Blog - Life in Italy

Would you like to spend some time far from the city's noise and traffic? Why not consider a stroll through a fairy-tale place like Garbatella? This unique destination is so magical that you will feel engulfted in its unforgettable charm.

It was founded in the 1920's and was laid out to host workers from other parts of Italy. For this reason the first houses were built with  vegetable gardens so that the new residents could cultivate the food they needed. The initial style adopted to build the housing units, including connecting courtyards and ladders, known as a "barocchetto", was both elegant and refined. Visitors will find that, using the ladders to go back and forth and passing under the beautiful archways, is a pleasure all by itself.

Under Mussolini's regime, however, typical fascist buildings began to be built. This architecture can be characterised as monumental, rigorous and severe, almost to the point of disturbing the observer. An example of this rationalist expression can be seen clearly in the Cesare Battisti primary school with its Imperial eagles and the open-work bell tower. Observing this school building one is easily reminded of the dictatorship which lasted twenty years.

The strangest impression that strikes the visitor strolling through the famous roman quarter, known as well for its frequent use as a set for various TV series and movies, is the feeling, even more than in Rome, of being in a little village frozen in time. As you continue on your way, you will notice that the families here are used to gathering in the courtyards chatting in the open air and the women, returning home with shopping bags in hand, have that typical good-natured Roman look. Life in general moves along slowly and peacefully.

If you want a taste of roman life, the one old and genuine, a stroll through Garbatella is a "must". There you will encounter truly Roman people, who speak a roman dialect and demostrate the easy-going behaviour of the real Romans. A local symbol of this Roman-ness is Carlotta's fountain where young couples gather to drink of this water before the fateful kiss.

If you pass under Via Rublino's arch which is next to the Saint Isidoro and Saint Eurosia's church, the so called "chiesoletta", an obligatory stay for pilgrims of the seven churches, and walk along this green and quiet road, you will soon arrive at Piazza G. Sapeto within a few steps, one of the most fascinating squares of the district, going down the steps to your right, you can easily reach the above-quoted fountain for people in love.

Nanni Moretti,* in his movie Caro Diario, cites Garbatella as the dstrict he likes most and we are right to believe it. From his vespa, he points out the most impressive corners, which strike us with their unmistakable beauty. You will feel the same emotions that are stirred by scenes in his movie.

- How to get to Garbatella: Coming from Termini station, take the metro linea B, Laurentina direction, and get off at Garbatella stop.

*Nanni Moretti is one of Italy's most original and indipendent film directors. His movies are full of sense of humor and very interesting if you want to know a little more about italian society.

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Rome is a big city and rich of art and history at every corner, although you can easily walk all the top attractions in the city center of Rome it could be tiring after a while.

Bus Tours are a great way to explore the city in relax with an extensive hop-on hop-off itinerary through the heart of Rome. You can get off at any stop, take a walk of the area and then hop on the next bus at no additional cost for the validity of your ticket (1-2 days).

The buses are open top which allows you to enjoy full 360 degree panoramic views as you travel along your route.

This is a very family friendly service and is also a very good idea to jump start your vacation and get acquainted with the city, attractions, places and distances. Just have a tour, see what Rome has to offer, get off at your favourite place if you can't resist :) or take the whole loop and carefully choose your next top attraction to visit.

There are many different companies (up to 7) that operate very similar core routes around the Rome sights.
Although all tours are loops where you can start at any point, nearly all operators start at Termini Station the main central station of Rome, connected to both metro lines A and B.

Generally you have the choice of a 24 or 48 hours ticket with which to make use of the 12 to 20 stops in the most beautiful, cultural and evocative areas of the Eternal city. The tours operate 365 days per year.

Open Top Buses
All of the buses are open-top and equipped with a personalized throwaway audio system which functions more than 8 languages languages, providing recorded commentary throughout the tour. Ofter there is also an English and Italian speaking host onboard each bus to assist with any queries. You will be provided with a set of earphones which you keep and use for the duration of your ticket.

Itinerary
The itinerary usually goes from Termini Station passing the Colosseum and Roman Forum then Circus Maximus and along the River Tiber, where you can walk over to Trastevere. Then back again to the other end of the Roman Forum and then Piazza Venezia. From Piazza Venezia it stop along the way near the Piazza Navona and Pantheon and then straight to the Vatican crossing the River Tiber.
After the Vatican most buses will route through the Villa Borghese, Via Vittorio Veneto, Piazza Barberini, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Then back to Termini. Check out the travel map for the specific bus operator of your choice for the detailed route.

Ticketing and Prices
Prices are between 15€ and 20€ for a 1-day ticket and between 23€ and 25€ for a 2-day ticket
Average time for a complete tour and about 2 hours total time departing about every 15-30 minutes usually between 9am to 6pm (last departure from Termini station)
Most operators offer a discounted fare for children aged 6 to 12 years old.

Major Rome Bus Tour Companies

• Open Tour '110 Open'

• City Sightseeing
  

• Green Line

• Ciao Roma
  
• Roma Christiana
• Archeobus
  

A couple of  them are more 'thematic' than the others and specifically:

- Roma Christiana in addition to the standard route has an extended tour that visits many Basilicas to the south of the city, Baths of Caracalla and is the only bus that visits Trastevere itself, even going up the hill behind Trastevere with great views down on the city.
- ArcheoBus goes through the centre of Rome and then along the famous Park of Via Appia Antica, and the Christian catacombs stopping at many of the major archaeological sites.

Enjoy your tour!

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Venice is a unique city and there is no other like it anywhere else in the world. It is built on 117 small Islands, 150 canals and 409 bridges. Venice is a city where you can walk very easily from historical site to another. Some of the best walks are the ones you do on your own, get lost within the narrow streets, find your way out again, this is the best part! Start in the area (Santa Croce). A location where you can soak up the authentic Venetian neighbourhood atmosphere and still close to the city’s main attractions. It's a very pleasant area to take an evening stroll! A lively square full of people and music where sometimes couples can dance in the middle of Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio Square. You must visit the Jewish quarter,  Madonna dell'Orto Church and Gesuiti Church.
A highly pleasurable and recommended tip to get your curiosity running wild absorbing the incredible work of art this city's unique structures have to offer is to take a Vaporetto (public transportation small ferry) down the Canal Grande and pass under the Rialto Bridge. You will be looking at more than a hundred Venetian built style mansions along the way dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries including the Fondaco dei Turchi, Ca' Pesaro and the Ca' d'Oro – Venice’s most beautiful Gothic building. Get off the Vaporetto at any stop at your own leisure to explore it better on foot and get on again to the next interesting spot that catches your attention. Enjoy a walking along the non-tourist path.
When you have exhausted visiting Venice's beautiful churches and palaces, take a last stab at the elegant Piazza San Marco and the Bell Tower and the Clock Tower, you might have to wait a little bit in line, but it will be all worth it. Visit the Basilica containing St. Mark's tomb and incredible gold mosaics which was completed in 1094. Be prepared to wait a little bit in line but it will be worth it once you’re inside as it is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Europe… walking along is the pink and white marble Doge Palace, where the elected Doges lived and governed the city.Visit also the Palazzo del Cinema where Venice's international film festival is held each September. At the end of the day, you will be a bit exhausted from the long and exciting day you had. Reward yourself in one of the city's local and cheerful restaurants tucked away in a side street. You’re in Venice therefore you must devote yourself to Italian’s most rich and famous dessert of mascarpone cheese, Marsala, sponge and chocolate called Tiramisu, which was invented here.

Also if you have time, try to witness Venetian glass-blowing, they show demonstrations sometimes

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