front of the fountain is used more as a place for a snack. In any case, you will not be able to see normally and quickly take a picture. Tourist Ce la vie!

Trevi Fountain. It was very difficult to photograph

Sunday plan

After a busy Saturday, there will be no less busy Sunday! How would you like being in a major tourist capital? This Sunday we will have to wake up even earlier, as the cherry on the cake awaits us.

Vatican museums

Free admission to the Vatican Museums on the last Sunday of the month! Against € 20 per person on a typical day. Museums were supposed to be the most expensive item in Rome. But getting there without really paying a cent, thinking over the details and making some effort.

Working hours: Normal opening hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm But on the last Sunday of the month the museums are open. Tourists are launched on free Sundays only until 12 noon. Therefore, in free train still need to have time to jump.

Despite the fact that the doors of museums open only at 9 am, there is a rather impressive queue at 8 am. We queued at 8:10 in the morning and only went inside at 9:20. This is considered unusual luck - just an hour in line at the Vatican Museums!

Small note: Since you are saving at the entrance, do not buy an audio guide for your Jewish joys at the museum's ticket office (7 euros, available in Russian). The audio guide is rented without headphones and is in the shape of a telephone, which is suitable for use by only one person. This is not so bad! The audio guide turned out to be so useless! Water was poured into the information about the objects, as I did in my diploma, in the spirit of: "... the room is illuminated naturally from above." The sensations after listening are not the most pleasant - as if I have attended the most boring lecture in my life. At this point, it is better to save money and read about museums on the Internet.

In one of the Vatican museums

Please note right away that you will spend at least 4 hours in the Vatican Museums. And remember that in the Sistine Chapel you cannot take pictures and talk loudly. Do not repeat after other people who are taking pictures and filming videos from under the floor - then the guards scandal with them and take them out by force.

The work of Raphael Santi "Transfiguration"

Stairs in the museum

Piazza navona

Wide piazza Navona - perfect place for observing people and for relaxing next to the baroque fountains, of which there are three around the perimeter. In the center is an Egyptian obelisk decorated with statues of deities symbolizing the four world rivers: Nile, Ganges, Danube and La Plata.

Sitting down and relaxing in the square is not a problem. It is dotted with cafes and restaurants where you can leisurely sip your aperitif and appetizers.

District Trastevere

I suggest ending your budget walking tour on Sunday with walks and gatherings in bars / cafes / restaurants in the lovely Trastevere area. The streets of the area look as we imagine after watching films about Italy. I promise you will love it! Plus, here you can dine on a budget or drop in for an aperitif in one of the cozy bars, which, moreover, have also equipped places on the street.

Peer into the signs on the happy hour bars. During this time, Trastevere offers a cheap glass of wine and unlimited snacks (buffet style).

Trastevere area

Levitating paste

Part two: the first weekend of the month

We dose a little tasty. To really avoid wasting money on attractions, you need to be patient.

Saturday plan

Pantheon

See with your own eyes this temple, the construction of which dates back to 125 BC! And he, over the years, is as good as new. The structure of the Pantheon is unique, if only in that the dome is even larger in diameter than the dome of St. Peter's in the Vatican and, in fact, is not reinforced by anything, which makes it the largest unreinforced dome in the architectural world. Go inside the Pantheon to see the domed oculus that naturally illuminates the room.

Price: admission is still free, but the Roman authorities have already discussed the possibility of making the entrance to the Pantheon paid. Very soon to enter the Pantheon € 3. So seize the moment!

Let's hit on gelato! Not far from the Pantheon are two of my favorite gelateria: Fatamorgana and GROM (first and second in my personal ranking). Especially good are the fruity gelato flavors at GROM and the unusual, alternative flavors at Fatamorgana, such as gelato with avocado and basil, or with ginger and lemon.

Gelato from GROM. Mango and ricotta
Gelato from Fatamorgana. Lemon and ginger, matcha tea, avocado and basil

Vittoriano Monument at Piazza Venezia

The giant monument with its chariots at the very top of the building is visible from literally every corner of Rome. The monument was built in honor of the first king of a unified Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel II. Be sure to look at all the tiers of the monument (except for the paid one) to enjoy really steep views of the city from different points.

Working hours: every day from 9:30 to 19. The last visitors start at 18:45.

Price: if you do not go to museums and do not climb the last tier of the monument, then you can see the panoramas for free.

Vittorio Monument at Piazza Venezia



View from the terrace of the monument

Capitoline Square and Cafarelli Terrace

At the end of a busy Saturday the best place to observe the tops of ancient buildings and churches at sunset, there will be the Cafarelli terrace (link on the map). There is also a small cafe right on the terrace, if you want a coffee with a view?

