LetsTravelRome

Rome Coloseum Included as New Seven Wonders of the World Announced

2007-07-09T09:19:00.000-04:00

100 million votes were cast to find the new Seven Wonders.

A new version of the Seven Wonders of the World has been drawn up, based on over 100 million votes cast from people in 200 countries.

The Rome Coloseum has been voted as one of the new World Wonders
The winners were announced on July 7, and include the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Taj Mahal in India.

The winners, based on an online poll by New 7 Wonders of the World, were announced during a ceremony in Lisbon, attended by American actress Hilary Swank, pop star Jennifer Lopez and tenor Jose Carreras.

The vote, which was drawn from 21 contenders, attracted some cristicism, including from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which said last week that the new wonders of the world should not be chosen in a popular vote.

Other contenders included the Great Pyrmaid of Giza (the only remaining wonder of the ancient world), the Acropolis in Athens, the Eiffel Tower, Ankor in Cambodia and the Moai statues of Easter Island.

The new Seven Wonders in full are:

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The Great Wall, China

Machu Picchu, Peru

Petra, Jordan

The Rome Coloseum, Italy

The Taj Mahal, India.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Rome in Top 5 for 2007 Travel Trends Survey:

2007-01-13T04:42:00.000-05:00

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates unveiled the 2007 results of their authoritative annual Travel Trends Survey in which Las Vegas and Caribbean cruising continue to dominate the top spots for domestic and international travel, respectively. But Florida boasts having five cities listed among the top 15 domestic destinations and Rome makes history again -- this time landing in the top five international destinations for the first time in this survey. Conducted November 28-December 15, 2006, the 2007 Travel Trends Survey includes responses from a record 507 Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate owners, managers and frontline agents throughout the United States -- roughly equivalent to 83% of all Carlson Wagonlit Travel locations.

Internationally, the big story is Italy, which apparently has yet to reach its peak in popularity. In fact, Rome's fourth place finish and Italy's overall increased strength dovetails nicely with last year's Carlson Wagonlit Travel International Summit in Rome.

Rome has steadily climbed up the international list over the last four years, finally earning a place in the top five. The progression can be traced from 11th in 2004 to 9th in 2005 to 6th last year and now placing 4th in 2007. Also riding on that wave is Mediterranean cruising, which just cracked the top 10 international "destinations." In the past four years it has climbed from 15th in 2004 to 10th place in 2007. Also, Florence/Tuscany moved up one spot to 15 and Venice jumped three spots to 23.

For all the latest on travel to Rome, including flight and accommodation deals, go to our homepage now.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Lazio and Fiorentina Back in Serie A.

2006-07-26T11:47:00.000-04:00

Fiorentina and Lazio were restored to Serie A, while Juventus had its points penalty in Serie B cut almost in half on Tuesday after successful appeals in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

AC Milan also had its points penalty in Serie A cut from 15 to eight. Juventus' sanction was reduced from 30 to 17 points. Fiorentina will begin the new season with a 19-point penalty while Lazio will be penalized 11 points. The sports court upheld the July 14 ruling stripping Juventus of its last two Serie A titles, but removed the barrier for Milan playing in next season's European Champions League.

Milan's point-penalty for last season was reduced from 44 to 30, placing it third in the standings and making it eligible to enter Champions League qualifying. Five-year bans for former Juventus executives Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo, the figures at the center of the scandal, were upheld.

The pair, who resigned in May along with the entire Juventus board, were accused of creating a network of contacts with federation officials to influence refereeing assignments and get players booked, allegations that were at the heart of the scandal.

Hundreds of Lazio fans outside the hotel where the verdicts were delivered screamed in delight at the news their team was back in Serie A.

Tuesday's ruling ends the process in Italy's sports court system. Any further appeals would need to be taken through the country's civil courts, which could delay the start of the season set for August 28.

"For Juventus and its managers it's an absolutely unsatisfactory sentence," Moggi lawyer Fulvio Gianaria said.

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said the club would challenge the verdicts in the civil courts, while Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said the club was still deciding whether to take that path.

If upheld or unchallenged, the demotion would be a first for Juventus since its birth in 1897.

The Turin-based powerhouse has won 29 league titles, including the ones stripped by Friday's verdict, two European Champions League titles, four Italian Supercups, three UEFA cups, two European Supercups and two Toyota or Intercontinental Cups.

The appeals body decision was announced a few hours after the close of the Milan stock exchange, where some of the clubs involved are listed.

In the July 14 ruling, Fiorentina was demoted to Series B and penalized 12 points to start next season, while Lazio was originally supposed to start the new season in B with a seven-point penalty.

All the clubs appealed, seeking lighter penalties. Juventus claimed the sanctions were excessive. AC Milan argued that its Champions League ban was unlawful.

AC Milan owner, billionaire businessman and former premier Silvio Berlusconi, was still complaining despite the softening of the penalties.

"I called Berlusconi to have confirmation we were in the Champions League and he told me that, in his judgment, injustice remains because Milan didn't do anything," Roberto Maroni, a former minister and political ally of Berlusconi said.

Soccer federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi argued for even tougher punishment.

Palazzi called for Juventus to be demoted to Serie C; Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio to be demoted to Serie B with three-point deductions for Milan and 15 each for Lazio and Fiorentina.

The stiffest penalties for officials were those for Moggi and Giraudo. The appeals tribunal confirmed the initial court's recommendation that asked the Italian soccer federation to ban the two for life. The maximum punishment the sports court could impose is five years.

Other prominent officials had their sanctions reduced. Franco Carraro, the former head of the Italian soccer league who resigned in May amid the scandal and had originally received a 4 1/2-year ban, received a fine and a warning.

Fiorentina owner and industrialist Diego Della Valle had three months shaved off his four-year ban, while Lazio president Claudio Lotito's was banned for 2 1/2 years, a year less than in the initial sentence. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani received a nine-month ban, instead of one year.

With the verdicts still being deliberated, UEFA said on Tuesday it granted the Italian federation a one-day extension, till Wednesday, for submission of names of Italian clubs eligible to participate in European club competitions this coming season.

The list is required by UEFA to complete the preparations and seeding for the draws of the Champions League third qualifying round and UEFA Cup second qualifying round. The draws take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Several Serie A stars, including Italy and Fiorentina striker Luca Toni and Brazil and Milan playmaker Kaka, are expected to decide about their club futures based on the outcome of the trial.

Separately, prosecutors in Rome, Naples, Parma and Turin are conducting criminal probes into alleged sports fraud, illegal betting and false bookkeeping.

Subscribers to Lets-Travel-Rome.com will shortly be able to access the full fixture lists for both Lazio and Roma, and get the best deals on prices and accommodation.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Soccer Tours

Rome set to come alive on White Night.

2006-07-26T11:40:00.000-04:00

Rome is set to come alive on the night of September 9th, as La Notte Bianca (the White Night) sees visual arts, dance, music and a host of other events take place around the city.

Major venues including the Borghese Gallery and the Villa Medici play host to more than 100 events all over the Eternal City and free public transport services ferry locals and visitors alike from place to place.

The free event is organised by the municipality of Rome, along with other official bodies, and aims to be an inclusive event aimed at solidarity and multiculturalism.

It "involves all the city's inhabitants" and is "an opportunity for discovering this city and its treasures but also for an encounter with culture in its most varied expressions".

More than 1,000 artists will take part in the event this year, which begins at 9pm in the Piazza del Campidoglio with a scene from Romeo and Juliet performed by Roberto Bolle and Alessandra Ferri.

Besides the White Night, Italy's capital offers much for history lovers, including the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

4 Italian clubs sanctioned for match-fixing.

2006-07-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

Just days after winning its fourth World Cup title, Italian soccer suffered an all-time low as four top clubs and top officials and referees were sanctioned for match-fixing.

An Italian sports tribunal demoted Juventus to Serie B and stripped it of its last two Serie A titles Friday. Lazio and Fiorentina were also demoted to the second division, while AC Milan was spared relegation but was given a 15-point penalty in the top division.

Of the 26 officials or referees implicated in the scandal, 19 received punishment ranging from the maximum five-year ban to a warning; five were acquitted; and two were banned for life without prosecution because they resigned before being charged.

The penalties can be appealed within five days to a higher sports court.

The scandal is projected to take a financial toll on the clubs involved. In addition to game-day receipts, broadcast rights may need to be reworked for the teams relegated to the second division, and sponsorship contracts for Juventus may be endangered if it is unable to work its way backup to Serie A in one season.

Thirteen of the 23-man Italian squad that won Sunday's World Cup final belong to the four teams penalized, and already there was speculation about whether they might leave or have their contracts sold because the teams could no longer afford them.

"It's obvious that part of our squad will not remain in Serie B. We can't deny them the chance to play in a more competitive league," said Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, adding that Real Madrid was making moves on some of his players.

Juventus was given a 30-point penalty, meaning it will have to struggle to climb back to the top league. Fiorentina was penalized 12 points and Lazio 7.

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and former Juventus chief executive Antonio Giraudo received the maximum five-year ban for match-fixing and disloyalty, with a recommendation to the federation to make it a ban for life.

The two, who resigned in May along with the club's entire board, were accused of creating a network of contacts with federation officials to influence refereeing assignments and get players booked.

Soccer federation chief Guido Rossi, who took over in the wake of the scandal, sought a speedy trial to clean up the game and restore the sport's image quickly.

The sentence for Juve marks the first demotion since its inception in 1897. The Turin-based powerhouse has won 29 league titles -- including the ones stripped by Friday's verdict -- two Champions League titles, four Italian Supercups, two European Supercups and two Intercontinental Cups.

Fans took to the streets after hearing the news that their teams will be playing next season in the second-tier Serie B.

"To Hell", screamed a front-page column in Italy's leading newspaper Corriere della Sera. It counted 120 hours from Italy's World Cup win to the moment when "two generations of soccer establishment were wiped out."

As teams prepared their appeals, the country braced for a likely exodus of prized players such as World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

But subscribers to Lets-Travel-Rome.com will still be able to grab premium tickets to all Lazio and Roma homegames through this link:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Rome Soccer Tours

Italian taxi drivers protest, jam Rome.

2006-07-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Tuesday 18 July 2006

On Monday, over 2,000 drivers protested against the government’s plans to liberalize the taxi service. In Rome, the airport and main train station were deserted of taxis.

Milan, Turin and Bologna taxi drivers only responded to emergency calls.

Civil Service Minister Luigi Nicolais invited suggestions for improving the centre-left government’s bill, but refused withdrawal.

The proposed bill breaks the monopoly status of local taxi federations. It allows municipal administrations to increase the number of taxi licenses issued.

Particularly controversial was a measure which would have allowed the entry of private firms.

Protestors were concerned that the reform would destroy the value of their taxi licenses, currently traded for as much as 200,000 euros, or passed on to children.

At 40,000, the Italian fleet of taxis is the smallest in Europe.

Official statistics show that for a thousand inhabitants there are 2.1 taxis in Rome, compared to 8.3 in London.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Match-fixing verdict to be delivered Jul 14 2006.

2006-07-14T11:34:00.000-04:00

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have confirmed the verdicts of the match-fixing trial involving Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio will be announced after 7pm local time on Friday.

The announcement regarding the fate of the Serie A clubs, as well as the 25 people under investigation, will be read by the Federal Appeals Commission president Cesare Ruperto in Rome's Parco dei Principi hotel.

Television broadcasters and radio stations will not be allowed to transmit the verdict live.

But subscribers to Lets-Travel-Rome will shortly be able to grab match day tickets for all Roma and Lazio home games, regardless of the outcome for Lazio when the investigations are complete.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Rome Soccer Tours

New Italian Phrase Book For Tourists.

2006-07-14T11:25:00.000-04:00

July 5, 2006 ( Rome. Italy ) -- Italian For Tourists a phrasebook published through the online content marketplace Lulu.com, is a basic guide to the Italian language covering phrases and words most needed by tourists. It includes all the words and phrases a tourist is likely to need during their stay in Italy as well as a pronunciation guide.

The phrasebook is divided into 16 chapters including; Emergency, The basics, Common expressions, Learning Italian, Greetings and introducing yourself, Transport, Hotel, Sightseeing, Asking and giving directions, Food and drink, Health, Shopping, Offices and bureaucracy and Signs and notices. For easy reference, English words and phrases are printed in bold black type, while the Italian translations are shown in green.

What others say about the book: Very handy and a light load to carry! I love the feature...that you can print off only the pages you need! There is always so much to lug around when traveling. Thanks for a great service to the travel-world! And so accessible! No waiting for book to be shipped out! . Tanya Rice, writer

Jo Linsdell came to Italy from the UK 6 years ago and now lives in Rome working as a freelance writer. She wrote the book drawing on her own experience. She explains A tourist doesn t need to know everything about Italian grammar or the in s and out s of buying an apartment. They want to have an easy to use reference book of the language they will need to use and understand during their stay .

