Blog - Life in Italy

Villa Doria Pamphili is one of the greatest historical Roman villas. Located on the Gianicolo hill, in an area contiguous the Mura Aureliane's wall, is delimited in a side from one of the ancient tracks, Via Aurelia Antica, which runs parallel to the Acquedotto Traiano Paolo. Nowadays it is the prefered destination for jogging and bicycle lovers and is a short distance from the city centre.

The Quattro Venti arch represents the main entry and it is placed in Porta San Pancrazio. The most important building of the park is Villa del Bel Respiro, so named for his elevated position and the healthy air you could and still can breathe. The sumptuousness of rooms and gardens got the Gouvernament choose it as representative building to receive prime ministers. Villa Doria Pamphili hosts besides the Casa dei Teatri, in Villino Corsini, the ideal place for everyone searching peace and tranquillity for his study.

The Casino del Bel Respiro was ideated by the sculptor Algardi. Inside it has numerous rooms and halls embellished by painted stuccos. Outside it is possible to admire the Giardino Segreto composed by tangled labyrinths of hedges. In the 1800's the Villa was the teather of one of the most bloody battles for the defence of the Roman Republic: the french troops of Napoleon III occupied Villa Corsini and the strife with the garibaldians was inevitable. Towards the half-century the Casino del Bel Respiro was turned into a big agricultural estate. Only after 1870 it was maded over to Roman municipality and became a public park.

There are many fountains in this park, realized thanks to the presence of the Roman aqueduct, that was restructured by Paolo V at the end of XIV century. With regard to it we can cite the Giglio's Fountain. Starting from this fountain a canal spreads in lenght until his waters flow together to the lake called del Belvedere, surrounded by weeping willows. The purpose of Pamphili family was to try to repeat the prestige of the villa which belonged to the Imperator Adrian nearby Tivoli.

The aim has been achieved. The architecural and naturalistic beauties have contributed to make Villa Pamphili the most beautiful park amid the ones that alleviate the urban impact of the big city. Usually the tourists who come to the capital are used to visit Villa Borghese at their arrival, being this even more central. Well, we hope this article could change your preconception.

Be ready. The visit of the whole park will take you half day due to the huge expanse. It is possible to distinguish two macro areas, the former we talked about is the first. The other is the one with the pond, in the depths of wihich is pleasant to make out a various acquatic fauna. The  two parts are cut across lenghtwise by the Olimpica street, even if lately a raised bridge, a pedestrian passage, has been built to connect the two areas.

It remains to wish you a good stroll. If you are a little more athtletic you will be spoilt for choice about running routes. You will have available even a jogging spot (via Vitellia, angolo via Leone XIII) where you will be able to find shower units, dressing rooms and facilities. Good run!

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Everybody has his own favorite painter, in Rome there is the house-museum of one of the greatest whom many admire and take in high esteem for his art: Giorgio de Chirico.

He was born in Volos, Thessaly, Greece. In the early years of his life he traveled around Europe knowing other culturally lively realities in Germany, France and Italy. It is right here, in Italy, that the maestro will settle for the rest of his life, in the country where the town squares stimulate that metaphysical sentiment the whole world has learned to appreciate thanks to his paintings.

We can define as metaphysical an artistic movement which has the purpose of catching the observer unprepared, an art producing a very marked sense of melancholy in he who peers at it,  due to the fact that the urban landscapes portrayed are architecturally bared, lived in by shadows or imperceptible figures which stand out in the background. De Chirico's paintings engender pure bewilderment, the objects drawn close to each other are devoid of any logical relationship and solitude penetrates every corner of these squares, the mystery of which is not given to us to know.

Entering the house of the "pictor optimus" you will have the pleasant surprise of finding some of the most famous works like Pianto d'amore and Le Maschere. Unfortunately, the time at your disposition will not be much because you will have only forty-five minutes to carry out the visit and any overrunning of the time is not foreseen by the strict rules. A guide will accompany you among the various rooms introducing the subjects step by step and answering any questions you may have. (But who knows, perhaps you yourselves know more...)

Apart from the great living rooms which open to our sight, one of the curiosities you will have a way to note is de Chirico and his wife sleeping in different rooms. The room of the "pictor classicus" is of modest dimensions, very spartan, whereas the wife's one is slightly larger and more airy. Also from these peculiar clues it is possible to notice the genius's stigmata. The room where the maestro used to paint is on the last floor, and it will communicate to you an effect of extreme solitude. In this space he worked at his paintings every day. A full-blown Stakhanovite!

The commissions he received when he was still alive were innumerable and it is for this reason too that many fakes circulated and continue to circulate. In the past a great scandal burst and there were many talks about it. In the same way, de Chirico's positions have always been scandalous within the artistic circles of his time. In the full avant-garde period, de Chirico will detach himself from a certain experimentalism to retie a connection with the past and with classicism.