Working hours: daily from 9:30 to 19.

Price: entrance to the terrace is free.

View from the terrace of Cafarelli at sunset

Theater of Marcellus, which many newcomers confuse with the Colosseum.

Sunday plan

Coliseum

The Colosseum is the place where, immediately after arriving in the city, you run headlong. To see his Excellence. But to get inside for free the oldest building you need to come here on the first Sunday of the month. And it is advisable to open at 8:30 am and in good faith to stand in line, which will be located along the perimeter of the Colosseum. In practice, by 13 o'clock there was practically no queue (off-season). But we start a busy Sunday early with you in order to be in time for all the free places.

The arena breaks all attendance records, after which the Colosseum was recognized by the Italian Ministry of Tourism.

Coliseum

Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Additional two attractions that are usually included in the paid ticket along with the Colosseum. Since we arrived on the first Sunday of the month, the visit to the Roman Forum will be free. While you are visiting the Colosseum, the entire queue to the Forum box office will evaporate and you will be able to walk to the ancient ruins without much waiting.

Working hours: daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm during off-season and from 8:30 am to 6 pm during high season.

Did you know that the Neapolitan pizza (the one on the curvy crust) is?

Roman Forum and Colosseum

Arc de Triomphe and the entrance to the Roman Forum

Castel Sant'Angelo

Previously, the castle was built for different purposes. It was both a mausoleum, and the residence of the pontiffs, and a prison. Now it is a museum and a treasury of the pontificate. The top offers a steep view of the Tiber River and the Vatican.

On a free Sunday, the Castel Sant'Angelo queue reaches the Vatican, so please be patient and have some food for a snack. If you go to a restaurant after visiting the Roman Forum, you will no longer want to go to the Castel Sant'Angelo.

Working hours: daily from 9 to 19. The last visitors start at 18:30.

Castel Sant'Angelo

Tiber River Embankment

Walk along the river to admire the winding bridges and overhanging trees along the waterfront.

Tiber

Transport in Rome

There are several ways to get around the city, except for two:

• metro - long intervals between trains, and the green line, along which the tourist route is supposed to be, is not yet completed;
• bus - you can get there from everywhere, but it takes a very long time with traffic jams;
• tram - runs almost everywhere, you can get to the place quickly and without traffic jams;
• taxi is sooooo expensive. banned in Rome, so only Uber Black ride. For example, a taxi from the city center to the airport can cost from 70 euros.

Italian old car

Rome's public transport fares are 1.5 euros per ticket and are given for 100 minutes. During this period, you can change from one transport to another as many times as you like, provided that you have just one trip ... There are also tickets that are valid for 24 hours (7 euros) and 48 hours (12.5 euros).

Transport tickets can be bought from vending machines in the metro, in tobacco shops (be guided by the big T on the shop sign), in bookstores and newsagents, in small tourist shops.

Save the guide to your smartphone so as not to lose it (you can download it in good resolution in the "Useful links" section)

useful links

• As a gift for readers, I have prepared a printed guide from the Living in Travels blog, which you can use when it comes in handy.
• Checking the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica and the dome: vatican.va
• Reservation of tickets to the Vatican Museums (€ 20 per person): biglietteriamusei.vatican.va
• Guide to the best gelateria in Rome: 34travel.me
• Online map with the best pizzerias in Rome and all of Italy:

Where to stay in Rome

We unknowingly booked accommodation in the Pigneto area - the end of the green metro line in the eastern part of the city. Pigneto is now called a rapidly developing area where artists and other artists live. Quite a controversial area, it was especially scary to walk at night. But the cheapest Aperol Syringe cocktail in Rome was found near our house. And only on this street with restaurants and bars offering Aperol, there were two military vehicles with armed soldiers. But you know, there was still no confidence in safety. Below you can see examples of hotels specially selected for you, for any budget in good areas Rome:

• best hostel in Rome: The Yellow;
• Best Budget Hotel: Hotel Hiberia
• best mid-value hotel: Hotel Quirinale;
• Best Luxury Hotel: Rome Cavalieri.

Looking for another hotel in Rome? Click on the link to see the entire list

If you stay in the city for more than 4 days, want to grab the last and first weekend of the month, or even fly with a whole group of friends, it is more profitable to rent an apartment through the Airbnb service. ...

Arriving in Rome in June, you will be able to do without the daily hikes to the sea. In early summer, the temperature in the city on the 7 hills (Rome, of course) is 27 ° C during the day and drops to 17-20 ° C at night.

If yours or, it is better to immediately put all the beach accessories in your suitcase, otherwise you will have to buy them on the spot. It is not possible to survive without water at a daily air temperature of 30 to 40 ° C. At this time, even the locals flee the city en masse, trying to get closer to the sea, what can we say about our unaccustomed organisms, raised in the loyal conditions of the middle lane?