About the Company:

Jo Linsdell is a freelance writer who lives in Rome with her Italian fiancé. She is available for comment at jo_bins@yahoo.com.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Tracking site spots World Cup effect

2006-07-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

The 'World Cup Effect' meant Germany has been the top performing destination for holiday home rentals in the first half of 2006, according to data from www.Holiday-Rentals.co.uk.

Enquiries per property increased dramatically during the run-up to the competition and continued to be high throughout June. Dubai was hot on Germany's heels, with an average number of enquiries per property double the site average and a dramatic 236% increase in the number of properties since 2005.
Perennial Brit favourite, Tenerife remained popular too, with a healthy 20% rise in the average number of enquiries per property per month compared to 2005, despite a 66% growth in the number of properties available to rent on the site.

Renter interest in Italy went up 13.2%, backing up recent press reports that the country is growing in popularity, particularly its cities, with enquiries in both the Rome and Venice regions up around 25% on last year.

Other regions that performed particularly well were Sicily (up 30.9%), Lombardy (up 28.5%), Campania (23.6%), Tuscany and Marche (both up 10.4%).

The final destination in the top five performing regions was the island of Malta, showing its efforts to reduce dependence on tour operators and attract more independent travellers are paying off.

Despite an increase of 69% in the number of properties available to rent, the average number of enquiries per property per month increased by 4% in the first quarter of 2006, compared to quarter one of 2005.

Ross McGowan, Sales Director, www.Holiday-Rentals.co.uk commented, "The fact that Germany has been a top choice with renters is perhaps not surprising, given the World Cup, however what is remarkable is the increase in properties; 38% since last year. Thanks to the availability of relatively cheap property, decreasing unemployment and growing interest from tourists, canny investors are realising Germany could be the next hot property market in Europe."

He continued, "The number of properties in Dubai registered on Holiday-Rentals.co.uk has shot up by a staggering 236% in the last year, clearly highlighting a phenomenal increase in the number of people buying in this investment hot-spot. Plus, demand has continued to match supply on the site too, indicating its popularity with tourists continues to grow, unabated."

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Swifts: kings of Roman skies

2006-07-13T08:08:00.000-04:00

Swifts are useful allies during the early summer months with their efficient disposal of mosquitoes, flies, gnats and wasps.

Sitting on a Rome roof-terrace one early summer evening during cocktail hour, I overheard an American girl ask: “What’s with those birds up there?”
She pointed to the hundreds of swirling, darting, spiralling, lunging birds in the sky. They seemed to be going nowhere in their never-ending mad carousel, emitting high-pitched supersonic screams as they whirled.

“They’re swallows, eating all those insects that bite you,” her companion replied.
He was right about the insects being consumed, but not about the birds. They are not swallows but swifts. Above our heads, above Italian cities, towns and villages, in the summer sky a continual harvest of flying insects is taking place. From dawn until well after sunset, the insectivorous swifts are feeding in the air and cleaning up quantities of nasty mosquitoes, gnats, flies and wasps.

Among the fastest-flying birds in the world, these extraordinary creatures never sit on a limb or a telephone line, never land on the ground to run after or peck at an insect. Almost their entire life is spent in flight; they drink, bathe, collect food and nesting materials without landing. They even mate while flying.

A swift flies at such speed that it’s not even noticeable when it swoops onto a rooftop or scrabbles under a tile where it’s made its nest. It’s to this nest that it returns at the end of March or the beginning of April after an incredible flight of thousands of kilometres from southern Africa. Under the tiles eggs are laid and the young are raised.

Swifts (rondoni) are often mistaken for swallows (rondini). But swifts and swallows aren’t related. Even though swallows also feed on flying insects and dart and dash in the air they are not city birds. They prefer the country and construct their nests inside barns, caverns, garages and all sorts of uninhabited buildings outside towns. Unlike swifts, they don’t fly in groups and have different flying patterns and wing shape.

Also mistakenly called swallows are their relatives: the smaller house martins (balestrucci) which, like swifts, are city and village birds but build their nests on house walls directly under the eaves.

Swallows and house martins have very different bodies from swifts. The swift is all wing, a short torpedo-shaped body and a short tail. They are also entirely black, while swallows are a shiny dark blue with a white belly and distinguished by a long, forked tail.

Swallows and house martins can land on the ground and sit on telephone lines. If by accident swifts find themselves on the ground or on a flat surface, they have great difficulty taking off again, hindered from rising quickly and steeply by their long narrow wings. They always nest and roost with a drop below so they can then launch themselves out into the air – the drop giving them the necessary speed and lift to continue.

Swifts have been known to bump into one another while swirling through the air or hit a wall or a window, fall to the ground and then not be able to take off again. If a kind person sees this helpless bird sprawled, wings spread, it should be picked up, held in the open palm of the hand and given a quick upward lift. If it isn’t injured in any way, it will zoom off, saved by this small gesture.

Often a baby swift can be found on the pavement having crawled out (or been kicked out) from under its tile and fallen off the roof. It can’t be returned to the nest and can’t be left to die. It’s not so difficult to save it. The only requisite is a bit of tender loving care. You can help in one of two ways:

If in Rome, call LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli) centre for bird rehabilitation (saving and returning fauna to their habitat). LIPU has volunteers and professionals working round the clock who will take the bird in any condition.

We are not grateful enough to these marvellous swifts for the pesticide-free clean-up of so many of the flying nasties. We only notice the difference after the swifts have departed, in mid-July, to take up that mysterious arduous trip back to Africa, when their task of nesting and chick-raising is over. Then the flying creepy crawlies descend on us in full force, with nothing but bug spray to protect us for the rest of the summer.

LIPU Centre, 1 Viale Giardino Zoologico,
tel. 063201912. Daily 09.30-17.30.

Italy win gives break from scandal.

2006-07-11T11:41:00.000-04:00

By David Willey
BBC News, Rome

While Italians gave a hero's welcome to their victorious World Cup team, fresh from their triumph in Berlin, the seamy side of Italian football was being relegated to small print on the inside pages of Italian newspapers.

It is hoped the World Cup win will give Italian football a boost

Yet a sports tribunal set up by the Italian football federation, Federcalcio, to investigate what has been described here as the biggest match-fixing scandal ever to besmirch Italian soccer, is due to deliver later this week in what could be a devastating verdict for four top Italian first division clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio.

The tribunal is sitting in a sparsely furnished temporary courtroom at Rome's Olympic football stadium.

Five of the six judges are retired high court judges, the sixth is an official of the referees' association. The verdict will then be immediately re-examined by an appeals tribunal.

Serious allegations of extensive match-fixing and fraud first surfaced last May with the publication of alleged telephone conversations between officials discussing which referees should take charge of matches played by the current first division champions, Turin's Juventus.

The scandal mushroomed into a major enquiry into the ethical conduct of the entire football industry.

Now the four clubs, including Juventus, stand to be relegated to minor divisions of the Italian league and/or be stripped of their former championship titles. Six members of Italy's cup winning team have played or are currently playing for Juventus.

Another former Juventus player, full-back Gianluca Pessotto, recently appointed team manager, is still critically ill in hospital after suffering severe depression and falling from a window at the club's headquarters.

If sanctions are imposed, the potential losses to clubs and players in TV rights could be enormous. The clubs could also be thrown out of European competitions. Twenty-six senior football officials are also under investigation. Lawyers representing the accused clubs and officials have already asked for extra time to study evidence.

Earlier in the month, about 20,000 Juventus fans staged a march through the streets of Turin in support of their city's club, long associated with the Agnelli family, founders and major shareholders in the Fiat motor company.

The newly-appointed club chairman said Juventus may have committed sins but they were minor ones, not major ones.

From Berlin, the newly-appointed special commissioner of Italy's football federation Guido Rossi has made comforting noises saying that Italy's World Cup victory lays the basis for a new renaissance of Italian football.

"Now we have to separate the negative side from the positive," he added.

Also present in Berlin was Stefano Palazzi, the prosecutor who last week asked the tribunal to impose severe sanctions against clubs and officials accused in the match fixing scandal.

The Italian Federation has a 27 July deadline to communicate to Uefa the names of seven Italian clubs which will take part in the coming season's European championships.

Relegation would mean that some at least of Italy's new football heroes might be ineligible to take part.

That is a nightmare which Italian fans gathering in Rome for the homecoming celebrations of their adored Azzurri (the blues) do not even want to contemplate.

Whatever the outcome, subscribers to Lets-Travel-Rome.com will still be able to get "best seat" match tickets for all the Roma and Lazio home games, through partners Viator!

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Soccer Tours

Pavarotti Recovering From Cancer Surgery.

2006-07-08T07:49:00.000-04:00

By RONALD BLUM, Associated Press Writer

Friday, July 7, 2006

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and is "recovering well," his manager said Friday. The 70-year-old singer was preparing to leave New York last week to resume his farewell world concert tour in Britain when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass, Terri Robson said from her London office.

"Fortunately, the mass was able to be completely removed at surgery," she said in a statement. "Mr. Pavarotti is recovering well and his physicians are encouraged by the physical and emotional resilience of their patient."

She told The Associated Press he underwent surgery within the past week at a hospital in New York that she declined to identify. She said he remained hospitalized Friday.

As a result of Pavarotti's treatment, all remaining 2006 concerts have been canceled, she said. It is anticipated that tour plans will resume in early 2007.

Concerts had been scheduled for Finland, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal in September.

Pavarotti was forced to postpone five June dates because of complications from back surgery. He canceled eight concerts in April, saying he had been advised not to travel or perform while undergoing back treatment.

Pavarotti made his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's "La Boheme" at Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 1961, and took advantage of the television age to become the world's most widely recognized opera singer.

He made his American debut in Miami in 1965 opposite Joan Sutherland in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" and his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York on Nov. 23, 1968, in "La Boheme." He became a star when he nailed the nine high Cs in "Ah! Mes amis" as Tonio in Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment" at the Met in 1972.

His Met finale, on March 13, 2004, was his 379th performance with the company. He sang 140 times at Milan's Teatro all La Scala, 100 at London's Royal Opera, 76 each with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the San Francisco Opera, 48 at the Opera de Paris and 45 at the Vienna State Opera.

He retired from opera two years ago, saying his weight problem and bad knee prevented him from moving comfortably around stages. But he kept up with his concert career.

Pavarotti joined with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to form The Three Tenors, who sang 34 concerts from 1990 through 2003. They sang together before four World Cup finals, at Rome (1990), Los Angeles (1994), Paris (1998) and Yokohama, Japan (2002).

Domingo was to be joined Friday night by tenor Rolando Villazon and soprano Anna Netrebko for this year's pre-World Cup final concert in Berlin.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Italians get out their flags .

2006-07-08T07:42:00.000-04:00

Expectation mounts ahead of Sunday's World Cup final.

ANSA) - Rome, July 7 - Italians unable to travel to Berlin for the World Cup final between Italy and France were busy on Friday preparing to join the flag-waving crowds in piazzas and and football stadiums across the nation .

About 200,000 people are expected to gather in Rome's Circus Maximus, the site of an ancient chariot-racing arena, to watch the match on mega-screens and take part in the fondly expected celebrations afterwards .

Likewise huge numbers were expected at Milan's Piazza del Duomo and at central squares in Florence, Naples and Turin. Even though Italy has been in the grip of World Cup fever for weeks now, shops selling the red, white and green 'tricolore' flags and blue national team jerseys were doing a roaring trade as the week ended .

"It's incredible. I've had old ladies buying flags, businessmen buying crazy hats and mums buying shirts for their children," said one shopkeeper near Rome's Trevi fountain .

Up and down the country, plans were being changed and travel arrangements adjusted so that Italians could be in front of a screen by 8 pm on Sunday night .

In the tiny Calabrian village of Gioiosa Jonica locals rescheduled the annual procession with the church's statue of the Virgin Mary to Saturday so that everyone would be free the next day .

In the southern town of Corigliano Calabro, the birthplace of Italy midfielder Rino Gattuso, football fans were preparing triumphal march for Sunday night with every one wearing their local hero's shirt .

Meanwhile, back in Rome, plans were taking shape for a grand event on Monday night to welcome home the Italian players .

"They deserve a celebration regardless of the result," said Mayor Walter Veltroni. "They have put on a fantastic show for all of us". The Italian team is scheduled to land at a military base north of Rome, where there will be no chance of fans mobbing them. Soon after they will be greeted by top Italian officials before being escorted to Circus Maximus to be feted by thousands of fans .

Like many Italians, a restaurant in Viareggio was taking superstitious precautions on Friday to stop fate spoiling the planned party .

The restaurant owners have removed Normandy oysters and champagne from the menu for the next two days .

If you are a keen follower of Italian football, then check out our Rome soccer tours on the following link for special deals on Roma and Lazio home games from this September.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Rome Soccer Tours

Time for Totti to deliver.

