The magnificient Rome - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tepsukka · 11-03-2003, 06:58 AM

I was planning of going to Rome right after xmas, if I can get a cheap flight.
Any ideas how much accommodations in a hostel or b&b would cost for a week?
All good hints are noted. thanks allready

dailyjo2003 · 11-04-2003, 06:47 AM

I'm jealous. I stayed at a pension close to the train station. Are you going with friends or by yourself? What do you plan on seeing? I'll let you know my favorites if you need ideas.

splck · 11-04-2003, 09:40 AM

When I was in Rome I found a real cheap hotel posted on a bulletin board in the main train station. They had a list of 5-4-3-2 and 1 star hotels and then at the bottom a list of real cheap places (that's where we stayed). The hotel we stayed at was close to the subway and lots of interesting sites. I remember wondering how we could be staying in a hotel cheaper than the hostel. I can't remember the actual price paid for the room, but it was the cheapest place I stayed at my entire 6-month trip around Europe, hostels included.
Enjoy your trip.

tepsukka · 11-06-2003, 04:21 AM

I'm going by my self, And don't really have any special plans yet. Obviously I want to see all the historical sights and what ever there is.. By all means tell me all the things I should do there.

I found some hostels dorms from 15-20e/nite I suppose thats quite ok?

dailyjo2003 · 11-06-2003, 02:39 PM

Just some things off the top of my head -

Pantheon - 2000 year old building- very cool. Also, little known michaelangelo statue in church to the back and right of the pantheon.

Spanish Steps - great place to watch girls.

Vatican - always amazing. Take the time to tour the Vatican Museums - well worth it. One of the greatest museums on the planet.

Piazia Navona (spelling) old "circus" buidlings retain the oval shape

Pay to take the tour of the Forum - just next to the coliseum.

Coliseum - obvious- still neat.

Do a little research - lots of great stuff real close to the major sites. The city has so much they get overlooked. Would be the main attraction in most other cities.

Have a great time.

tepsukka · 11-07-2003, 12:23 AM

Sounds good!! But one of my great interestes are them girlies, what are they like? I mean does their religion effect their "social" behavior. Now who wouldn't wanna visit Italy DEEP......

Rodney · 11-09-2003, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tepsukka
Sounds good!! But one of my great interestes are them girlies, what are they like? I mean does their religion effect their "social" behavior. Now who wouldn't wanna visit Italy DEEP......

As far as I have been told, most people don't take religion very seriously in Rome. 2000 years of Catholic Church politics will do that to you.

I do envy you the trip; I'd like to go to Rome someday, before i need a walker :-). Always wanted to see the Pantheon. How many buildings still have the roof on after 2000 years?

Mephisto2 · 11-09-2003, 06:56 PM

Does their religion affect their social behaviour?

ROFL.

No, not really. Italy is more open minded than the US. You have a born-again Christian as a President after all.

The Italians ooze style and the girls are very sexy. If you go in summer be prepared for lots of pretty girls wearing lots of expensive clothes.

When you're in Rome I would recommend the following:

1) Forum Romanum - this is an archaelogical park right in the middle of the city. It's where the old Roman Republican Forum was placed. The Forum was the political, social and economic heart of the city. It's where all the Senate sat (in a building called the Curia, which was restored by Mussolini, so you can see what it was like in Caesar's time!), the famous speeches where made, the Rostrum (or speaker's stage) was placed, the most important temples etc. Very impressive. It lies between the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill. Pay for the pass that gets you into all three.

2) Theatre of Marcellus. On the banks of the Tiber, built by Augustus for his favourite nephew. Very cool.

3) Colleseum - More correctly, the name of this is the Flavian Amphitheatre. It was called the Colleseum, not due to its size despite what some people may tell you, but because it was built on the site of the hated Nero's old palace. At the doors of his palace Nero had a HUGE statue of himself erected, named the Coloseo (sp?); hence the Amphitheatre was nick-named after the theatre. The Colleseum is at the end of the Roman Forum. You can't miss it.

4) Castel Sant' Angelo.
This used to be Hadrian's tomb, but was converted into a castle by the Popes. Make sure to check out the special escape route the Popes built from the Vatican to this redoubt. Very interesting.

5) Vatican & St Peter's
Even if you're not religious or even Catholic, these are amazing buildings to visit. Check out the Vatican Museums too.

6) Back-street Rome
Try to get off the beaten track a little and have dinner/lunch in some small tavernas or cafe's. It makes a world of difference if you try to learn even a little Italian, or stock phrases - "How much?" "May I have...?" etc. Don't try the usual crass American tourist technique of simply talking loudly and slowly in English at them. It doesn't work and it pisses people off...

7) Spanish Steps
Very cool hang-out area. Head towards this area late at night (around 11pm) and just sit back and watch. Amazing buzz. At the bottom of the steps is a very cool (but very expensive!) shopping area. This is the place if you want to shop for Italian designers. Feel free to simply window-shop or browse too...