Inside the house-museum there are many paintings to see, so the cost of the ticket is more than reasonable, only five euros. At the exit there are many volumes on sale, even though the price is a little high. In case you would like to delve into it is advisable to seek cheaper books in the city center book-shops. They are not difficult to find. You can also leave a remark in the guest book, maybe reporting one of the catchy phrases written by de Chirico. A suggestion could be the statement that appears in his Autoritratto: "Mihi fama perennis quaeritur in toto semper ut orbe canar".

The Giorgio de Chirico House Museum is in Piazza di Spagna 31 ( metro stop Spagna )

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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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The 'Estate Romana 2009' is back again!

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With its priceless historical and artistic heritage, with the  flourishing of projects of contemporary architecture, with its network of cultural institutions, academies and international relations, as well as with its bent for services, movie production, and tourism, Rome provides the privileged environment for a completely cultural experience.

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When: from 22 may to 13 september 2009

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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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What is a Papal Audience?
Papal audiences are an unique opportunity for catholic tourists coming to Rome to meet in person the Pope live together with a restricted number of people!

The audiences are held almost every Wednesday of the year with some exceptions and breaks and are held indoor during the winter (October to March) and outdoor in a gated area in front of the basilica when the weather allows it(usually from April to September).

How to attend a Papal Audience?
The Weekly Audience usually begins between 10am and 10.30am depending on the time of year, and the entrance are managed accordingly.

Lines form much earlier however by the gates at the entrance for security checks(controls are similar to airport screening).In order to get a good seat it's better to arrive between 8:30am and 9am.

The audience lasts about 1 hour and a half, during which time the Pope will give speeches in various languages including English.

At the end of the Audience he will impart the Apostolic Blessing.

How to buy/request tickets for a papal audience?
Tickets are free but you must reserve them in advance by writing or faxing your request (indicating your language, the dates of your visit, the number of people in your party, etc.) to:

Prefecture of the Papal Household Holy See (http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html)
Phone: 06-69884857
Fax 06-69885863
Mon–Sat 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
00120 Città del Vaticano

Here is some more information on how to reserve tickets

And here you'll find the Tickets request Form (a microsoft word document) to apply for the Tickets

When can I attend a Papal Audience?
As previously said Papal Audience are held almost every Wednesday with some exceptions, check out the Calendar of the upcoming events presided by the Holy Father .

How much in advance should I book the Audience?
We recommend booking the Audience at least a 2 weeks in advance. You might be able to reserve tickets also with just a few days notice but due to the high number of requests you might miss the chance if applying last minute.

How and where can I pick up my tickets?
You can pick up the tickets yourself at the Prefecture office entrance, near the porta di bronzo (bronze door) under St. Peter’s right colonnade from 15:00 to 19:30 on the preceding day or on the morning of the audience from 8:00 to 10:30.

Is there a 'Dress Code' for the Papal Audience?
Yes, the Vatican dress code requires no shorts or tank tops. Women's shoulders must be covered.
It's advisable to dress conservatively even if you are one of hundreds. Women wear dark-colored dresses, with unrevealing necklines and long sleeves, and cover their heads. Men wear conservative business suits. In the reserved section some men will wear formal morning dress, and most women will be in black with gloves and mantillas.

Private Agencies to reserve a Papal Audience
There are a number of companies and associations that offer the service of requesting the tickets on your behalf to the Prefecture of the Papal Household, picking up at the church your tickets on the afternoon before the Audience and delivering your tickets to your accommodation.

You will be asked for a fee which is usually independent from the number of people in your party and you basically pay for the ticket pick-up and delivery service and not the tickets which are free.

Santa Susanna, home of the American Catholic Church in Rome, offers a means of aquiring tickets to Papal Masses and Papal Audiences by filling out a web form and it's one of the most trusted organizations.

There are also a number of other private companies that you can easily find on the Internet.

Papal Audiences and the Sunday Angelus

Do not confuse the The Sunday Angelus which is led by the Pope in Saint Peter's Square at 12 Noon (no tickets are required for this) and the Papal Audience which is for a more restricted number of people.

Papal Blessings
Papal Blessing are a much more restricted opportunity to meet the Pope compared to Papal Audiences but it still does not necessarily mean that you will meet the Pope alone. It's also in very high demand for weddings,wedding anniversaries and First Communions.

For those who live outside of Rome, it can be pretty difficult and it could take a minimum of 2 months or longer.

You can contact the Papal Office directly for a blessing at:

Apostolic Blessings Office of Papal Charities
Phone +39 06 6988 3135
Fax +39 06 6988 3132

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Rome is said to have more than 1.000 churches itself. Visiting 3 churches per day it would still take a year to see them all!

Most of the masses are celebrated in Italian (or rarely in Latin), but if you are looking for English Masses in Rome you have plenty of churches where you can attend.

Here below the most well known churches in the city center of Rome with full address, area, phone number and mass schedule (mass schedule changes frequently and with seasons, please make sure to check for a updated/detailed schedule before attending).