After many hours of bus and walking excursions, the call of the sea is heard especially strongly. The heat is so exhausting that a sunbed, fruit juice and a warm sea seem to be the ultimate dream and the best reward for all life's labors. But how to get from Rome to the sea? Where to go: by bus, or to the car rental service? How much money should you put in your wallet to be enough for round-trip tickets, beach entrance, water, ice cream and other beach joys?

Questions - darkness! And the brain, exhausted by the heat, categorically refuses to ponder them. Let's not torture him even more: you will find the answers in the article.

All paths naturally lead to Rome. What roads from Rome lead to the sea?

Where are we going?

Who Said You Can't Combine Lazy Beach Laziness And Sightseeing? Nonsense!

The main thing is to choose the right beaches, and there are plenty of them around Rome:

• Anzio... If Lido di Ostia is in the first place in popularity, then Anzio is a clear leader in the field of prestige. This beach is located 60 km from Rome. But here all possible beach activities are available to you: sailing regattas, water skiing, boat trips. Trains leave approximately once an hour from Termini station. It is convenient to buy tickets, to board the train you need to show an electronic travel document(it comes to e-mail immediately after payment by card) from the smartphone screen.

• In Lido di Ostia, there are not the cleanest, not the most comfortable, but very popular beaches. Why? You can get there in 1.5 EUR and 30-40 minutes. The sea is calm, the bottom is sandy. Do you want variety? The ruins of Ostia Antica are at your service.

Prices for beach attributes are quite reasonable: 5 EUR - a sunbed, 5 EUR - an umbrella, 3 EUR - beer from the peddlers, 1.5 EUR - in a local store. There are plenty of places for an evening meal: around a cafe and a pizzeria, where prices are an order of magnitude lower than Roman ones. Free toilets are available, which gives the beaches a special charm.

There are many private beaches nearby. Take out 15-20 EUR from your wallet and you will immediately have access to all the delights of the beach civilization.

Daria (Lyubertsy, 26 years old):

“While we were in Rome, we went to Lido di Ostia several times. Beaches are like beaches, it was important for us that it is difficult to get there quickly and get lost. It is quite spacious on weekdays. But on Sunday I would not advise anyone to go there. Buses run strange here on weekends. Now I'm not sure if they walk at all, because before playing the pioneers, we waited 40 minutes. Then we could not resist and went on foot with the slogan: "It's not far from here." Aha! Naive. Only two hours later we went out to some paid beach... But there they drew themselves to the fullest to reward the body for wandering around the 40-degree "warmth".

• Sabaudia... At a distance of 95 km from Rome, there are the clean sandy beaches of Sabaudia. The road to these parts will take 1.5-2 hours. And upon arrival you will see both the sea and the fresh lake Paola (7 km along the coast - this is no joke to you!).

• San Felice Circeo. This beach, located 100 km from the Italian capital, will appeal to scuba divers. Only here, going down to 18 meters deep, you can come across a sunken statue of Christ 1.8 meters high.You can diversify your vacation at sea with walks through the caves, visiting the Baron's Palace and the Templar Tower, crazy dancing at local discos.
• Santa Marinella. 45 minutes from Rome and you are near the beaches of Santa Marinella. There are free and paid beaches, but they are all equally crowded. But the dishes from fresh seafood in the local restaurants are beyond praise.

• You can get to these places (115 km from Rome) in an hour. Waiting for you here sand beach, and the "bluest" sea. So blue it’s even ultramarine. And in between swims, you can look not only at the cafe, but also at the archaeological museum with the proud name "Tiberius's Grotto". The caves of Tiberius are also nearby, it's not a sin to explore them.

Andrey (Yekaterinburg, 39 years old):

“Last summer we were in Rome, went on excursions, saw the city. But the heat was such that one day the whole family howled: "We want to go to the beach." Let's go to Sperlonga. It turned out to be quite comfortable, clean beaches. Maybe it seemed so because we immediately went to the private one. We paid about 15 EUR, but all the conditions at once: an umbrella and sun loungers are at our disposal for the whole day. "

• Terracina. The road to Terracina will take an hour and a half. But it is worth going here at least for a day: there are so many attractions and pleasures that 2-3 hours is just to lick your lips. All kinds of beach activities, water sports, clubs, excursions, restaurants. A resort city in the best sense of this phrase.

