Goldenbackpacker.com

ROME - STAY FOR LESS "Euros"

ROME, the “Eternal City ” & Capital of Italy since 1871, has so much history on offer& easy to see why “it wasn't built in a day”. Great Buildings, Statues & Features are everywhere & even when walking around you are treading on relics, still unearthed, 2000 years old just 3 metres below your feet. To get your Roman timings in order GB has put together this little scroll to get you off to a good start, directing you to some of the significant places you “must” see to get the most from your visit

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – THE “NEW” BEEHIVE at Via Marghera 8 (North exit from Termini Rail Station) tele 06 447 045 53 – www.the-beehive.com – E20 pn.in the 8 bunk bed dorm, with sep. showers/ wc's, also 2 & 3 individual apartments are available. Has a cosy self-catering kitchen, with oven/hobs, fridge, crocks & Internet (free). Reception has a sitting area with original Art works & outside is a secluded front garden & security entrance. This is the best Hostel in Rome, well managed, with a great social atmosphere but book early by Internet Web site, to secure the limited spaces available.

Reserve – Alessandro Downtown Hostel, on Via Cattaneo 23, 2 nd floor (South exit from Termini Rail Station) tele 06 443 401 47 – www.hostelalessandro.com - E17 in 10 x dorms with sheets & breakfast, sep shower/ wc blocks &locker room. Large S/C kitchen, dining/ TV areas, friendly reception with colourful décor. A well managed Hostel, good for meeting people.

FOOD – there is a Cotral Supermarket in the basement of Termini Station but its expensive The best & cheapest for food & drinks is the TUO Supermarket hidden away in Via Urbana, at the rear of Santa Maria Miaggiore. For fresh fruit & veg. the morning Market, around Piazza Vittorio, is original. With The Beehive's very useful guide of recommended places, eating out in Rome is easy. Do you know you can drink the water from the Fountains in Rome, it flows directly from springs in the surrounding hills, GB does and it's a treat!

TRAVELLING AROUND this amazing City is best on foot, although when you want to travel further, to the Vatican for example, use the Metro or Bus to get there & walk back. You will also need a local Rome “Charta” (map) pick one up free at the Termini Station Information Office. To use a Bus buy a one-stop ticket from newspaper kiosk but put your ticket into the Bus stamp m/c on entry, or you may be fined. You buy Metro tickets at the Stations & place into the entry gates to start your 75-min. journey anywhere on the system. Also you can transfer from Metro to a Bus & back to Metro if you want, to end within the 75 mins.

“FREE” SIGHTS TO SEE

1. 616BC – The Forums - Roman Empire HQ & the hub of the Ancient World for a 1000 yrs
2 . 329BC - Circus Maximus - imagine 150k cheering Ben Hur (or Charlton) in the chariot races!
3. 312BC – Via Appia Antica – the first Roman Road to Capua, walk on this original stone surface!
4. AD27–. Pantheon - this magnificent open top domed Church, originally pagan it's unique
5. AD80 – Colosseum, is the “Icon” of Rome & Italy, built for entertainment, amazing to walk round
6. AD98 - Trajan's Column, shows remarkable reliefs of the Emperors extensive conquests
xxxxxxxx AD410 Rome falls to Goths then a 1,000 Years of decline till:
7. 1506 - St Peter's Basilica, Bramante, modified by MA, comp 1620, be humbled by its splendour
8. 1725 Spanish Steps – by Sanctis, a grand meeting place for romantics they say, and lots of tourists
9 . 1751 Trevi Fountain – by Salvi, an ideal place to sit and watch the flow, of water and more tourists
10. 1929 Vatican State, smallest in World, Roman Catholic HQ with own post stamps & Swiss Guard

POPE Times - Wednesday Ordinance at 11am - Sunday Service 12 noon from the Vatican Window

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. 1100BC - Palatine, the oldest ancient ruins, vast area adjacent to the Forum!
2. AD135 - Castle Sant Angelo, Hadrians Mausoleum with great views over Rome & Vatican
3. 1484 - Vatican's Museum & Sistine Chapel, MikeA's Creation & Genesis “ simply mind blowing”

* Steve, Linda, Giulia & Paloma, Cecelia, Sara, Amanda - Jeanice, Helen, Paul's, Mark, Daniel, Giselle, Mat – Gary & Demi, Clyde & Becky, Al & Christine, Alfredo & Ada, Phil