Address: Via XX Settembre 15  (Via Nazionale/Termini Station)

Phone: 06 420 14 554

Sunday Masses: 6PM (Saturday) 9 and 10:30 AM.

http://www.santasusanna.org

The Church of St. Sylvester in Capite

Address: Piazza San Silvestro (Via del Corso / Spanish Steps Area)

Phone: 06 679 7775

Sunday Masses at 10 AM and 5:30 PM

http://romanchurches.wikia.com/wiki/San_Silvestro_in_Capite

The Pontifical Irish College

The residence for Irish seminarians in Rome

Address: Via SS. Quattro 1 (Colosseum Area)

Phone: 06 77 2631

Sunday Mass: 9:30am (Sept-June)

http://www.irishcollege.org/

St. Patrick's Church

Irish National Church

Address: Via Boncompagni, 60 (Via Veneto Area)

Phone: 06 420 3121

Sunday Mass at 10 AM.

http://www.stpatricksrome.com

Church of St.Ignatius of Loyola

Address: via del Caravita 8a (Pantheon Area)

Phone: 06 679 440

http://www.chiesasantignazio.org/en/

Caravita: The Oratorio of St. Francis Xavier

An international Catholic community in Rome

Address: Via del Caravita 7 - next to S. Ignatius of Loyola (Pantheon Area)

Sunday Mass: 11am

http://www.caravita.org

The Venerable English College

The residence for English seminarians in Rome

Address: Via Monserrato 45 (Campo de Fiori Area)

Sunday Mass: 10am

http://www.englishcollegerome.org

All Saints' Church

Anglican

Address: Via del Babuino, 153B (Spanish Steps Area)

Phone: 06 360 01 881

Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 AM

http://www.allsaintsrome.org

Rome Baptist Church

Address: Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina, 35 (Via del Corso / Spanish Steps Area)

Phone: 06 687 6211

Sunday Mass at 10.30 AM in English

http://romebaptist.org

St. Paul's Within-the-Walls

Episcopal

Address: Via Napoli 58 (Via Nazionale/Termini Station)

Phone: 06 488 3339

Sunday Masses at: 8:30 and 10:30 AM, 1 PM in Spanish

http://www.stpaulsrome.it

Ponte Sant'Angelo Methodist Church

Address: Via del Banco di Santo Spiriti 3 (Castel Sant'Angelo/Navona Area)

Phone: 06 686 8314

Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM

http://www.methodistchurchrome.com/

St. Andrew's Church of Scotland

Presbyterian

Address: Via XX Settembre, 7  (Via Nazionale/Termini Station)

Phone: 06 482 7627

Sunday Mass at 11AM

http://www.presbyterianchurchrome.org

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Many of our clients are asking us how to go from Rome to Venice or from Venice to Rome,
how far is Venice from Rome and if they should go by train, by flight or by car.

The distance between Rome and Venice is about 520 kilometers.

By Train
By train it takes about 4 hours and a half station-to-station for something between 60€ (2nd class) and 90€ (1st class).
You basically leave from Rome Termini Station, which is the main central station in Rome and located in the city center, and end up in Venezia Santa Lucia Station which is on the island of Venice and you are ready to go!
Between Rome and Venice the train also stops in Florence and Bologna, a 5 to 10 minute stop each.
Eurostar trains are very comfortable, power supply for your laptop or to recharge your phone are available onboard, the journey itself is pleasant as the train crosses the Italian countryside and you can enjoy some nice views from your window from time to time.

You can check and book online your tickets with the official Italian Railway Company which is called Trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.it (english available).
You are supposed to choose the exact time and date of your train according to the schedule and your seats.
Pay attention as the dates you book can't be changed and if you are found travelling on a different train from the one you booked you'll be fined, controls are very strict.

You are not necessarily supposed to buy your tickets in Italy, or by an Italian travel agency company, you can book the tickets online, Trenitalia will send you an email or text message to your phone (or both) with the reservation number. Print your receipt and reservation number and bring it with you, wait for the ticket collector to come to your place (they check the train regularly back and forth) and you are all set.

Both when booking and when travelling our advice is make sure to look for Venice 'Santa Lucia Station' and not (Venice) Mestre Station, Mestre is in fact a different city from Venice and still on the mainland, you are most probably going to visit the island of Venice.

By Flight
From Rome to Venice it's about 1 hour flight. Prices really depend on the time and season and are subject to special offers. You might end up finding good deals even though it's usually more expensive than by train.
You are most probably travelling from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (the largest italian hub in Rome) and San Marco International Airport in Venice. Check out Alitalia website for availability and rates.  http://www.alitalia.it (english available).

Chances are that you can find flights from Rome Ciampino International Airport and Treviso Sant'Angelo Airport, usually this are operated by low cost companies and namely Ryanair. This route is equally convenient as Ciampino Airport is as close to Rome as Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport and Treviso airport is about 1 hour by bus from Venice.

In both cases however you should consider that you'll have to be in the airport in advance (from 1 to 2 hours), go through all of the check-in security procedures and controls. The airports in Rome and Venice are not just as central as the railway station are so you have to consider the traffic, the additional time needed to go to/from the airport and the city center and the additional cost of taxi and transportation.

What's best?

Our advise is to use the train better than a flight since, at the end of the day, by flight it should be a little shorter but we consider it a more stressful and pricy option compared to going by train, but then it's up to you....enjoy your journey!

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