Mikhail (Belgorod, 44 years old):

“When we wanted to go to the sea, we went to Terracina. There are almost no free beaches there: everywhere you have to rent a sun lounger or an umbrella. There are some incomprehensible free "sections of the beach", but there are so many people there that one reflexively wants to escape from there. We often dined at the fishermen's cooperative, in "Gnawed Fish" - very (!!!) delicious and unusual dishes. But I would not recommend going to Terracina with children. Especially if children like to swim. In some places there is a strong undercurrent, which will blow away adults even one-two-three. There are no signs or warnings, so you have to be careful. "

Where are we going?

Of course, no one will forbid you to rent a car or call a taxi. But is it worth spending extra money on travel when it can be spent on entertainment? Most beaches will take you helpfully public transport... Travel in the Roman metro costs 1.5 EUR, in the bus - 1-2 EUR, so it turns out very economically. It remains to decide on the route:

Anzio

The first point is. You can get there by every metro line, because at Termini station (which is what we need), the branches intersect. At the train station, buy a ticket from Roma Termini to Anzio (3.6 EUR) and in 1 hour 10 minutes you will be there.

Have you rented a car? Then you will reach Anzio along the following highways:

• SS207;
• SS601.

Take the metro and take the blue line (B) to Piramide station. Get off the train? Now up the escalator, the sign "Piazzale Ostiense" will help you. Then turn left following the Ferrovia Roma-Lido sign. Found a platform? Fine! Go to the second path (binario 2), get on the train and go! To the Lido Centro station!

Sabaudia

Take the metro at the nearest station on the blue line (B) and go to the terminus (Laurentina). Buses run from here to Sabaudia.

San Felice Circeo

First take the metro to Laurentina station. Get off and wait for the Cotral bus to Circeo, which will take you to your destination in 3 hours. The bus leaves every hour.

Santa marinella

Let's go by train, so first we go to Termini station. For 6.9 EUR we buy a ticket from Roma Termini to S. Marinello. Travel time is about an hour, then 10 minutes of brisk walk and the sea joyfully greets you.

We move to the side again at the railway station at Termini station. There you can buy a ticket from Roma Termini to Fondi-Sperlonga (6.9 - 10.5 EUR). In 1-1.5 hours you will be in Fondi. From there, a bus will take you to the coast for 1 EUR (departure - once an hour).

Terracina

So again we go to the railway station (Termini). But now we take a ticket from Roma Termini to Monte S. Biagio (6.9 EUR, an hour on the way). Not far from Monte S. Biagio station you will see a bus with the sign "Terracina Mare". Correctly figured out, you are there. For 1 EUR you buy a ticket from the driver and in 15 minutes you are already walking around Terracina.

Terracina is an ancient italian city where, in addition to chic clean beaches there are famous springs with healing mud. For those - a complete detailed guide to the round trip by train, bus or rental car and reviews of travelers on independent travel in Italy.

Now you believe what to organize beach vacation in Italy is it real? Even if you are in Rome. Even if you can only spend 1-2 days on the beaches.

So you shouldn't tell children with a serious face that there is no sea nearby. Firstly, lying to the offspring is, in principle, not humane: they declassify the technique, remember and begin to use it in everyday life. Secondly, today's youth are only at odds with the history of the Communist Party, but with Google - on you. And they will find the Tyrrhenian Sea, fervently splashing nearby, on Google maps in a matter of seconds.

It is better to hand the children a package of their favorite treats, instructing them to study the reviews and choose a resort. Treat yourself to Italian wine at a nearby restaurant. It is not for nothing that the Romans say that years, lovers and glasses of wine should not be counted. At least while you're in Italy.

Tina Krainichenko

Is it possible to drink tap water in Rome: collect it at the hotel and boil it or drink unboiled from street fountains. Is it drinking water, how safe is it and what is wrong with it?

In theory, the water in Rome is

It is very hot all summer in Rome, which is why tap water is especially popular. Since ancient times, Rome has been famous for the fact that it had a huge (compared to other cities) number of fountains, fountains and other artificial sources of drinking water. It currently contains more than 1500 ordinary fountains, most of which are located in historic center cities (+ some more are located in the courtyards of palaces and in the parks of villas).

Very famous also drinking fountain and "Fontanelle" or " Nasoni"- which is translated from Italian as" big nose ". There are about 2,500 of them, and they are also mainly concentrated in the historic districts of the city. How to drink from them? Close the big hole, from which water is constantly flowing, and it begins to gush out from a small hole located on the top of the "nose". In fact, it will gush right into your mouth.

Fountain on Capitol Hill. In the photo - a woman closes the tap hole with her finger and water gushes up through a small hole

According to WHO, water in Italy is different high quality standard... The same organization recognized the water in Rome as one of the best in the country.

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97% of the water in the capital of Italy is key and another 3% - spring. This water is chlorinated and has a medium hardness by standards. It is checked daily and posted on the ACEA website.