2006-06-09T12:03:00.000-04:00

When Pelé described Francesco Totti as the best player on the planet, his comments raised more than a few eyebrows. The AS Roma captain's ability is widely recognised on home soil, but he has so far failed to live up to his reputation on the international stage. "He has just been a little unlucky in the past but he is the best player in the world," the Brazilian legend said. In that context, the dismay of Italian fans was understandable when Totti broke his left leg and strained ankle ligaments on 19 February, putting his participation at the FIFA World Cup in jeopardy and Italy's hopes in doubt.

National treasure
The news monopolised the media in "Il Belpaese". Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's Prime Minister at the time, visited Totti in hospital to wish him a speedy recovery. Totti is a national treasure and the possibility of not seeing him in the Azzurri shirt in Germany was too hard to bear. Totti, though, answered his supporters' prayers. The Roma captain demonstrated the bravery of the Roman soldier he tattooed on his right shoulder after winning the Scudetto with Roma in 2001, embarking on a rigorous rehabilitation programme designed to get him fit in time for Germany.

'Character'
"A lot of people said I wouldn't make it," Totti said. "I wanted to show the type of character Romans have. I worked hard and here I am. While I was recovering from my injury I was even talking to myself at night. I thought I was becoming crazy but I was trying everything not to give up and I managed to achieve what I wanted. Two months ago I said the most important thing was to travel to Germany with the team. Now my priority has changed. Now the real goal is winning the World Cup."

'Never a break'
Totti has something to prove after being sent off for diving as Italy crashed out of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and after being suspended for three games at UEFA EURO 2004™ for spitting at an opponent. The 29-year-old forward would also like to improve on a return of eight goals in 51 appearances with the Azzurri shirt, and is eager to show he has finally matured, especially since getting married and having his first son, Cristian, in November. Germany is also likely to be his last chance to show the world how good he really is. "I could play another European Championship and another World Cup," he said. "But I want to dedicate myself to my family, be with my son, and think about Roma. There are too many training camps, too much stress. From July to July there's never a break."

'More mature'
Totti is famous in Italy for his charity work. He is a goodwill ambassador for Unicef and was happy to send himself up in a series of books to raise money to help the elderly in Rome and homeless children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His command of the Italian language may not be as good as his command of the ball, but Totti has a big heart. That is what makes it so difficult to understand his behaviour in Portugal when he was suspended for spitting at Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen. "I talked to him about that episode and I'm sure he understood that a champion like him cannot afford to act like that," Italy coch Marcello Lippi said. "I think he is more mature now, especially since becoming a father."

'Optimistic'
Totti played the full 90 minutes in a recent friendly game against Switzerland and was a second-half substitute four days later against Ukraine, admitting afterwards he is still only 60 per cent fit. "I'm optimistic regarding his condition," Lippi said. "But now comes the tough part. He's going to go up against opponents that won't have much regard for him. I think he is a great champion, a player like Ronaldinho, [Thierry] Henry or [Lionel] Messi, and obviously we will do everything to have him at his best. He has several steps in the right direction and I'm sure he'll make several others before our debut against Ghana."

'The best'
Lippi's preferred lineup is a 4-3-1-2, with Totti centred behind forwards Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni. "With Totti behind us, it's something different," Toni told uefa.com. "He is the best, or at least among the best in the world in his role. He scores and puts strikers in position to score. He can be crucial for us." Should he lead Italy to success 24 years after their last triumph, Totti will certainly have gone a long way to convincing people that Pelé was right after all.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Soccer Tours

Travel Rome Boss Offers "Da Vinci" Tour at Discount Prices.

2006-06-02T07:45:00.000-04:00

Following the success of the Da Vinci Code film launch, Lets-Travel-Rome.com and Viator have cut prices on their Vatican guided tours.

Les Sheppard, CEO of Lets-Travel-Rome.com says "Interest in The Vatican is high at the moment, and the movie also launched strongly in Rome, despite the reservations of the Church."

"We get a lot of feedback from visitors to our site", said Les, "who have ultimately booked their tours through Viator, and they tell us they highly rate this new itinerary. The tour guides are mostly local, and are steeped in the kind of detailed information you'd expect. Viator are also continuing to offer an "Angels and Demons" tour, based on the earlier Dan Brown novel, that has had great feedback from our subscribers."

The Vatican tour begins by coach, passing through Piazza della Repubblica, and following the ancient Aurelian walls which once surrounded the ancient city. The route takes in the famous Borghese park and the northern gate of the ancient city leading into Piazza del Popolo, which features an Egyptian obelisk dating back to the time of Ramses II.

Eventually upon arrival at the Vatican Walls a guide will then leads the tour into the Vatican Museums taking the beautiful Spiral staircase and continuing through the Gallery of the Tapestries and the Gallery of the Geographical Maps before arriving in the famous Sistine Chapel with its magnificent fresco of the Last Judgment by Michelangelo.

The tour can also be combined with further features of Christian Rome, continuing to Esquiline Hill where the guide will show you the treasures of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, then continuing by coach to stop at the Holy Staircase, the Lateran Palace and the Basilica of San Giovanni, the cathedral of Rome (visit inside). Then proceeding along the Ancient Appian Way, passing by the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis before arriving at the Catacombs, the ancient underground cemeteries and first hiding places for the Christians.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Guided Tours

Julius Caesar Remains A Charismatic Drawcard

2006-06-02T05:39:00.000-04:00

Julius Caesar was many things, but primarily, he was one of the greatest defenders Rome has ever known. Possessing a fierce passion for his land, he manipulated and coerced his enemies not just by waging war on them, but by concocting strategies that included espionage, deceit and even marriage. His political skill was undisputed and he was also an author of some genius. He earned respect by using his own money to finance his campaigns to be elected, and was unflinchingly committed to decisions required of him and was known to be uncompromising and ruthless. Married three times, and with many mistresses in the wings, Caesar was a man whose passion extended beyond geographical borders. Cleopatra of Egypt intoxicated him and together they planned to rule both Egypt and Rome. Sadly, life did not evolve in this way and Caesar was murdered by his own trusted men.

Today, visitors to Rome can visit several significant sites to pay homage to Julius Caesar, and gain an insight into the man who was named dictator of one of the most powerful empires in the entire world.

Over two thousand years ago, The Forum was constructed in Rome and from there, laws were created, debate and discussion thrived and momentous decisions were made. It is a five acre site, reduced to ruins since looting for building materials was rampant during the Medieval era, yet the historical significance is difficult to miss. Julius Caesar himself ruled from this site, and it was also his residence from 45BC. He directed military manoeuvres, delivered his characteristically charismatic speeches and invited debt in order to stage lavish shows and feasts to win the accord of his people.

Upon Julius Caesar’s death on the March of Ides in 44BC, The Forum became the backdrop for political upheaval, and instability set in within Rome.

In 42BC, after the senate deified him posthumously, Julius Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted son, the Emperor Augustus honoured him by ordering commencement of construction of a new structure, the Temple of Caesar. It was dedicated to his memory and greatness in 29BC and is located on the eastern side of the main square of The Forum. It also marks the location of Caesar’s cremation and today, there is an altar and a recessed semicircular niche to signify where the funeral pyre was lit. Many tourists lament that it seems more like a pile of dirt than the tomb of such an auspicious man and the only marking is a simple plaque to commemorate his life and achievements.

A trip to Rome would seem incomplete for lovers of history, without a visit to Julius Caesar’s stomping ground and tomb. There are guided tours that take in The Forum and provide plenty of information for the inquisitive traveller who will enjoy listening to tales of ancient Rome while walking amongst the ruins that serve as a lasting reminder of a powerful past.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Guided Tours

Forget the Sopranos, watch out for shady grannies in Italy

2006-05-28T06:05:00.000-04:00

By Carol Pucci - Seattle Times staff columnist

ROME — Thinking of a trip to Italy soon? You won't be going alone. The land of Leonardo and caffè latte ranks among the top foreign destinations for Americans, travel writers included.

Having just spent several weeks showing relatives the major sites, followed by some time reporting on new destinations in the south, I'm more excited than ever about the possibilities beyond tourist-clogged Venice, Florence and Rome.

Now here's the part you don't hear much about: In almost every Italian city that attracts large numbers of foreign visitors, traveler scams abound, to an extent unlike in any other Western European country I know.

I found much less of this in Naples and in the southern towns and villages of Molise and Apulia where locals still seem to view tourists more as curiosities than walking wallets, but that may change as these areas are discovered.

When it comes to the big Italian cities, forget the Mafia. Keep an eye on people such as the grandmotherly type with the heavy thumb I spotted near the Vatican pricing her pizza by weight rather than the slice.

Shortchanging is common. So is overcharging. One news report carried a story about a tourist from Hong Kong being billed $1,251 for a beer on the swank Via Veneto in Rome where beers usually cost around $13.

He bartered the price down to $640, then paid, according to the report, telling police he was scared something might happen if he didn't. "Hidden costs" creep in for everything from sitting down at a table to drink a coffee or a beer to increasingly higher "bread and table cloth" cover charges in restaurants.

Still, we go, as we should. Italy ranks among the top five destinations for U.S. residents going abroad, and for the past three years has been the most popular international destination for Americans on package tours, reports the United States Tour Operators Association.

There's no country in the world that offers a more magical combination of food, art, culture and the chance to meet and talk with local people simply by sitting down at the next table or stopping to ask directions.

With that in mind, here are a few tips for avoiding paying more than you need to, especially in light of the ever-sinking value of the U.S. dollar.

Count your change: Short-changing works like this: You use a five-euro note to pay for a one-euro bus ticket or any small item at a magazine kiosk or tobacco store. Instead of handing you four, one-euro coins, the clerk throws down a pile of small change. There are people in line behind you. Everyone's in a hurry. You don't bother to count the coins, and may never realize you've been shorted. The clerk collects an extra euro per customer.

Resist offers to pay with a credit card "in your own currency:" Some hotels and rental-car agencies are offering to convert charges from euros to dollars on the spot as a "convenience." They profit by processing the bill through at a 6 to 7 percent lower exchange rate, and pocketing the difference as their fee.

Never pay a street vendor's first, or even second, asking price: My sister-in-law was shopping for glass rosaries outside the Vatican Museum. She first saw them at a stall for $23 each. When she seemed interested, the vendor immediately lowered his price to $10. She ended up paying about $5 each.

Watch the scales: Pizza is usually sold by the slice at snack shops for about $1.50 to $2 — a good deal — but beware of vendors who price their slices by the weight. I ended up paying $7 one day because I didn't notice the price was per kilo, not per slice. It was good pizza with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil, but not worth $7.

Check the price to sit down: Always determine the cost of a beer, soft drink or coffee before sitting down at a café table. Most cafés have different prices for standing at the bar vs. "a tavola." Italians are used to paying a little more to relax at a table, but some cafes in tourist areas jack up the prices three times as much. Look for or ask for the "lista dei prezzi" or price list, which by law must be posted. Some cafés have begun to blank out the "a tavola" price. If that's the case, ask a waiter.

Say what you want: Specify what size beer or drink you want. Otherwise expect to be served the biggest and most expensive. Same goes with gas. With gas at $7 per gallon in Italy, I made this mistake only once, paying 95 cents more per gallon for premium because I didn't specify regular.

Avoid the tourist traps: Avoid places like the one I spotted near the Pantheon in Rome with a sign advertising that "We have homemade ice cream." Signs such as "English spoken here" and "Menu turistica" — a set menu and price — may sound comforting, but usually they're code for "We charge more for inferior quality and hope you won't know any better."

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

CGI documentary brings Rome back to life

2006-05-21T07:58:00.000-04:00

Friday May 12 13:35 AEST

Computer-generated imagery (CGI), until now, has been reserved for big budget Hollywood movies.

America's History Channel claims to be one of the first networks to use CGI for a television documentary - Rome: Engineering an Empire.

"In the past, CGI was really restricted to big budget movies," said Dolores Gavin, director of History Channel programming.

"But the cost of CGI animation has just dropped dramatically.

"It would be nearly impossible for us to have done the show even three years ago because the technology just wouldn't have been available to us."

Rome: Engineering an Empire charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from 500BC to 55AD, marking successes and failures with a focus on engineering developments.

Rome was the most powerful and advanced civilisation in the world for more than 500 years, covering the reigns of emperors Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Nero and of course, Julius Caesar.

The documentary looks at various engineering feats such as the Colosseum, or the Flavian Amphitheatre as it was first known, and an early Roman shopping mall.

Instead of showing footage of Roman ruins, the documentary makers have recreated the monuments using CGI, something that differentiates the program from the many other documentaries on Rome.

CGI is the technology used by filmmakers to create scenes that would be too expensive or impossible to recreate in live action.

Various Roman aqueducts have been recreated, as has the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla and Hadrian's Wall.

The process has caused some concern in historical circles with a number of experts believing people might mistake the recreations for exact replicas.

