The fourth county of our Euro Trip is Italy. We flew from Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport Rome Italy with EasyJet.
While we chasing for our flight, we having a bad experience with the staff of Charles de Gaulle Airport. They refused us for check in on our flight even when we arrived 45 minute before departure and told us to buy a new ticket for next flight. WHAT?! Luckily the other staff allowed us to check in. If this happens to you, just don’t panic and keep try to contact the other information desk or check in counter.
The Historic City of Rome
A trip to Rome is as much about lapping up the lifestyle as it is gorging on art and historic sights. Rome is Italy’s political and religious heartbeat and the twin presence of government and Church dominates the city. Many city-center palazzi house government offices while over in the Vatican the dome of St Peter’s Basilica serves to remind everyone of the pope’s presence.
History, human genius and the hot midday sun have conspired to make Rome one of the world’s most seductive and thrilling cities.
Day 1 – Rome Transportation
Rome has a terrific underground railway system that will get you near most tourist destinations. The Roman Metro has three lines – A, B and C. The A and B lines is the two lines cross at the city’s central railway station, which is called Roma Termini. Line C is not yet connected to the rest of the network.
Do you prefer to travel by bus? Don’t be confused by all those different Bus Route numbers at stops! Just look at the direction the bus is heading, the arrow on the sign will indicate that, than scan the stops listed. If you are waiting for a specific numbered bus, but another route has a stop you recognize as close to your destination, jump on! One of the great things about being daring, and possibly getting lost, is that you cannot get That Lost, and second, you never know what you will find just wandering around. Explore!!!!
Rome has also an extensive network of trams and buses that will come in handy: it’s a big city so trying to see everything by foot is simply not feasible. Rome’s mini electric-bus routes are particularly helpful for visitors going to many of the popular tourist sights. Note that there are differences in routes for weekends and evenings.
You can download the map of the mini electric-bus routes here.
An individual ticket for bus, metro, tram and trains is 1.50 € and is valid for 100 minutes. If you will be in Rome for an extended period of time, one can buy a seven day Metro and bus pass (called CIS) for 24 €. For shorter stays, one can get a day pass for 6 EURO, or a three-days pass for 16.50 €.
However, if you stay in central area and you likes to walk, buying 2-3 individual tickets a day may be the best for you. Children less than 10 years old can travel on any bus, tram or metro for free if they are accompanied by an adult person with a valid ticket.
The ‘Roma Pass’ is another option; it costs € 36.00 including 3 days of free bus and Metro travel plus free and discounted museum/monument admissions. Alternatively, there is also a ‘Roma Pass 48 hours’ for € 28.00.
Day 2 – Colosseum & Roman Forum
The Colosseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. It was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. The largest amphitheatre in the world.
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. Many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city were located on or near the Forum. The Roman kingdom’s earliest shrines and temples were located on the southeastern edge.
Again, since colosseum & Roman Forums is a really crowded place, you need to take care of your bag & valuable stuff. there is lot reported pickpocket in this area, so be aware…!
Day 3 – The Vatican City
After we tasted an authentic Italian cappuccino we headed to the most important are of Rome, Vatican City. Perhaps the Vatican needs no introduction. As the centre of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican City state – along with the surrounding Italian districts of Borgo, Prati and the area around the Monte Mario – is filled with more history and artwork than most cities in the world. Vatican City is an independent state, head of the worldwide Catholic Church; entirely surrounded by the city of Rome in Italy, the Vatican is also the world’s smallest state.
It’s easy to get to the Vatican by taxi, bus, Metro (the adjacent Prati district is served by line A), tram or by foot from Rome (the closest neighborhood on the other side of the Tiber being the area around piazza Navona). A beautiful experience can be get to St. Peter’s by walking from piazza Venezia, along via del Plebiscito, corso Vittorio Emanuele II and then via della Conciliazione (or, if you want, from Termini walking along via Nazionale) in one of the closest approximation to the Washingtonian “National Mall” or the Parisian “Voie Imperiale” that Rome has to offer you (the other is via dei Fori Imperiali). Take Metro line A to the “Ottaviano – S. Pietro – Musei Vaticani” for the Museums and St. Peter’s or tram #19 to piazza del Risorgimento.
From central Rome, the #64 bus goes right to the southern end of the Vatican… however, it’s a favourite among pickpockets so guard your valuables!
Visitors and tourists are not permitted to drive inside the Vatican without specific permission, which is normally granted only to those who have business with some office in the Vatican. With 44 hectares within its walls, the Vatican is easily traveled by foot; however, most of this area is inaccessible to tourists. The most popular areas open to tourists are the St. Peter’s basilica and the Vatican Museums. To enter both of this area you will need to queue in a long line. We spend 1,5 hours just for queue, so be prepare and be patient 🙂
Missing Spot
There is one spot that we miss on this photo gallery, due to reconstruction project the the area was closed for visitors, it’s The Fontana di Trevi – or Trevi Fountain in English -is a fountain in Rome, Italy. Tthe largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most beautiful in the world. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. The fountain is worldwide famous but many people do not know the history and the secrets hidden behind its construction.
Next Destinations
We spend 3 nights in Rome, we wish to have one or two extra night to be able to explore the city further. But we have to follow the plan and move to the next destination.
The next day we flew to our next country: BELGIUM
Next Euro Trip Day 14-16: Brussels, Belgium