Drinking fountain in the park of Villa Borghese in Rome

Italians are among the largest consumers of bottled water in the world (194 liters per person per year). In restaurants for the most part serves tap water with ice even if you ask for a bottle (can bring an open bottle filled with tap water).

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Water in large fountains, in theory, drinkable, but due to the dirt entering the water from the street, it resembles the water of a public pool in quality. That is, having drunk it, you most likely will not get poisoned, but nevertheless, it is not recommended and should not be done. Better to drink from closed fountains.

If in some place the water is not potable, then there will be a sign with the inscription “ acqua non potabile».

Drinking fountain in front of the Pantheon

But in practice, the water is like this

And what in practice - see for yourself:

The clean teapot to which the plain tap water in a Roman hotel. I boiled it, and it turned out what is on the video. That is, apparently, the water there, although safe to drink, is extremely hard (due to old pipes? Soil characteristics?). The taste is not very familiar and pleasant, but if you let it settle and not drink to the bottom, then it is acceptable, unlike the water in Naples.

For unknown reasons, the water in the street fountains tastes better and cleaner than the water in the hotel or apartment. But the ideal option is bottled water (in Roman hotels there is usually no free water, so it is best to buy a case of large bottles at the nearest supermarket).

Buying a ticket in Rome is the first step to getting to know the metropolis. Many are lost or embarrassed - after all, a foreign land is the same. I don't know the language, prices, too, but time goes on. For this reason, many take a taxi and overpay. It's good if the wallet is full of bills. But a taxi service can be tantamount to a modest meal in a Roman restaurant. Is it worth it? Let's start small.

Where and when to buy tickets for public transport in Rome?

I would advise buying travel tickets at the airport or train station. at the train station immediately on arrival and as they say without leaving the checkout... It is profitable - you then go to the hotel you ordered, leave your suitcases, go out and voila - you do not need to run around and waste time searching. An airport or train station in any city in Italy is a hub that certainly offers the opportunity to purchase tickets from vending machines or kiosks. Are you afraid of interacting with automata that do not understand the great and mighty Russian language? There is a bar, tobacco or coffee shop at or near every train station. At worst, you can buy a ticket from the bus driver, paying a little more. Roman buses and trams are equipped with mini ticket machines. But this is not a very reliable option.

How to do it faster? Don't be afraid to ask in broken Italian. If you come across an Italian, he will not leave you in trouble: he will lead and show you. And the magic phrase is: "Scoozy, dove posso comprare billetti peer l" autobus (peer la metro, per il trano)? "Which means: Excuse me, where can I buy bus, metro, train tickets? After that, if anyone can help you, do not forget to say the magic word Grazie (thank you) or Grazie mille (Thank you very much).

Appearance and types of transport tickets in Rome

Bit(Biglietto Integrato a tempo) is a complex ticket with a fixed travel time. The cost is € 1.50 (today). Validen on buses, trolleybuses, trams and subways, but only in the part of the city... This ticket is valid 100 minutes from the date of validation. Exceptions:

On the subway, it can only be used in one direction, that is, once.
- It cannot be used on special tours 110 Open, Archeobus.

BIG(Biglietto Integrato Giornaliero) - a day pass worth € 6.00. From the moment of composting until 24.00 hours of the same day, you can use public transport vehicles repeatedly and without restrictions, including commuter trains Roma-Lido (Ostia beach), Roma-Giardinetti (Pantano) and Roma-Viterbo (Viterbo). Exceptions:

It cannot be used on special tours 110 Open, Archeobus

BTI(Biglietto Turistico Integrato) is a combined tourist pass for three days, or rather, until 24:00 on the third day from the moment of composting.

BIG(see above).

CIS(Carta Integrata Settimanale) - a combined pass for 7 days, or until 24.00 hours on the seventh day from the date of qualification.

This ticket is subject to the same restrictions regarding BIG and BTI(see above). Desirable fill in personal data pen (click on the image) at the bottom of the ticket: name, surname and date of birth. You may be asked for a document during verification.

Note: All tickets must be punched at the time of boarding in automatic punching machines or turnstiles, otherwise you may be fined € 100.

If, in your opinion, there are none, ask: Scoozy, dove posso konvalidare il billetto. Pay attention to the red arrows in the left corner of the tickets - they show which side to lower the ticket into the punch. If the punch turns green, the ticket is stamped: you can check the printout of the date and exact time on the back of the ticket.

Commuter train tickets and zoning

The image on the left (click!) Shows the areas in the Lazio region. The cost of tickets depends on the distance. If you are not vacationing in Rome, then you have two options:

A... Buy a train ticket and separately (in Rome) - tickets for local transport. This is unlikely to be beneficial, so we recommend the option

B... Buy a combined pass there-around the city-back... For a day, a week or more.