Others have argued that the program could not be labelled a documentary and should be referred to as fiction.

Gavin said she could understand the argument but that the CGI was used simply to illustrate the magnitude of the successes in Roman engineering.

"In the documentary world, this has been the subject of much discussion and debate," she said.

"There is a school of thought that believes that any recreations using CGI is not really considered documentary.

"But there is another school of thought that says that that is part of what we consider to be a documentary."

Gavin feels very strongly about the argument.

"CGI is one of many tools available to filmmakers to be able to tell this very compelling story about the past," she said.

"And I don't as a rule say that CGI or that reconstruction must be in every show, because there are documentaries for which those two things were not appropriate."

Rome: Engineering an Empire screened in the United States last year and premiered in Italy in April.

The program will be seen around the world this month, including on pay TV's Foxtel in Australia, and has been so successful that the History Channel has commissioned a whole series based on engineering.

They've just finished production on Egypt: Engineering and Empire with further programs to focus on the Mayan people, Khmer, Persians, Byzantines and Aztecs.

Gavin said CGI would be used in some of the upcoming programs, but not all.

"It is used as a tool and a tool that we think through and use very carefully to ensure that we can tell the story in a different way," she said.

"It really is a case by case basis, but I think it is a wonderful tool that any filmmaker should be free to use."

Director Chris Cassel will be working on the entire series.

While interested in history, Cassel is the first to admit he isn't an expert.

"We passed it past many scholars, just to ensure the accuracy of it," said Cassel.

Cassel was fascinated at how the Romans created an intricate aqueduct system to transport more than 200 million gallons of running water into Rome each day.

That is equivalent to the amount of water provided to the city of New York in 1985.

The documentary also looks at many of the secrets of Rome's architectural proficiency - the use of durable, waterproof concrete that still sustains many of the city's key structures.

It was also important to Cassell that the documentary look at some of the more interesting personal moments in Roman history.

One interesting fact to emerge was that Emperor Vespasian is credited with being the first leader to introduce pay toilets in Rome.

"I am really interested in all the juicy stuff like how Nero decapitated his wife," he said.

"The response we got from the audience in the United States showed very much that people were just as interested in the juicier parts of the story as they were in the rest."

* Rome: Engineering an Empire airs on Foxtel's History Channel

For more on ancient Rome, go to this link:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Ancient-Rome

"Da Vinci Code" breaks Italian box office records

2006-05-21T07:54:00.000-04:00

The movie adaptation of Dan Brown's bestseller earned 2 million euros ($2.6 million) on its opening night, nearly double the takings of Italy's previous top film, Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful".

"The Da Vinci Code" has broken box office records in Roman Catholic Italy as tens of thousands of Italians ignored Vatican calls to boycott the film. The movie adaptation of Dan Brown's bestseller earned 2 million euros ($2.6 million) on its opening night, nearly double the takings of Italy's previous top film, Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni's 1997 tragi-comic Holocaust drama "Life is Beautiful".

Italian news agencies reported record queues around the country to see the film of the novel that ignited Vatican ire by saying Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene and the Catholic Church hushed this up.

Millions worldwide are expected to flock to see the film on its opening weekend, shrugging off protests by Christian groups and tepid reviews at its Cannes film festival premier this week.

Many Christians across the world believe the theories in "The Da Vinci Code" are blasphemous, and the Vatican has led an offensive against the book and the film, calling for a boycott.

Members of ultra-Catholic group, Christian Militants, picketed some cinemas in central Rome, close to the Vatican, chanting "Dan Brown remember you will also be judged by Christ". Many Italians are fans, however, buying tens of thousands of the more than 40 million copies of the books sold worldwide.

Italy's tourist industry has also leapt on the Dan Brown boom. Special tours are running in Rome and to the church in Milan containing Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper", a painting central to "The Da Vinci Code" plot.

Florence, where the Renaissance master lived, is holding a series of exhibitions throughout the European summer focused on cracking the code of Da Vinci's paintings and designs.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Tens of thousands honor John Paul II at Vatican

2006-05-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

VATICAN CITY

Tens of thousands of pilgrims flooded St. Peter's square to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II, who died a year ago Sunday after a long and publicly fought battle with a series of illnesses.

Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul's longtime aide, said his predecessor had left an "immense" legacy to the church and to the world.

"John Paul died as he lived, moved by an indomitable courage of faith," said Benedict, who went on to describe the dignity with which John Paul II confronted his suffering in the last years of his life.

"In the final years, God gradually stripped him of everything so as to assimilate him fully. And when he could no longer travel and then not even walk and finally not even talk, his gesture was reduced to the essential: a gift of himself to the last instant."

The Italian authorities had enacted various security measures in anticipation of an expected 150,000 visitors. Early Sunday morning, only patches of pilgrims were present on St. Peter's Square. But by the time Benedict delivered his noon address the square was crowded.

"He is a hero for me as a human being, not only as a pope," said Anita Szremska, 43, who arrived in Rome on Wednesday after a 26-hour bus ride from Poland. "He showed us how to live, how to think and how to look at people. He was a good man."

A line of visitors waiting to pay their respects at John Paul's tomb - in a grotto under St. Peter's Basilica - coiled through the square. The president of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, was one of the first to visit the tomb early Sunday morning. By mid-morning it took approximately two hours to get a brief glimpse of the burial place.

Remembrance in hometown

Thousands of believers flocked to John Paul's hometown of Wadowice in southern Poland on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

The main square was decorated for the occasion with yellow and white papal banners, along with national and local flags. A large picture of John Paul also hung from St. Mary's Basilica, where the future pope was baptized as Karol Wojtyla in 1920.

An open-air Mass in the town at noon drew an estimated 8,000 people in the town of 37,000.

President Lech Kaczynski laid flowers and prayed at the basilica, telling reporters that John Paul II's pontificate had "an influence on my life, moral values and on the evolution of my views."

VATICAN CITY Tens of thousands of pilgrims flooded St. Peter's square to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II, who died a year ago Sunday after a long and publicly fought battle with a series of illnesses.

Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul's longtime aide, said his predecessor had left an "immense" legacy to the church and to the world.

"John Paul died as he lived, moved by an indomitable courage of faith," said Benedict, who went on to describe the dignity with which John Paul II confronted his suffering in the last years of his life.

"In the final years, God gradually stripped him of everything so as to assimilate him fully. And when he could no longer travel and then not even walk and finally not even talk, his gesture was reduced to the essential: a gift of himself to the last instant."

The Italian authorities had enacted various security measures in anticipation of an expected 150,000 visitors. Early Sunday morning, only patches of pilgrims were present on St. Peter's Square. But by the time Benedict delivered his noon address the square was crowded.

"He is a hero for me as a human being, not only as a pope," said Anita Szremska, 43, who arrived in Rome on Wednesday after a 26-hour bus ride from Poland. "He showed us how to live, how to think and how to look at people. He was a good man."

A line of visitors waiting to pay their respects at John Paul's tomb - in a grotto under St. Peter's Basilica - coiled through the square. The president of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, was one of the first to visit the tomb early Sunday morning. By mid-morning it took approximately two hours to get a brief glimpse of the burial place.

Remembrance in hometown

Thousands of believers flocked to John Paul's hometown of Wadowice in southern Poland on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

The main square was decorated for the occasion with yellow and white papal banners, along with national and local flags. A large picture of John Paul also hung from St. Mary's Basilica, where the future pope was baptized as Karol Wojtyla in 1920.

An open-air Mass in the town at noon drew an estimated 8,000 people in the town of 37,000.

President Lech Kaczynski laid flowers and prayed at the basilica, telling reporters that John Paul II's pontificate had "an influence on my life, moral values and on the evolution of my views."

For more infor mation on The Vatican in Rome, go to

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Vatican

Traveling to Italy? Pack Your Own Expert Guide.

2006-05-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

ROME, May 4 /PRNewswire/ --
Visitors to Italy can now have their own personal tour accompanied by people who know the places more than anyone else in the world. Well, almost.

An American company offers its ARTineraries Tours of sites throughout the country, downloadable from CDs or through the web. Their tours promise you an "insider's point of view" of the places and persons who made these cities and museums what they are today.

Visitors to the city of Turin (site of the Winter Olympics) will be greeted by the 16th Century architect Amedeo Castellamonte, who will take visitors along the streets of Turin in a 1-hour journey of discovery of the secrets and sights of the places he knew well. Castellamonte, along with his father, designed much of Baroque Turin and his tales of the Royal Savoy family and of the chocolatiers, counts and mystics there will keep you wanting more.

At the Vatican, renowned art historian Sister Wendy Beckett (of PBS and BBC fame) will be your personal guide in over 90 minutes of audio which includes the wonders of the Vatican Museums and some of the greatest art in the world. Once in the Sistine Chapel, Sister Wendy gives her unique and passionate interpretation of Michelangelo's entire masterpiece, before guiding visitors through the marvels of St. Peter's Basilica.

Sister Wendy's personal approach and entertaining descriptions along with her heartfelt insights add to the experience and allow visitors to see the Vatican collection as it has never been seen (or heard) before. In Sister Wendy's words, "The Vatican is a place where even the corridors are masterpieces."

Travelers can purchase a 2 CD set of the ARTineraries(TM) Tour, and simply upload the tracks onto their mobile mp3 players or iPod, or download the ARTineraries Tour onto their devices directly from the ARTineraries website ARTineraries.com . Each tour comes with a special "insider's guide" and complete listing of the tour stops.

ARTineraries Tours were developed by Art&Media Communications, the company which introduced the first downloadable digital tours in Italy. ARTineraries productions are overseen by founder, American Lisa Tucci, who has over 10 years experience in producing audioguides for Italian museums, many recognized as "must-dos" on the travel circuit. Says Tucci, "It seemed appropriate to pair the latest cutting edge technology with some of the most historic places on Earth, and who better to accompany you than people whose insights will make your trip truly a memorable one."

More ARTineraries tours are scheduled to be released this summer including a "Da Vinci Code" Tour of Paris, with stops in London, Edinburgh and Milan, Italy's Great Basilicas (including Venice, Florence, Rome and Assisi), and Monumental Rome.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com - For all the news and deals when you want to travel to Rome.

Today in Italy.

2006-05-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

Special service by AGI on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office

SMOKING: 37 PCT OF PARENTS AWARE TEENAGE CHILD SMOKES
(AGI) - Rome, May 4 - Thirty-seven percent of Italian parents know that their adolescent child smokes. But only 3 parents out of ten manage to get them to stop, 1 out of 10 simply become resigned to the fact. This is the picture of the vice of smoking which is given by MOIGE (Italian Parents' Association) and a survey conducted by SWG of Trieste from 5,000 parents with children between 11 and17 and 400 tobacco shops all across Italy. According to the survey, 47 pct of parents who smoke pay for their children's purchases in tobacco shops. But almost all of them know that it is illegal for cigarettes to be bought by or sold to children under age 16. In order to fight this phenomenon MOIGE and tobacco shops are launching (starting today) an awareness campaign to inform adults about the risks of smoking for children and the laws in force concerning them. The campaign - presented today in Rome with the slogan "We mustn't smoke. Both the law and good sense tell us this" - will travel on a bus with 40 stops across the Italian peninsula and will bring an educational message the cities that the bus will stop in include: Rome, Cagliari, Palermo, Catanzaro, Potenza, Bari, Naples, Campobasso, Pescara, Ancona, Bologna, Verona, Udine, Trento, Segrate, Como, Aosta, Turin, Genoa, Siena, Florence and Viterbo. But the Federation of Tobacco Shop Owners has announced another important initiative to discourage smoking among minors. It will be possible to purchase cigarettes from automatic vendors only after having introduced a particular card with a chip containing personal details and which will be distributed only to those over 16. "There is a need for information on the law", said Maria Rita Munizzi, president of MOIGE, "and a cultural operation to inform parents not only on the dangers of smoking but also on the existence of the law and respect for it. An alliance has therefore been made between parents and tobacco shop owners in order to keep children away form smoking". Cigarettes mean transgression for adolescents. "At the beginning there is the desire to emulate adults and to feel as if they were adults", said Federico Bianchi Di Castelbianco, psycho-therapist of adolescence and director of the institute of speech therapists of Rome, "also because at that age it is necessary to feel part of a group. Society also makes frequent use of the myth of macho figures with a cigarette dangling from their lips and of the 'femme fatal'. And smoking is forbidden and so it is even more fascinating. It is necessary to show an adolescent what the dangers of smoking are, because sometimes words aren't enough". Bianchi Di Castelbianco ends off with advice to parents: "Set a good example". (AGI) -
041205 MAG 06

Travel: My Roman Affair.

2006-05-07T09:46:00.000-04:00

05 May 2006

Breathtaking. Fascinating. Magnificent. SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN was intoxicated by the sights and sounds of the historic city of Rome.