8) EUR
This is an area to the south of Rome built by Mussolini as an example of Fascist architecture etc. It's quite interesting. Howeve the most impressive feature is a massive (HUGE) scale model of ancient Rome built on the orders of Il Duce. It really is truly breath-taking seeing what the ancient city looked like. I highly recommend this.

9) Catacombs.
Creepy but kinda cool I suppose. I didn't really like them, but some people might!

This is all I can think of off the top of my head.

I honestly encourage you to try to learn a few words of Italian too. It makes the world of difference.

Good luck mate and have fun...

Mr Mephisto

tepsukka · 11-10-2003, 02:22 AM

Thanks a lot for the great advices. I can't wait to get there..

irateplatypus · 11-10-2003, 04:29 PM

mr. mephisto, that was a pretty cheap dig man.

tepsukka, i backpacked europe for 3 weeks in the summer of '02. while in Rome (which was my favorite city visited), i stayed in a hostel by the name of 'hostel casanova'. I thought the name sounded shady, but the other ones were booked. ended up being my favorite hostel of the trip. the rules are relatively tight, but they make sure you have a quiet/clean place to sleep. the staff was really cool, i get an IM from the girls who were there everyonce in a while. the hostel is listed in "lets go" and "lonely planet" guidebooks. its on the north side of town... walking distance from the vatican and close to a metro stop.

but... you'll be going in the winter, so i'm sure all the hostels will have vacancies. I've heard great things about "yellow hostel" there, but i can't speak from personal experience. have a great time, good luck with those smokin' hot italian girls.

ubertuber · 11-15-2003, 10:46 AM

Don't forget to check out the Trevi Fountain - if you are walking from the Colliseum/Forum area to the Pantheon/Spanish Steps you'll pretty much go right by it. It's pretty impressive. When I was there this summer I didn't get to the Vatican, but after I saw my friend's pictures I really regretted it. Go there - it looks amazing.

Cicero · 11-17-2003, 08:13 PM

My favorite place to go is just outside of Roma, known as the town of Tivoli, it is a suburb of Roma, where there is an abundance of villas. I suggest you visit Villa Adriana (Emperor Hadrian's Villa) and Villa d'Este and see the millions of fountains.

dragon2fire · 11-18-2003, 04:14 PM

go to the fourms near the colesium

and the appin way is cool

portwineboy · 11-20-2003, 06:16 AM

If you are a reader, pick up Dan Brown's Gods and Demons (fiction). His description of some sites in Rome will probably have you running around looking at/for some of the least known spots in Christian Rome. Great book too.

Mephisto2 · 11-23-2003, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by irateplatypus
mr. mephisto, that was a pretty cheap dig man.

Errrr... What?

I have no idea what you mean.

Mr Mephisto

11-03-2003, 06:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
tepsukka Upright Location: All around	The magnificient Rome I was planning of going to Rome right after xmas, if I can get a cheap flight. Any ideas how much accommodations in a hostel or b&b would cost for a week? All good hints are noted. thanks allready

11-04-2003, 09:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	When I was in Rome I found a real cheap hotel posted on a bulletin board in the main train station. They had a list of 5-4-3-2 and 1 star hotels and then at the bottom a list of real cheap places (that's where we stayed). The hotel we stayed at was close to the subway and lots of interesting sites. I remember wondering how we could be staying in a hotel cheaper than the hostel. I can't remember the actual price paid for the room, but it was the cheapest place I stayed at my entire 6-month trip around Europe, hostels included. Enjoy your trip. __________________ nice line eh?

11-10-2003, 04:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	mr. mephisto, that was a pretty cheap dig man. tepsukka, i backpacked europe for 3 weeks in the summer of '02. while in Rome (which was my favorite city visited), i stayed in a hostel by the name of 'hostel casanova'. I thought the name sounded shady, but the other ones were booked. ended up being my favorite hostel of the trip. the rules are relatively tight, but they make sure you have a quiet/clean place to sleep. the staff was really cool, i get an IM from the girls who were there everyonce in a while. the hostel is listed in "lets go" and "lonely planet" guidebooks. its on the north side of town... walking distance from the vatican and close to a metro stop. but... you'll be going in the winter, so i'm sure all the hostels will have vacancies. I've heard great things about "yellow hostel" there, but i can't speak from personal experience. have a great time, good luck with those smokin' hot italian girls. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

11-15-2003, 10:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
ubertuber spudly Location: Ellay	Don't forget to check out the Trevi Fountain - if you are walking from the Colliseum/Forum area to the Pantheon/Spanish Steps you'll pretty much go right by it. It's pretty impressive. When I was there this summer I didn't get to the Vatican, but after I saw my friend's pictures I really regretted it. Go there - it looks amazing. __________________ Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam

11-20-2003, 06:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
portwineboy Master of No Domains Location: WEEhawken, New Joisey	If you are a reader, pick up Dan Brown's Gods and Demons (fiction). His description of some sites in Rome will probably have you running around looking at/for some of the least known spots in Christian Rome. Great book too. __________________ If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.