Ticket prices for the zones of Lazio:

1 zone € 3.30
Zone 2 € 6.00
Zone 3 € 8.00
Zone 4 € 9.30
Zone 5 € 12.00
6 zone € 14.00
7 zone € 14,00

Let me give you an example for comparison. Let's say that you are relaxing in Anzio by the sea. One-way ticket costs 3.60 euros, round-trip tickets - 7.20 euros. Add a couple of tickets for the city like BIT - this is 3 euros, and in the end - 10.20. Better to buy a daily combo for 9.40 euros. No restrictions on Rome or the use of the Roman metro. Multiply by the number of people. Profitable.

BIRG(Biglietto Integrato Regionale Giornaliero) is a combined regional day ticket. From the moment of composting until 24.00 on the same day, you can come to the capital by train or Cotral bus lines, use all types of public transport without restrictions and return back.

Select a zone (indicated in the photo - click!), necessarily fill in your details and validate your ticket before boarding. In Rome, you do not need to re-compost, except for closed turnstiles in the metro.

Restrictions:

Special tours 110 Open, Archeobus
- lines Cotral Roma Tiburtina / Termini-Fiumicino Aeroporto
- Trenitalia lines "No stop" Roma Termini-Fiumicino Aeroporto

Rome - useful materials and rubrics

Rome is the city of seven hills. The southernmost of them - the Aventine - is located on one of the banks of the Tiber and has sheltered many attractions. Usually tourists go to the Aventine to look at the ruins of the ancient circus, the Cestius pyramid, admire the temples of San Sabina (5th century), Sant'Allecio (4th century) and others. And few people know that there is a unique keyhole at the top of the hill, in the square of the Knights of Malta. Looking into it, you can see three sovereign state formations at once - Italy, the Vatican and the Order of Malta.

Address: Aventino hill

2. Orange Garden on Aventine

Going to the Aventine just for the sake of some "hole", of course, is stupid. This place is also one of the most romantic places in Rome - Savello Park. Although the locals rarely use this name, for the Romans it is the Orange Garden on the Aventine.

It was founded in 1932 on the site where the Savelli family fortress was once (hence the name). Remnants of this ancient structure are still found among the trees.

Wonderful orange groves, slender cypress alleys and blooming oleanders create a unique atmosphere of tranquility. In addition, the garden ends with a terrace with beautiful views of the Tiber, Trastevere, Janiculum and the Vatican.

P.S. Inedible oranges are wild.

Address: L'Aventino, Circo Massimo, Viadi Santa Sabina

Orange Garden on the Aventine

3. Bartolucci store

For many decades, in the Bartolucci family, the secrets of carpentry have been passed down from generation to generation: from grandfather to father, from father to son. After all, the family business is on their shoulders - the wooden workshop Bartolucci.

Everything in this shop is made of wood: from the Pinocchio cyclist who meets visitors at the entrance to women's jewelry. Toys, frames, boxes, watches, an exact replica of a motorcycle (!) And, of course, all kinds of Log Boy figurines - eyes run up from a variety of wooden crafts. You will definitely not leave this store without a souvenir.

Address: Via dei Pastini, 98.
Site: bartolucci.com
Working hours: daily from 12:00 to 20:00

4. Via dei Condotti

In the center of the Italian capital lies one of the oldest and most famous Roman streets. In ancient times, it connected the Pincho Hill with the Tiber and crossed the Flaminian Way. Her name is Via Day Condotti.

Since the 18th century, this street began to acquire an aura of glitter and "glamor" - fashionable shops and ateliers grew there like mushrooms after a rain. The street now houses boutiques of the world's most prestigious brands - Valentino, Armani, Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo. The oldest of the fashionable establishments of Via Dei Condotti is the Bulgari atelier, opened more than a century ago, in 1905.

Other attractions of this street include house number 11, where one of the inventors of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi, lived; house number 68 - the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of Malta; as well as the famous cafe "Antico Kaffe Greco", where Lord Byron himself, Goethe, Liszt and Stendhal drank coffee.

Address: strada Via dei Condotti, tra Piazza di Spagna e Via del Corso
Wiki: Via dei Condotti

5. Market Porta Portese

If the splendor and prices of Via dei Condotti suddenly make you feel bad, immediately go to the Trastevere area to one of the largest European flea markets (more than 1350 stalls).

It starts at the gates of Porta Portese (which is why it is called that) and stretches along two streets - Via Ippolito Nievo and Via Portuense. It arose in the middle of the last century, after the end of World War II - unemployment and inflation forced people to sell personal belongings in order to somehow feed their families.