ROME was not built in a day, but my friend Tracy Toh believes you can cover it in less than 24 hours.

So it was that when we were in Florence recently for salabianca and philosophy-Men’s fashion shoot for its Ciao! Italia campaign, we used our free day to travel to Rome to immerse our senses in the sights and sounds of the historically opulent city.

We took the Eurostar from Santa Maria Novella, Florence’s main station at 9.30am. The 90-minute journey to Rome cost us about RM165 (one-way), an option we chose over regular train (half the price, but more than double the travelling time).

We arrived at Roma Termini, the city’s main station at 11am and headed straight to the subway for Barberini.

I wanted to buy a Rome Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) T-shirt and Toh wanted to show me the Fontana di Trevi. (Toh is familiar with the city, having been there many times. She also speaks Italian fluently, though she humbly insists that her skills are limited to touristic purposes).

Piazza Barberini is the meeting point of several streets like Via Barberini, Via Sistina, and Via Vittorio Veneto (where the Rome HRC is located). Traffic was swarming that morning with buses, cars and scooters that come with visors.

The square’s main feature is Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fontana del Tritone (Fountain of the Triton). A figure, blowing water from his triton, sits in an open clam held together by four wide-eyed fish.

On one side of the piazza is the facade of Palazzo Barberini, named after one of Rome’s most powerful families. Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, located in the palace, now houses a collection of paintings including Raphael’s portrait La Fornarina and Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes.

Next, we walked to Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain, which, at 25.5 metres high and 19.5 metres wide, is the largest, most ambitious and most beautiful of Rome’s Baroque fountains. The stonework is immensely captivating and the endless stream of tourists (and souvenir peddlers) is an indication of its popularity.

In seamless reaction, I found myself impulsively taking pictures, eager to capture the breathtaking view of stone-carved humans and animals.

In the middle of the fountain, Neptune stands in a free-standing column, flanked by Abundance who spills water from her urn and Salubrity who holds a cup from which a snake drinks.

We left the fountain for the Pantheon, a magnificent building constructed in 27BC as a Roman temple but was later dedicated as a Catholic Church. It was built during the reign of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and his name is inscribed on the structure.

It reads M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIUM.FEZIT which in English means “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this”.

We wanted to enter but the huge crowd discouraged us and we headed for Piazza Navona instead.

They say if you have seen one church you’ve seen them all. But I was fascinated by each and every one that I saw in the Italian capital.

Piazza Navona is located on the site of Domitian’s stadium, once used almost exclusively for sports events, including the famous August regatta where participants wore the colours of the nobles and the civic clergy.

The attraction of the square is the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, dated 1651. It represented the rivers Danube, Ganges, Nile and Rio de la Plata, arranged on a steep rocky reef from which an obelisk rises into the air.

Another prominent 17th-century artist, Borromini built the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, which stands in front of the fountain. There are also the Fountain of the Moor and Fountain of Neptune along the square.

“I think you have seen enough fountains for the day,” Toh said, after another session of picture-taking at Piazza Navona. The sun was shining brightly and we thought, why not have a gelato?

There are at least 35 flavours of the Italian ice-cream lining the counter at Giolitti.

The shop is small, with green signage and in one section, people were queueing for pizza and pasta for a quick lunch.

It was a task choosing which flavours to have. They spanned a dizzying spectrum and it would take days to try everything; from interesting (rice), intoxicating (Grand Marnier), fruity (pineapple) to normal (caramel).

I took the medium cone and the server plonked huge servings of gelato (in caramel, strawberry and pistachio) onto the crispy cone. The taste was heavenly.

Enough of sight-seeing, we went shopping instead at Via Del Corso, the city’s shopping district. We visited la Rinascente, Italy’s leading department store.

We also surveyed clothes in Etam, a French high-street label which is just average in choice and cannot compete with the variety and style found in other highstreet labels like H&M and Topshop.

We stopped at Zara and found the clothes the same as those in Malaysian stores (although, there is a better variety of shoes). The store also sells perfume and cosmetic products.

Before long, it was time to head back to Roma Termini for our 5.30pm Eurostar to Florence.

It turned out one day was not enough. I still want to visit the Vatican City, its museum, the massive Coliseum and see more churches and fountains. I bet it takes more than a lifetime to study Rome in all its different levels and complexities.

If you would like to experience Rome, and all its attractions then visit our website at Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Anniversaries mark papal schedule after Easter.

2006-04-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

Vatican, April 5th - Pope Benedict XVI will have a few days of rest immediately after Easter, as he marks the first anniversary of his election.

After celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in the morning in St. Peter's Square, and delivering his Urbi et Orbi message at noon, the Holy Father will travel to Castel Gandolfo, to spend a few days of rest there. On Easter Sunday, April 16, the Pope will also be celebrating his 79th birthday.

On Easter Monday-- Pasquetta or "Little Easter" in Italy-- the Pope will make a single public appearance at the papal summer residence, to lead the Regina Caeli: the midday prayer that replaces the Angelus during the 40 days of Eastertide.

Tuesday, April 18 will be the anniversary of the date when the cardinals opened the conclave that would elect a successor to Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Ratzinger was the principal celebrant of the Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontefice, after which the 115 cardinal-electors filed into the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations.

April 19, then, will be the first anniversary of the new Pope's election. Pope Benedict plans to travel by helicopter to the Vatican that day for his regular weekly public audience, returning to Castel Gandolfo in the afternoon.

On Friday, April 21, the Pontiff will hold a morning audience with the bishops of Ghana, who are making their ad limina visit to the Vatican. Later in the day he will return to the Vatican, again traveling by helicopter, to attend an evening concert celebrating the founding of the city of Rome-- according to legend, in 253 BC.

On April 22, Cardinal Angelo Sodano will be the principal celebrant at a Mass in the Vatican basilica for the Society of Jesus, marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier. (Some commentators see it as significant that although the Pope will be at the Vatican, the Secretary of State will be preside-- arguably a sign of the Pope's dissatisfaction with the Jesuit order.) Pope Benedict will address the congregation at the conclusion of the Mass.

On Sunday, April 22, the Pope will hold his usual Regina Caeli audience. Then on April 24 he will mark the anniversary of his inaugural Mass as Roman Pontiff.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Italy PM 'needs five more years'

2006-04-09T10:11:00.000-04:00

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he needs another five years to bring Italy from the Middle Ages into the modern world. Mr Berlusconi was addressing a crowd of about 2,000 supporters of his Forza Italia party in Rome.

It was his last election rally in the Italian capital before this weekend's general elections.

He appealed to student and pensioner voters, and stressed his party's commitment to upholding family values.

Speaking to the converted, and with no time restraints for his final public address in Rome, Mr Berlusconi offered something for everyone if he is re-elected this weekend.

He promised at his first cabinet meeting to cancel a much-criticised local property tax which all house owners have to pay.

Mr Berlusconi, confidently grasping his lectern, then went on to make promises to students, offering them tax breaks if they wanted to become enterprising businessmen like himself.

He appealed to pensioners who would, he said, enjoy free train and bus travel, free entrance to cinemas and theatres and also get a free licence to watch television if he is returned to office at the weekend.

The Italian prime minister then took the moral high ground and called upon this predominantly Catholic country to vote for him, not his leftist opponents as he, unlike them, he said, would uphold family values.

The Vatican has remained on the sidelines in this election campaign, but neither the centre right nor the centre left can be said to have a monopoly of the Catholic vote.

Earlier Mr Berlusconi had been rapped on the knuckles by the watchdog authority which is attempting to limit Mr Berlusconi's air time on the commercial television channels which he owns.

He withdrew from a planned television appearance later on Wednesday.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

CivCity: Rome on the way to your PC?

2006-04-03T06:21:00.000-04:00

2K Games has announced that CivCity: Rome, a city building strategy game inspired by Sid Meier's Civilization, is currently in development for the PC.

The game is being produced by Firefly Studios - the company behind the Stronghold series - together with Firaxis Games. According to 2K Games, it will offer "the most detailed look at Roman life ever depicted on a computer screen," though of course they would say that.

You'll start off with a small settlement, building it up until you've got yourself a huge imperial city. You can construct amphitheatres, legionnaire forts, weapons workshops, circuses and even schools for gladiators, amongst all manner of other stuff. And then set fire to it and start fiddling. Possibly.

CivCity: Rome is out this summer.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Disney Mediterranean Cruise to include Rome.

2006-04-03T06:05:00.000-04:00

The Disney Magic will sail out of Barcelona with stops in several ports in summer 2007.

Forget the faux Venetian palace with imported wine and chocolate at Walt Disney World's Epcot.

The entertainment giant is moving on to the real thing with Mickey set to take up residence on the Mediterranean next summer for the company's first European cruises.

Disney Cruise Line announced Tuesday its 2007 summer itineraries based in Barcelona, Spain -- a move needed to keep repeat customers sailing the Disney brand and reap higher profits in the summer when the cruise industry is forced to offer competitive bargains to the Caribbean.

The last of the big Florida-based cruise lines to station a ship in the Mediterranean, Disney will send the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic on a 14-day voyage from Port Canaveral to Europe, where it will cruise from May of next year until mid-August.

Disney is banking on its reputation as a provider of safe, hassle-free travel to cash in on families who might not otherwise brave a European adventure on their own.

"People trust the Disney brand," said Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin, who expects most passengers to be from the United States. "They know we're going to provide a safe and secure environment."

The idea is that families can be ferried from Spain to the French Riviera to the heart of Italy with the comfort of sleeping each night on the Disney Magic and without the hassle of worrying about travel or finding kid-friendly food and entertainment.

"This is really among the last companies to do this," said Oivind Mathisen, editor of New York-based Cruise Industry News. "It's a product to offer repeat customers . . . or these people will go to somebody else's ship so it's a way of holding on to your market."

Last year Carnival Cruise Lines launched its first European cruises and announced this week that it would expand those offerings this year as well as station its larger Carnival Freedom ship in the Mediterranean next year.

Next year Carnival will offer 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isle cruises and 12-day "Grand Mediterranean" cruises that operate out of Rome.

Albert Poggio, senior vice president of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports in Barcelona, said Disney will bring a special flavor that will attract more young children who, he hopes, develop a taste for Europe and continue to return as adults.

"What they're going to add is, of course, Disney," Poggio said, explaining that the new offering can "break them [young passengers] in to cruising and then when they get older they want to take their own cruise."

The company's venture into the Mediterranean positions it for potential expansion as well, though it would likely remain a small player compared with Carnival, which sails an 80-ship fleet and plans to add 16 new vessels.

Disney Cruise Line Vice President Tom Wolber said the company is considering building a third ship.

"When the time is right, when the Euro conversion rates are right, we certainly are going to grow the business," Wolber said.

Disney carries now about 262,000 cruise passengers a year. It started the Port Canaveral-based cruise line in 1998 with a focus on the Caribbean, where it owns a private island called Castaway Cay.

Though hurricanes have pushed ships into last-minute itinerary changes in the past few years, the industry is continuing to see an increase in bookings with 11.7 million people expected to cruise this year.

An A.G. Edwards report on the industry released Tuesday said bookings for this year are steady, but not robust. Prices are strongest in seasonal markets of Alaska and Europe, flat or even down in the Caribbean.

McAlpin said he is "happy with our pace of bookings right now" headed into this year's hurricane season. The unpredictable storms did not factor into Disney's plans to remove one of its ships from hurricane-plagued Caribbean waters in 2007, he said.

But the company's growing international strategy does play into the cruise line's future.

Packages for European cruises coupled with a side trip to Disneyland Paris are on the way, he said.

-------------------------

The Disney Magic will depart from Barcelona, Spain in the summer of 2007 and will stop at the following ports:

Palermo, Sicily

Naples, Italy, with access to Pompeii

Olbia, Sardinia

Civitavecchia, Italy, with access to Rome

La Spezia, Italy, with access to Florence and Pisa

Marseille, France

Villefranche, France

Disney cruises can be booked in advance by subscribers to Lets-Travel-Rome.com through the following link, and by choosing the "Cruises" tab at the top of the page:
Holidays in Rome

Catholic Church marks anniversary of John Paul II's death.

2006-04-03T05:53:00.000-04:00

Pope Benedict XVI recalled Sunday John Paul II's "immense heritage" and his ability to "touch the hearts of people" as Catholics in Rome and across the globe commemorated the first anniversary of the death of the late pontiff.

"On April 2 of last year, just like today, our beloved Pope John Paul II was living in these same hours the final stage of his earthly pilgrimage, a pilgrimage of faith, love and hope that has left a profound mark on the history of the Church and humanity," Benedict told scores of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"His heritage is immense," Benedict said, recalling his predecessor's many travels and his famous rallying cry to the faithful, pronounced shortly after his election of October 16, 1978: "Open wide the doors to Christ." The anniversary was marked with special Masses held in Roman Catholic churches in Italy and around the world.