11-04-2003, 06:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
dailyjo2003 Tilted	I'm jealous. I stayed at a pension close to the train station. Are you going with friends or by yourself? What do you plan on seeing? I'll let you know my favorites if you need ideas.

11-06-2003, 04:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
tepsukka Upright Location: All around	I'm going by my self, And don't really have any special plans yet. Obviously I want to see all the historical sights and what ever there is.. By all means tell me all the things I should do there. I found some hostels dorms from 15-20e/nite I suppose thats quite ok?

11-06-2003, 02:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
dailyjo2003 Tilted	Just some things off the top of my head - Pantheon - 2000 year old building- very cool. Also, little known michaelangelo statue in church to the back and right of the pantheon. Spanish Steps - great place to watch girls. Vatican - always amazing. Take the time to tour the Vatican Museums - well worth it. One of the greatest museums on the planet. Piazia Navona (spelling) old "circus" buidlings retain the oval shape Pay to take the tour of the Forum - just next to the coliseum. Coliseum - obvious- still neat. Do a little research - lots of great stuff real close to the major sites. The city has so much they get overlooked. Would be the main attraction in most other cities. Have a great time.

11-07-2003, 12:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
tepsukka Upright Location: All around	Sounds good!! But one of my great interestes are them girlies, what are they like? I mean does their religion effect their "social" behavior. Now who wouldn't wanna visit Italy DEEP......

11-09-2003, 06:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Does their religion affect their social behaviour? ROFL. No, not really. Italy is more open minded than the US. You have a born-again Christian as a President after all. The Italians ooze style and the girls are very sexy. If you go in summer be prepared for lots of pretty girls wearing lots of expensive clothes. When you're in Rome I would recommend the following: 1) Forum Romanum - this is an archaelogical park right in the middle of the city. It's where the old Roman Republican Forum was placed. The Forum was the political, social and economic heart of the city. It's where all the Senate sat (in a building called the Curia, which was restored by Mussolini, so you can see what it was like in Caesar's time!), the famous speeches where made, the Rostrum (or speaker's stage) was placed, the most important temples etc. Very impressive. It lies between the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill. Pay for the pass that gets you into all three. 2) Theatre of Marcellus. On the banks of the Tiber, built by Augustus for his favourite nephew. Very cool. 3) Colleseum - More correctly, the name of this is the Flavian Amphitheatre. It was called the Colleseum, not due to its size despite what some people may tell you, but because it was built on the site of the hated Nero's old palace. At the doors of his palace Nero had a HUGE statue of himself erected, named the Coloseo (sp?); hence the Amphitheatre was nick-named after the theatre. The Colleseum is at the end of the Roman Forum. You can't miss it. 4) Castel Sant' Angelo. This used to be Hadrian's tomb, but was converted into a castle by the Popes. Make sure to check out the special escape route the Popes built from the Vatican to this redoubt. Very interesting. 5) Vatican & St Peter's Even if you're not religious or even Catholic, these are amazing buildings to visit. Check out the Vatican Museums too. 6) Back-street Rome Try to get off the beaten track a little and have dinner/lunch in some small tavernas or cafe's. It makes a world of difference if you try to learn even a little Italian, or stock phrases - "How much?" "May I have...?" etc. Don't try the usual crass American tourist technique of simply talking loudly and slowly in English at them. It doesn't work and it pisses people off... 7) Spanish Steps Very cool hang-out area. Head towards this area late at night (around 11pm) and just sit back and watch. Amazing buzz. At the bottom of the steps is a very cool (but very expensive!) shopping area. This is the place if you want to shop for Italian designers. Feel free to simply window-shop or browse too... 8) EUR This is an area to the south of Rome built by Mussolini as an example of Fascist architecture etc. It's quite interesting. Howeve the most impressive feature is a massive (HUGE) scale model of ancient Rome built on the orders of Il Duce. It really is truly breath-taking seeing what the ancient city looked like. I highly recommend this. 9) Catacombs. Creepy but kinda cool I suppose. I didn't really like them, but some people might! This is all I can think of off the top of my head. I honestly encourage you to try to learn a few words of Italian too. It makes the world of difference. Good luck mate and have fun... Mr Mephisto

11-10-2003, 02:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
tepsukka Upright Location: All around	Thanks a lot for the great advices. I can't wait to get there..

11-17-2003, 08:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cicero Tilted	My favorite place to go is just outside of Roma, known as the town of Tivoli, it is a suburb of Roma, where there is an abundance of villas. I suggest you visit Villa Adriana (Emperor Hadrian's Villa) and Villa d'Este and see the millions of fountains.

11-18-2003, 04:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
dragon2fire Junkie	go to the fourms near the colesium and the appin way is cool