What do they sell at Porta Portese today? In short, EVERYONE. Antique books, picture frames, furniture, used clothes, gramophones, telephones, toys, dishes, reproductions of paintings, watches (all kinds), military stripes ... If you wish, you can find any, including rare, goods. Prices, as it is supposed in the market, do not bite, and you can always negotiate with traders.

Address: Via Portuense & Ippolito Nievo
Working hours: every Sunday

The ancient Romans said "Habent sua fata libelli", which means "Books have their own destiny." This dictum means that one should not rashly judge literary works (perhaps descendants will appreciate Daria Dontsova's “masterpieces” at their true worth).

As if a silent reminder of this wisdom is the Roman Fountain of Books (aka the Fountain of Science or the Fountain of Knowledge), created by the sculptor Pietro Lombardi and dedicated to Thomas Aquinas. It represents two piles of books with bookmarks and a deer head between them. This unusual fountain is located not far from the masterpiece of the Roman Baroque, the 17th century Catholic church - Sant Ivo alla Sapienza, which is part of the Borromini University of Rome.

Address: Via degli Staderari

7. Square Colosseum

This place is not included in any of the travel guides to Rome for political reasons. The quarter of the world exhibition - Esposizione Universale Roma or EUR - was erected in the south-west of Rome in 1943-1945 by order of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The occasion was the twentieth anniversary of fascism and the world fair, scheduled for 1942.

One of the symbols of the "fascist era" was the Palace of Italian Civilization (Palazzo della Civilta Italiana), better known as the "Colosseum Square" (Colosseo Quadrato). There really is something similar to the ancient amphitheater: for example, loggias on the facade of the palace, located in six rows of nine arches each. As it should be structures of this type, marble palace impressive in size - height 68 m., area - 8 400 sq. m.

The World Exhibition in Rome did not take place then, and the EURO quarter and the "Square Colosseum" are still standing. By the way, the latter has appeared on the cinema screens more than once (for example, in "The Last Man on Earth" in 1964).

Address: Via Cristoforo Colombo, 559
Wiki: World's Fair Quarter

8. Pizzeria "At Buffetto's"

What is Italy without pizza? One of the most delicious is prepared in the Pizzeria Da Baffetto restaurants (there are only two of them in Rome). It is a family business, run by Buffetto's grandfather for half a century. He knows a lot about pizza: the dough should be thin and fluffy, and the filling should be fresh and juicy.

Tourists have a life hack: go to places where locals eat. So, "At Buffetto's" both those and others are happy to dine. After all, for 20-25 euros you get first-class Italian pizza, hot (prepared right in front of the visitors), beer and good mood. The only problem is that getting into this pizzeria is not so easy because of the huge lines.

Addresses: Via del Governo Vecchio, 114 e Piazza del Teatro di Pompeo, 18 (Baffetto 2)
Site: pizzeriabaffetto.it

9. Museum of Art of the XXI century

National Museum Arts of the XXI century (MAXXI) - quite young (opened in May 2010), but, as expected, ambitious. The MAXXI building occupying 27 thousand square meters. and affectionately called "macaroni" by the Romans, was erected by Zaha Hadid on the site of the Montello barracks. The construction cost 150 million euros, but Rome now has a museum of the future.

Or rather art and architecture of the future. The MAXXI exhibition halls display photographs, installations, prototypes and models of houses, streets and entire cities in which we will live in a couple of decades. In addition, the museum has a conference room, library and workshop. Do you want to imagine the future of your children? Travel to Rome's National Museum of 21st Century Art.

Address: via Guido Reni, 4 A, metro station Flaminio
Site: fondazionemaxxi.it
Working hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday - from 11:00 to 19:00; Thursday, Saturday - from 11:00 to 22:00

Italy is the birthplace of Ferrari. Its headquarters are located in Maranello, and in the capital is the largest store of the world famous brand. This place will drive car fans crazy: key rings, watches, shoes, clothes, toys and hundreds of other items with Ferrari symbols.

The name, of course, comes at a price. Prices, to put it mildly, bite: 150 euros for a trinket with a rearing stallion; 300 for the signature racing gloves and 1,500 for the sparkling red toy car.

By the way, you can also ride a real Ferrari along the streets of Rome - the rental service is very popular there.

Address: Via Tomacelli, 147
Site: store.ferrari.com
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00

Ferrari Store in Rome

11. Cloaca Maxima

The exact date of its construction is not known for certain (either IV or VII century BC), but it is definitely one of the most ancient and unique such structures. The sewage system in Rome began to be actively built under Lucius Tarquinius Prisca, who paid great attention to the city's infrastructure.

It was during his reign that the construction of the Great Cloaca is most often credited. For this, Etruscan craftsmen were invited and a canal 800 m long, 3 meters wide and 4 meters high was dug between the Palatine and Capitol hills. Initially, Cloaca Maxima was open, then covered with wooden flooring and then paved with gabia stone.