In Karol Wojtyla's native Poland, millions of faithful gathered at religious services held Sunday throughout the country. Scores of pilgrims have been thronging the southern city of Krakow, the late pope's former diocese, and Wadowice, the pope's birth place, since Friday.

Addressing a congregation in Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the city's current bishop and former long-standing private secretary to Pope John Paul, called on people to remember the pontiff with "love and gratitude."

In Rome, as many as 300,000 pilgrims were converging on a St. Peter's square basking in sunshine ahead of a rosary recital and evening prayer vigil with Benedict XVI. The pope was to give a short speech at 9.37 p.m., the exact time of his predecessor's death a year ago.

Almost 2,000 volunteers and a large police presence was at hand to assist the pilgrims, hand out bottles of water and ensure that the proceedings went smoothly. Many of the pilgrims, like Malgorzata Polak, came from Poland after enduring long journeys across Europe by bus.

"I arrived in Rome three days ago after spending 30 hours on a bus. It is very important for me to be here today. John Paul was like a second father to me. I loved him," Polak, a young travel agent told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa, Polish flags and banners hailing Poland's Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union waving behind her.

Michal Dankiewicz, a 15-year-old from southern Poland, was in Rome for the first time to honour his celebrated compatriot.

Asked why he thought John Paul was so great, Dankiewicz said: "Because he spoke to young people and taught us how big God's love is for us all." Long queues have been forming for days at John Paul's tomb in a grotto beneath St. Peter's Basilica, with many people leaving notes with intercessions and prayers. Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi also paid a private visit to the crypt on Sunday morning.

The late pontiff died of septic shock and an irreversible cardiovascular collapse at 9.37 p.m. on April 2, 2005, some 70 hours after his already fragile health had suddenly deteriorated as a result of an infection to the urinary tract. He was 84 and had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than 10 years.

According to a recent book co-authored by his personal doctor, Renato Buzzonetti, John Paul, speaking in Polish with a weak voice, had told his aides on the morning of April 2 to "let me go to God" before entering a coma at about seven in the evening. "He never displayed his physical suffering thereby giving our epoch, which conceals bodily decay, illness and death almost as though they were scandalous an extraordinary lesson," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls ahead of Sunday's celebrations.

The anniversary has prompted the publication in Italy of a flurry of films, DVDs and magazines honouring the man who guided the Roman Catholic Church for more than 26 years and who could soon be admitted into the canon of saints.

The process leading to his beatification has been proceeding speedily, with about 100 witnesses, some of whom knew Wojtyla since his youth, heard by Vatican officials over the past six months.

Under canon law the church must prove that John Paul worked a miracle before it can beatify him. Only then can it search for evidence of another miracle required for canonization.

Pilgrims were expected to return to the square on Monday afternoon for a special anniversary Mass led by Benedict.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

The Bounty of Rome

2006-03-31T11:50:00.000-05:00

By MIMI SHERATON
Published: March 26, 2006

HOW does Rome taste? An odd question perhaps, but the sort that comes to mind when I read travel accounts that define cities by sights and sounds, colors and tempo. What about the flavor, I wonder, meaning that more literally than figuratively.

Say Rome to me and my first thoughts are not of the swirling traffic around the marble wedding cake that is a monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, nor of the eaten-out stone melon that is the Colosseum, nor of the "Dolce Vita" set as immortalized by Fellini. Rather, I think first of the creamy foam, or spuma, that tops lightly sugared espresso at the always jammed Sant'Eustachio around the corner from the Pantheon, the coffee bar that I still consider this city's best.

Next, thoughts turn to Rome's own big, round globe artichokes available from late February to mid-April and most succulent simmered in olive oil with mint and parsley — alla Romana — or as carciofi alla giudea— flattened and fried to resemble dried sunflowers and one of the many Jewish culinary inheritances from the city's Ghetto — preparations that do almost as well by other artichoke varieties in other seasons.

Among Roman pastas, I remember favorites such as the guanciale-and-egg-decked carbonara, cacio e pepe with its cheese and pepper sting, the mellow tomato-and-onion-sauced amatriciana and the unusual, delectable pajata (pronounced pie-YAH-tah), pasta tossed with chopped intestines of newly born lambs that still hold remains of milk, resulting in a creamy, meaty tomato sauce. And gnocchi alla Romana, unlike others in Italy, are rounds of semolina baked under a golden glaze of butter and cheese, an elegant variation.

These lusty eaters enjoy their meats close to the bone, gnawing through roasted abbacchio lamb, suckling pig or braised oxtails. They dote on innards like tomato-simmered tripe and tantalizingly chewy coratella, a savory hash of mixed lamb organs. Suffusing all are the seasonings that define the Roman kitchen: the air-cured pig's jowl bacon called guanciale; salt-etched anchovies; garlic; fiery, red peperoncino chilies; black pepper; the pungent sheep's milk cheese pecorino; and rosemary, sage, parsley and minty mentuccia.

At Il Matriciano we found a robustly fruity, garnet-colored shiraz from Casale del Giglio for about $26. That same producer also accounted for the best white we tried, a fresh but mellow-edged Satrico chardonnay from Frascati. The tasting in New York was organized by Ian D'Agata, director of the International Wine Academy of Roma, a stunning multistoried installation in a 19th-century town palace beside the Spanish Steps. There one can have tastings of Lazio wines, among others, giving good reason to raise the Italian toast "A cent'anni" — "To a hundred years" — most suitable in this ancient city.

For more on Rome you can visit Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Roman-Life

Record Vatican crowds continue a year after Pope's death

2006-03-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- One year ago in April, the city of Rome saw record numbers of crowds when millions of people flocked to the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the conclave of cardinals and the subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI.

In just one week, more than 3 million people descended on the Vatican to honor Pope John Paul, who died April 2, 2005.

According to the Vatican, the crowds have just kept coming.

In just the first eight months of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI drew nearly 3 million pilgrims to public events.

According to the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, more than 2.8 million people attended the weekly general audiences, the Sunday blessings, special papal audiences or liturgical celebrations at which Pope Benedict presided.

Also, the number of visitors going through the doors of the Vatican Museums in 2005 broke all records, even surpassing the huge crowds that came during the jubilee year when the museums extended opening hours into the afternoon. Last year, more than 3.8 million people squeezed through the turnstiles. That number was up from more than 3.4 million people in 2004.

Some speculate the unprecedented global media coverage the Vatican received during last April's papal transition had a hand in putting Rome and the Vatican back on the map as a sought-after tourist destination for both secular globetrotters and Christian pilgrims.

While curiosity about the new pope and the desire to pay homage to the late pontiff with a pilgrimage to his tomb have accounted for some of the boom in visitors, one tour guide said there are other factors involved.

For example, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro, which became Italy's official currency in 2002, has stabilized, said Paul Encinias, co-founder of the Rome-based Eternal City Tours.

"That means there's more economic accessibility" for tourists coming from the United States, he said.

While the number of visitors "has definitely increased since last April, it was already on the rise from two years ago," he said.

"I would say having a new pope accounts for about 5 percent" of the increase in the number of visitors who use the company, said Encinias.

The Colorado native said while tourists want to see Rome's religious sites their motives are different.

"'The Da Vinci Code' is still a buzz over here; now that the movie is coming out, it's blown in some new interest," he said. "The secular tourists want to see the religious sites" depicted in Dan Brown's best-selling novel, "while the Christians want to see the sites, too, but for different reasons."

An official at the church-sponsored pilgrimage office said employees had seen an increase in the number of pilgrims coming to Rome.

Father Caesar Atuire of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi told CNS March 15 that the wave of pilgrims has been so big his office has "had to enter into new agreements with Trenitalia and Alitalia (the Italian train and air companies) to offer special pilgrim packages."

"People want to come to Rome to see the new pope," he said, as well as to visit the tomb of Pope John Paul. "Also, there is an assumption that this pope will travel less, so people will have to come to Rome to see him."

He said German tourists are making Italy their vacation destination once again.

"Germans used to come to Italy" and its Adriatic coast, "but the last few years the numbers have gone down as they discovered Croatia and the Dalmatian coast. But since the election of Pope Benedict, this trend has reversed," said Father Atuire.

- - -

Contributing to this story was Cindy Wooden.

END

For more information on travel to Rome Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Rome-Vacations

"Lolek Flame" commemorating John Paul II travels from Rome to Krakow

2006-03-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

Mar. 29 (FIDES/CWNews.com) - To mark the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II (bio - news), a "Lolek Flame" was symbolically lit at the tomb of the late Pope in the crypt of St Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday and will be carried by athletes to Poland, to arrive in Krakow on April 2, the date of the Polish Pope’s death.

The flame will be carried by military, civilian, and disabled Italian and Polish athletes, passing through Assisi, Loreto, Czestochowa, Wadowice, and finally to a prayer vigil in Krakow. "Lolek" was the name used for young Karol Wojtyla by family and friends. ?The flame set off on Wednesday, March 29, after a blessing by Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) during the general audience in St Peter’s Square. On its path it will stop at the Marian shrine of Loreto on March 30, where there special prayers led by Archbishop Gianni Danzi. Friday, March 31, it will travel from Loreto to Czestochowa, then to the Pope’s birthplace of Wadowice, and on to his diocese Krakow.

In Krakow's Cathedral of Sts. Wenceslaw and Stanislaw the flame will be consigned symbolically to the people of Poland in the person of former personal secretary of the Pope, now his successor as Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. The flame will then be used to light a large brazier of incense and start a prayer vigil to commemorate the Pope’s last moments until the hour of his passing at 9.37 pm on April 2.

The flame will be carried on foot, for a total of about 315 miles (140 in Italy and 175 in Poland), by air, and by road. The initiative has the approval of the Vicariate of Rome diocese and Msgr. Slawomir Oder, the postulator of the cause for the beatification of the late Pope.

Read more on travel to Rome at Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Lets-Travel-Rome.com and Auto Europe Launch New Season's Car Rental Service.

2006-02-21T07:07:00.000-05:00

Now Travelers Can Easily Find The Best Rome Car Rental Deals From A Wide Choice Of Locations.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com, through partners Auto Europe, the leading Rome car rental provider, recently announced the addition of an advanced service with maximum flexibility for users, including one of the widest choice of vehicles in the city, and the most convenient range of collection points of any provider.

Auto Europe, a leader in European car rental for over 50 years, are also offering early booker discounts and free one-car upgrades as part of their package for visitors to Rome.

And Les Sheppard, CEO of Lets-Travel-Rome.com, who provide direct links to the new booking tool from their own web site, is convinced the ease of use is driving higher visitor satisfaction levels with his own subscribers.

"We get a lot of feedback from visitors to our site", said Les, "who have ultimately booked their car rental through Auto Europe, and they tell us they highly rate this new facility. Booking arrangements are made really easy online, and you can also pick the exact location you want to collect your vehicle, almost anywhere in Rome. This includes both main airports and the city center rail Termini, as well as more than 10 well located offices around town."

"Flight and accommodation packages can also be booked through the online service, a factor readily taken up by our business travelers, in particular", said Les.

The rental fleet includes mini, compact, mid-sized, full sized, premium, luxury and minibus vehicles, offering a transport solution for any purpose, regardless of party size. Prestige and sports cars can also be arranged, along with chauffeur and limousine services on request.

Drivers receive excellent advice, through detailed knowledge of Rome and the motoring legislation in Italy.

Les Sheppard added "Rome is attracting more and more repeat visitors, and these are the people who are looking to break out of the city, having seen some of the tourist attractions before. The Autostrade routes allow easy access to sites such as Pompei and Sorrento, and travelers are readily taking up the opportunity to see and do more".

More details on Rome car rental can be found at the Lets-Travel-Rome website.
Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Don't Settle for an Ordinary Rome Vacation -- Go for Extraordinary!

2006-02-06T11:26:00.000-05:00

You work hard all year long, and look forward to your holiday, and I really can recommend a Rome vacation. So why settle for ordinary, when you could do something different this year and create memories that really will last a lifetime?

Today there are so many more choices than just taking a regular trip or guided tour. If you're willing to think outside the box, and put a little effort into planning it, your Rome vacation can be extraordinary.

First of all, think about your interests or passions. Is there something that you've always wanted to do like learn to paint, or speak a foreign language?

What about some place that you've always wanted to visit like The Coloseum, St Peters or The Opera House?

What do you love to do in your spare time…visit art galleries, read or go to a soccer match?

If you've always wanted to be a painter, why not choose Rome? But instead of staying in a hotel, and making the rounds of the usual tourist attractions, check into renting a flat or participating in a housing exchange program. (You can find several options through our links to Venere.com on the website.) On the money you'll save on the hotel and restaurants, sign up for art classes at one of the cultural centers near where you'll be staying. And instead of signing up for a guided tour, visit the tourist attractions with your paints and easel. Live the life of an artist in Rome for two weeks!

If you are fanatical about soccer, it's easier than you think to travel to Rome, and see a classic soccer match, with the fans of Roma or Lazio at your side. Wouldn't it be amazing to tell your friends that you were there, in the Stadio Olimpico, when the winning goal was scored!

Whether you are coming to Rome on vacation or business, you simply have to experience the thrill of a football match! Rome soccer tour packages give you tickets to AS Roma or SS Lazio home games, hotel accommodation and breakfast daily. But don't delay, tickets sell out quickly because both teams attract fanatical support.

What about learning to speak Italian? (Your local community college probably offers "immersion" vacations as a member of a language class. During your Rome vacation, you stay as a guest in someone's home, and have the opportunity to live like a native. You'll become totally immersed in the city, having the chance to speak the language with your hosts, learn the best places to visit, and get to eat home cooked meals.)

If you have an idea for the "perfect" vacation, or there's something you've always wanted to do, but don't know where to start to make it happen, check out our online links to a variety of travel agents. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what they can help you arrange.

Whatever your interests, hobbies or passions, if you've got unfinished items on your "things to do before I die" list -- why not figure out a way to start putting a checkmark in front of some of them, by incorporating your dreams into your next Rome vacation?

Best wishes for a great trip,

Les Sheppard

Les Sheppard's website gives essential information about planning your Rome vacation, including flight deals, Rome accommodation tips, Apartment and Villa rentals, tour planning and tips on all the top Rome attractions:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/RomeVacation

Are You Soccer Mad?.. Soccer Crazy?.. Then try these Rome Soccer Tours.

2006-02-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

If you are fanatical about soccer, as you read through this article you're going to learn that it's easier than you think to travel to Rome, and see a classic soccer match, with the fans of Roma or Lazio at your side. Wouldn't it be amazing to tell your friends that you were there, in the Stadio Olimpico, when the winning goal was scored!

Whether you are coming to Rome on vacation or business, you simply have to experience the thrill of a football match! Rome soccer tour packages give you tickets to AS Roma or SS Lazio home games, hotel accommodation and breakfast daily. But don't delay, tickets sell out quickly because both teams attract fanatical support.

The Stadio Olimpico is home to both Roma and Lazio and was built for the 1960 Olympic games. An impressive 82,000 plus venue it has housed European Cup Finals and the 1990 World Cup Final. It is also the first choice home of the Italian national team, and a great venue for these Rome soccer tours.

And you can be reassured... it's easy to get there. Rome’s principal airport, Fiumicino, lies 30kms south of the city and connects to Rome’s major train station, Termini by regular hourly trains. The second airport, Ciampino, lies 15km south east of the city and is connected to the centre by bus to Anagnina metro station, where a direct train and then a tram will quickly get you to the stadium.

You can even save time and money and book your airport transfer services before you go! You can use a shuttle service that will take you from Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport to your Rome Hotel, without the hassle of picking up a rental car, negotiating unfamiliar traffic and maps.

The history of both Roman Football Clubs is equally littered with glory and frustration.

AS Roma were born in 1927 from the fusion of three different clubs - Alba, Fortitudo and Roman. A fine record in the 1930s eventually led to the first Giallorossi Scudetto in 1942.

Difficult years followed until their one and only relegation in 1951. With an immediate return to the top flight, Roma quickly captured a third place and the 1961 UEFA Cup. The Coppa Italia came in 1964, the first of seven in this competition.

Roma’s most glorious years were the 1980s as aside from the two Italian Cups, the club’s second Scudetto was lifted by Coach Nils Liedholm in 1983. The following year only a penalty shoot-out against Liverpool at the Stadio Olimpico kept them from winning the European Cup.

Fabio Capello’s Roma led the 2000-01 Serie A table from start to finish for their third Scudetto and the club’s first medal in a decade.

Rivals Lazio were founded in 1900 as Societa Spotiva Lazio, a multi-purpose sports club. The Biancocelesti began football full-time in 1906. Winning one wartime Roman title in 1944, the club lifted their first national trophy - a Coppa Italia - in 1958 but were relegated three seasons later.

Several trips up and down the Divisions preceded Lazio’s first Scudetto in 1973-74 when they were led by the legendary Giorgio Chinaglia. But within five years came the club’s darkest hour as Lazio was relegated for financial irregularities and only a play-off prevented the club from slipping into Serie C in 1987.

Sergio Cragnotti took over the club in 1992 and with his financial backing Lazio have become a force both in Italy and Europe. Since 1997 the Biancocelesti have won their second Scudetto, a Cup-Winners’ Cup, an Italian and European Super Cup and two Italian Cups. However, only massive sales and a restructuring of contracts allowed the club to avoid bankruptcy.

Both clubs continue to ride close to the top of Italy's Serie A, and the rivalry is intense, especially during the annual "derby" matches where the teams and tifosi face each other. So, if your passion is football, then don't miss the opportunity to see your favorite Roman team play a home game this season, and be there with The Ultras!

Why book ahead?.. Well, here are my thoughts:

* The most popular matches can sell out well in advance. Don't risk being disappointed!

* Reduce stress! Don't waste time haggling with the hotel concierge for matchday tickets.

* Lock in your price! Currency dips & price hikes won't effect you.

* Save vacation time! Plan & book now, not when you're there.

* Balance your vacation budget! Charge tours on this month's credit card bill.

Believe me (and I've been in Rome during a major soccer tournament!) there's nothing like the atmosphere of a match day, and the city buzzes with excitment. So, try one of these great value Rome soccer tours. Take the easy way - and book this efficient service online now and save time in Rome. You could have your match tickets secured in the next fifteen minutes!

As an extra resource for readers, I have posted this article onto my website, and provided quick links to these great tours.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/RomeSoccerTours

I hope you'll agree that these special Rome soccer tours offer real value, and I know that you'll return home with some special memories of your stay in the Eternal City.

Best wishes for a great trip, and let me know the score!

Les Sheppard

Our Rome Guided Tours Will Bring This Amazing City to Life.

2006-01-27T16:37:00.000-05:00

It can be great fun to just wander the streets of the Eternal City, but our Rome guided tours add something special and memorable to your visit.

For starters, now it's possible to take in the Art, History and Religion of Rome in one day! A trip to Rome is incomplete without visiting the Vatican Museum and learning about Christian Rome. Marvel at the magnificent beauty of the Sistine Chapel before venturing out to explore the ancient catacombs. You have the option to end your tour with a step back in time to become a part of Roman history in the amazing Time Line Tour.

Can you imagine a beautiful evening tour that takes you from the floodlit ruins of ancient and imperial Roman (The Pantheon and the Colosseum) to the magnificent piazzas and fountains designed by the artists Bernini and Michelangelo, to the home of the Catholic Church, St Peters. At the Trevi Fountain, throw your coin into the water to ensure your return.

Or how about this.. Experience the wonder of the Vatican on this fascinating walking tour and explore its history and beauty. The native English-speaking guide will share with you the best of the Vatican, including the lesser known spots and you will gain a broad understanding of this unique place. Use our quick link and book today to secure your place on this intriguing walking tour!

Lets-Travel-Rome.com GuidedCityTours

If you want something more contemporary, ride the time machine and discover the amazing 2750 year history of Rome. Take a trip back in time into ancient Roman history up to present day. This tour includes a one hour show with high-tech virtual projections of the most famous Roman monuments. Rome will never look the same !

Maybe you would prefer to discover Rome and its famous landmarks aboard a deluxe two hour dinner cruise, which includes outstanding Italian cuisine. Witness the breathtaking Eternal City by sailing down the River Tiber… a spectacular way to see Rome or celebrate a special occasion. The romantic strains of music begin the moment the boats casts off.

Or how about meeting a local dignitary during your Rome guided tour. During one peculiar and unusual visit you can be in the presence of Beatrice Cenci, Donna Olimpia, Count Cagliostro's wife and the beautiful Costanza De Cupis. A fascinating walk in Ponte quarter where it is possible to learn strange and mysterious histories of ancient Rome with an evocative atmosphere. This walking tour will take you through Navona Square, Via del Governo Vecchio, Ponte Sant' Angelo and Piazza Farnese.

Why book ahead for our Rome guided tours?.. Well, here's a reminder:

* These popular tours sell out well in advance! Don't be disappointed!

* Reduce stress! Don't waste time haggling with the hotel concierge.

* Lock in your price! Currency dips & price hikes won't effect you.

* Save vacation time! Plan & book now, not when you're there.

* Balance your vacation budget! Charge tours on this month's credit card bill.

You can even save time and money and book your airport transfer services before you go! Our shuttle service will take you from Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport to your Rome Hotel, without the hassle of picking up a rental car, negotiating unfamiliar traffic and maps. Take the easy way - use our quick link to book this efficient service online now and save time at your destination!

Lets-Travel-Rome.com GuidedCityTours

I hope you'll agree that these special Rome guided tours offer real value, and I know that you'll gain some special memories of your stay in the Eternal City.

Find Cheap Flights to Rome Through Lets-Travel-Rome.com and Travelocity.

2006-01-19T10:05:00.000-05:00

As we've said many times in these pages, everybody needs a break, and cheap flights to Rome can help you to reconnect with your spouse and to recharge the soul. But planning a vacation getaway can quickly turn into a stressful project when the subject of expenses comes up. Airfares alone can kill the fantasy. And when you already have to factor in accommodation, food, and shopping, any budget-conscious traveler could just give up and stay home.

Thankfully, there are now more options for cheap flights to Rome that allow quick and fun vacations without having the costly air fares.

So, how does low-cost or cheap air fare work exactly?

Simple: Budget air travel gets you to your destination in the shortest time and at the cheapest possible price.The main reason these airlines are able to keep airfare prices low is the no-frills concept.

First, there’s no ticketing office to sustain. All reservations and purchases are transacted online, and we link to Travelocity.com through the pages of Lets-Travel-Rome.com. Through their e-ticketing, tickets can be purchased in real time on the Web, which eliminates the need to employ more people for processing or maintain international offices.

Here’s how you too can get cheap flights to Rome:

1. Purchasing your ticket at least 10 days ahead of the scheduled trip will enable you to obtain super low fares.

2. It is best to choose a weekday departure and arrival date for Rome when possible. This is because weekend flights get filled up faster than weekdays and airlines often offer discounts to fill up the weekday flights.

3. It would be better to book as a group of three or more to get even more discounts on fees.

4. Compare notes and consult with friends and colleagues who have recently traveled. And check back with our Weblog for the latest information regularly. You can go straight to the site from here:

Lets-Travel-Rome.Blogspot

5. In order to get the cheap flights to rome, you should be on the lookout for discounted rates on the Travelocity.com site. Most of the cheap airfares are flagged as special offers, and have limited availability. It may be necessary to check in each day for a few days in a row to find the best deals, as all the airlines have shifting demand.

6. It is best to shop around for the cheap flights to Rome first, before you jump on the first deal you see. This is because there are airlines that offer cheap airfares but the quality of service may be reduced. Most airlines with cheap airfares have a lower quality of cabin service and fewer ameneties, but don't allow this to be a barrier, unless you have extended flight times from your departure point.

All of this boils down to the fact that low-cost airlines may help you to extend your vacation and make it more memorable. You just have to shop around to get those deals that offer the cheap airfares, but the quality of service is maintained at an acceptable standard.

Without any doubt, the most flexible and easy to use reservation service is with Travelocity.com, and I fully recommend them. Altough Lets-Travel-Rome.com is still a young company, we already have subscribers like you from all over the world. We have taken care to partner with Travelocity, knowing that there is a need to offer cheap flights to Rome from every continent, and wanting to offer a superior service at the same time.

You'll also find it easy to find travel packages including flights,accommodation and car hire for your trip to Rome, so check out Travelocity right now.

Travelocity Saves You on Flights, Hotels, Car Rentals, Cruises and More

Here is a new way to keep in touch with Lets-Travel-Rome.com

2006-01-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

As you know, for various reasons, email is not as reliable
as it used to be and sometimes our communications do not reach
everyone as intended. To avoid this problem, and to prevent you
from missimg an important update, travel deal, flight offer, or
news story, we have set up an rss feed from our Weblog.

Now, don't get worried about the technical side of things, but
keep reading this message and I'll explain the simple steps
to take.

You can get a really simple little software programme called
"Feed Reader" that "pulls" news information into your PC
anytime you are onlne, and pops open a small window in the
bottom corner of your screen. You can check it out here:

www.feedreader.com

If you decide to grab a copy, make sure you choose the Binary
vesrion (not Source), as its easier to install.

Installing the software is as easy as any other programme, and
you just follow the instructions on screen.

Once you are set up, you can open up the programme, and
you'll notice that its pre-loaded with some news feeds
already. If you want to delete any of them, just right
click on the feeds name bar, and select delete from
the pop up menu.

Now its really easy to install the news feed from
Lets-Travel-Rome, so you'll never miss any of our
offers, deals and information.

1) In Feed Reader, click on "Add New Feed", in the top
right hand corner of its window.