To this day, despite its venerable age, the Great Cloaca is in fairly good condition and serves as a storm runoff.

Address: exits under the Ponte Rotto and Palatinsky bridges.
Wiki: Cloaca maxima

12. Panoramic platform Gianicolo

Aventine, Viminal, Capitol, Quirinal, Palatine, Celium, Esquiline ... Stop! Where is Gianicolo? Alas, this peak is not among the famous seven Roman hills, as it is historically located outside the city walls. And in vain, because there are also many ancient monuments here: the monastery of Sant-Onofrio, the Gianicolo lighthouse, Villa Aurelia and others.

But the main reason for visiting the Gianicolo Hill is the observation deck. It offers just a crazy view of His Majesty Rome.

Address: Gianicolo, Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi

13. Gelateria Blue ice

Gelateria Blu Ice is a chain of ice cream parlors. The Romans say, and the tourists confirm, that these are the places where the best Italian ice cream is. These cafes don't just sell - they produce ice cream. Therefore, in Blu Ice, an ice treat is always fresh for every taste - with fruits, nuts, chocolate, puffed rice, coconut flakes ...

The prices are quite reasonable - from 150 to 350 rubles. Another undoubted plus - the cafe is open at night. So blu Ice gelateria is a paradise not only for children, but also for adults, among whom, as you know, oh, how many have a sweet tooth.

Addresses:

• Via di S. Prassede, 11 / bis;
• Via dei Baullari, 130;
• Viale dei Due Macelli, 29;
• Viale Ottaviano, 7;
• Via S. Agnese in Agone, 20;
• Via Sistina, 122 and others.

Site: blueiceitalia.com
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 2:00

Art lovers will not be bored in Rome - the Vatican Museum, Galleries Borghese, Barberini and dozens of other exquisite places. However, lovers of sharp (in this case, in the literal sense of the word) sensations also have something to visit in the capital of Italy - they are waiting for Museo Criminologico.

This is a building of a former prison, and now a historical exposition telling about criminals and the punishments applied to them at different times. So, in ancient Rome, they did not stand on ceremony with offenders: they were executed, given to slaves or appointed a gladiator.

During the time of the Inquisition, there were different methods of justice:

On the left is a torture chair, on the right is a bronze torture chamber for witches

In short, in this museum you may learn more about Good and Evil than in any art museum.

Address: via Gonfalone, 29

15. Cat shelter

“Roman cats. Shelter for stray cats. Visit "- a strange inscription at the entrance to the excavations of the temple complex of the times of the Roman Republic, which is in Torre Argentina Square.

Nevertheless, the fact remains: stray cats live among the remains of ancient temples and dilapidated statues. And on a completely legal basis. When local residents and authorities found out that the stray tailed mustachioed creatures had chosen the Argentine ruins, they decided not to drive away the cats, but to organize a shelter for them. Now there are several hundred inhabitants, which are looked after by volunteers. Each visitor to this unusual cattery can help the animals with “rubles” (in the sense of the euro) by buying local souvenirs.

Address: Largo di Torre Argentina

16. Costantini Enoteca

Continuing the theme of gastronomic travel, one cannot but talk about Italian wine. There are 20 regions in this sunny country and each (!) Of them produces its own wine. Its unique wine, distinguished by its taste, aroma, terroir and production technologies.

You can taste different varieties of Italian wines in the Costantini enoteca. This is a real treasury of wine, where thousands of bottles, different brands and aging are kept. Wine can be bought and taken with you, or tasted on the spot at a local restaurant.

Address: Piazza Cavour 16
Site: pierocostantini.it
Working hours: Monday from 16:30 to 20:00; Tuesday-Saturday - from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 16:30 to 20:00

17. Monument to the Pope

In Rome, not far from the Termini train station, there is a monument to John Paul II. Such a solid sculpture - 5.50 m in height, real bronze, silver plating. It would seem what is special here, where, if not in the capital, to erect monuments to the Pope?

But the inhabitants of the Eternal City rebelled - "We don't need such a Pope!" The Romans did not like the appearance of the pontiff: a round, like a ball, head and almost complete absence of a neck. At the same time, the pose of the monument, as conceived by the author, symbolizes the universal care of John Paul II for humanity.

Robert De Niro, who played one of the members of the Sicilian crime family Corleone, once said: “Italy has changed a long time ago. But Rome is Rome. "

Indeed, it is difficult for a city with a thousand-year history to change. And it is not easy for a tourist who comes to the capital of Italy to see another, not only historical, Rome. We hope that with our help you will succeed.

Share in the comments the unique Roman places you know and must see.