2) Copy and Paste this line of code into the first box that
opens up:

http://lets-travel-rome.blogspot.com/atom.xml

3) Click on Next

4) Choose the Feed Reader Folder that you want to keep
our link inside - then click on Finish.

And that's it... every time we publich fresh information
on the Lets-Travel-Rome Weblog, you'll be updated as soon
as your next online!

Lets-Travel-Rome.com Adds Worldwide Flight Booking Facility From Travelocity.

2006-01-18T06:12:00.000-05:00

Lets-Travel-Rome.com has just added a worldwide flight search database to its already impressive arsenal of products, through partners Travelocity. Now users of the site can get real time flight comparisons from any major departure point into Rome, and book online instantly.

CEO Les Sheppard says "Having mapped our current client database, I recognised that we are building up a worldwide subscriber list that needs to have easy access to the widest range of flight alternatives." He added, "With an even wider selection of airlines now including Rome on their routing, this is a great chance for us to provide an even better service, and Travelocity are a tremendous partner to have onboard."

The live feeds can be checked out on:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/travelocity

You can also link to the following page for more information:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/flights-to-rome

Travelocity have also updated their advice for airport check-in procedures, ahead of the new season.

With tighter security measures in place this holiday season, it's important to prepare for air travel with good judgment and caution. Start out by examining everything you normally pack in your suitcase. Expect that your bag will be opened for inspection, so evaluate whether an object could be scrutinized by airport security. Pack efficiently, avoid over-packing and make sure that each suitcase has an up-to-date nametag securely affixed to it.

Check-in Procedures • Be sure to have available a government-issued ID (federal, state, or local) and be prepared to show ID at the ticket counter and the boarding gate, with a boarding pass.

• Curbside check-in is available on an airline-by-airline basis, so contact the airline prior to arriving at the airport to see if it's available. E-ticket travelers also need to confirm with their airline to ensure they have all appropriate documentation. • Only ticketed passengers can go beyond security checkpoints. However, exceptions can be made for traveling minors and those needing assistance. • Electronic items (i.e. laptops and cell phones) are subject to additional screening, so be prepared to remove these items to be X-rayed separately.

Baggage Restrictions • Keep in mind that until further notice, passengers are restricted with carry-on bags and to one "personal bag" that could be a purse, laptop or briefcase. Bags may be subject to further screening at the gate.

• Take into account that you can only check two bags. Airlines have started enforcing rules with a hefty price for extra luggage and for bags that are either too big or heavy. Contact your airline because fees and restrictions vary by carrier.

• If you have a medical condition that requires you to carry syringes, be sure to keep your medicine with you as well (a good idea in any case). The medicine must be in its original container with a professionally printed pharmacy label.

Other Check-in Tips • Think about what you wear to the airport. You might be asked to remove your shoes, so try to wear a pair that slips on without laces or straps. It's also common to have to remove hats and belts.

The Lets-Travel-Rome Guide to Business Travel.

2006-01-17T06:22:00.000-05:00

Planning your business travel to Rome wisely will free you from lots of trouble. Inadequate airline seats, long lines, heavy traffic, and unavailable hotel rooms are just some of the problems a Rome business traveler might encounter. Despite the emergence of e-commerce, businessmen still travel more often for sales and business shows. Here are some tips to make your business travel a successful one:

1. Plan your Rome business trip long before you leave the office.

2. Always prepare a travel bag with complete necessities to be used on any emergency trips.

3. Consider bringing some ready to eat foods, it will save you a substantial amount of money, considering the high cost of foods in hotels.

4. Be sure to have a buffer time between your flight and your scheduled meeting.

5. Choose an aircraft that has better seats with ample leg room.

6. Put all your valuable materials in a small carry-on bag.

7. When calling your main office, use the 800 numbers as much as possible because it's much cheaper.

8. If you're a businesswoman, it is important to dress well. Additionally, you must bring casual clothes for your free time.

Not all Rome hotels have inexpensive telecommunication systems from their rooms, so always choose your hotel's business floor, for these rooms are made especially for business traveler. These rooms should have dual telephone/modem lines, fax machine, and free communications between rooms. You can search for a suitable hotel using our partners at TripAdvisor, where you can find fellow travellers reviews and ratings.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/advisor

In order to save money on calls, use your calling card and place calls through your country's long-distance carrier or find a pay phone in the hotel's lobby. If available, use a nearby business center for your fax needs since fax service within your room will probably cost more.

These days, a Rome business traveler has to bring a lot of electronic equipment such as; cell phones, electronic organizers, laptop computers, etc. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your expensive business items safe:

1. Put your laptop inside a bag that will not indicate that there's a laptop inside. The same works well for other equipment such as camera, electronic organizer, etc.

2. Don't expose your laptop to x-ray scanners at the airport security check, rather have it checked manually. X-rays could damage your electronic equipment.

3. Don't place your laptop on the aircraft's overhead bins; instead place it near your seat or under the seat in front of you.

4. Always bring extra batteries for your equipment.

Today's Rome business travelers are enjoying much comfort compared to their counterparts a few decades ago. Low airfare, plenty of airlines to choose from, communication equipment (especially cell phones and laptops) make modern day business travelers more efficient. Even on a business trip, parents can always be with their family members and co-workers can still get in touch with their office work, at least virtually.

That's all about Rome business travel for now. In my next article, I'll explain more of my travel tips for your time in Rome.

Best wishes for a great trip,

Les Sheppard

Les Sheppard's website gives full information about planning your trip to Rome, including flight deals, Rome accommodation tips, Apartment and Villa rentals,tour planning and tips on all the top Rome attractions:
Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Lets-Travel-Rome Boss Rates TripAdvisor Advanced Hotel Selection Tool.

2006-01-01T05:22:00.000-05:00

Now Travelers Can Easily Sort the World's Most Popular Hotels by Price, Location and Star Class.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com, through partners TripAdvisor, the leading travel research site, recently announced the addition of an advanced hotel selection tool that enables travelers to easily view the destination's most popular hotels by price, neighborhood and star class. This comes as an addition to the highly regarded TripAdvisor Popularity Index, which uses more than 1 million reviews to rank over 135,000 hotels worldwide.

"Having a great trip means finding the hotel that's right for you," said Christine Petersen, vice president, marketing. "TripAdvisor.com is the only place on the web that allows a traveler to benefit from the experience of hundreds of thousands of others to narrow your options to the most popular hotels in a destination then sort by the criteria that are right for an individual traveler. No other site can provide this level of ease and confidence in planning a future trip."

And Les Sheppard, CEO of Lets-Travel-Rome.com, who provide direct links to the new search tool from their own web site, is convinced the ease of use is driving higher visitor satisfaction levels with his own subscribers.

"We get a lot of feedback from visitors to our site", said Les, "who have ultimately booked their vacation through TripAdvisor, and they tell us they highly rate this new facility. Comparisons are made really easy, and you can also pick the exact location you want, anywhere in Rome".

According to TripAdvisor, travelers consider price, location and quality to be the most important factors when choosing a hotel. The new advanced hotel selection tool is seen on TripAdvisor.com's destination-based hotel overview pages and includes:

Price filter - Users can select a price range to find comparably priced hotels. For example: the most popular hotels between $100-$200.

Neighborhood filter - Users can select neighborhoods from most top U.S. and international cities and can find hotels located within those areas.

Star class filter - Users can select a hotel class and find a complete listing of hotels with that star rating. For example: the most popular 3-star hotels. All of these criteria work together to narrow the most popular hotels in a destination to a manageable, relevant list. In addition, travelers now have access to more accurate, timely hotel information:

Hotel prices - Hotel prices are updated nightly using a proprietary algorithm and adjusted to reflect periods of tight availability and seasonal fluctuations. Automatic currency conversion - Users can select a preferred currency and see converted hotel prices alongside original hotel prices.

Hotel mini-snapshots - Each hotel listing is summarized in a brief overview consisting of address, photo, TripAdvisor summary user review rating, three most recent TripAdvisor user reviews, typical price, and Quick Check - TripAdvisor's proprietary tool that gives users one-click access to hotel prices and availability from multiple booking sites.

Travel Rome Boss Says City Remains US Top Travel Spot.

2005-12-28T10:03:00.000-05:00

... "When in Rome", whether you're hoping for a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI or longing to make a wish at the famous Trevi Fountain, it's clear - Rome is one of the top European destinations for this coming spring.

According to TripAdvisor and Lets-Travel-Rome.com, two of the leading travel information and recommendation sites on the Web, Rome, Italy is currently the most frequently researched destination on the web. Both sites offer travelers an honest guide to Rome with an insider's look at what's hot and what's not based on the opinions of real travelers.

"We really value our partnership with TripAdvisor," said Les Sheppard, CEO of Lets-Travel-Rome, "and we are featuring them in our free "Ten Top Hotels" guide that we offer from our homepage. We've been seeing a growth in interest in the City for the last twelve months, from travelers in the US and other European countries, driven by the quality and variety of attractions and improving hotel standards."

"Not only is Rome currently the top TripAdvisor destination," said Christine Petersen, senior vice president of marketing at TripAdvisor, "but our users are saying that visiting Rome now is a great way to experience history in the making."

To help you plan your trip, here's the inside scoop on where to stay and top do's and don'ts for your visit to Rome:

TRAVEL BUZZ - Our tips on seeing the city, dining and saving:

1) Hoof it - Hands down, the best way to see the city is by foot with a guidebook.

2) Enjoy a siesta - "Be aware that stores, museums and other attractions often close in the afternoon and re-open in the evening. Also, many museums (Borghese Gallery, Capital Hill Museum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Baths of Diocletian, Museum of Roman Civilization, National Museum of Rome) close on Mondays and the Vatican Museum is closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly."

3) Spend less - "Save money by loading up on free breakfast at your hotel or dining only in trattorias and pizzerias; Don't be shy about haggling over price with street vendors; use credit cards as much as possible and get cash (Euros) at ATMs."

4) Avoid long lines - "Go to the Palatine Hill ticket booth to buy one pass for Palatine Hill and The Colosseum. Buy tickets in advance for Borghese Gallery and the Domus area."

5) Beware the dress code - "St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel and many of the other churches and religious attractions have strictly enforced dress codes, so leave the shorts, minis and tanks behind."

Les Sheppard's website gives full information about planning your trip to Rome, including flight deals, Rome accommodation tips, Apartment and Villa rentals,tour planning and tips on all the top Rome attractions:
Lets-Travel-Rome.com

You can also grab our free hotel guide and newsletter from the homepage, and keep up to date at our Travel Rome Blog:
Lets-Travel-Rome.Blogspot

Tourists in Italy Rome Up 10 Pct for Christmas Holidays 2005

2005-12-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Rome, December 6

(ANSA) - Rome, December 6 - The number of tourists who will visit the Italian capital during this year's Christmas holidays is expected to be 10 pct higher than the figure registered over the same holiday period in 2004, according to data by local association of travel agencies Fiavet Lazio.

Bookings at Rome's hotels currently stand at 80 pct. The figures prove that the city remains a preferred destination for many visitors from Italy and abroad, Mayor Walter Veltroni said.

The number of Italians who will travel during the 2005 Christmas holidays is expected to increase by 5.0 pct to between 8.0 million and 9.0 million compared to the Christmas season 2004, the ANSA news agency reported on November 29, 2005. Tourist arrivals in the hotels of Rome and its province increased by 12.3 pct year-on-year in October 2005, to 842,774. Tourist overnight stays increased by 11.95 pct year-on-year to 1,955,695, the agency said on November 17, 2005.

If you are looking to travel to Rome this Christmas, then you need to check out the huge range of Apartments and Villas available through our recommended partners at:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/venere

Cathay Pacific to launch daily service to Rome

2005-12-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

8 December 2005

Cathay Pacific is to strengthen Hong Kong's connections to Europe with a daily service to Rome, starting 27 March 2006.

A daily service, increased from the current five flights a week, will provide passengers greater flexibility for travel between Italy, Hong Kong and connecting points in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Philip Chen said, "Cathay Pacific offers more flights to Europe from Hong Kong than any other airline, and the only service to Italy. The addition of more Cathay Pacific services makes travelling via Hong Kong a far more attractive proposition to passengers and multiplies the airport's strength as a global hub and gateway to the Chinese Mainland."

Cathay Pacific currently operates 54 passenger services to five cities in Europe each week. It operates four flights a day to London, plus daily services to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and five weekly flights to Rome. The airline serves 92 destinations world-wide.

For links to our best deals for flights to Rome go here:
Flights to Rome -

Why not Rent an Apartment in Rome for your Next Vacation?

2005-12-04T12:28:00.000-05:00

When I tell people that they can get easliy and cheaply rent an
apartment in Rome for their city vacation, they sometimes look at me
like I'm nuts. It's not that they've never thought of the idea.
It's that they think its too hard to arrange, or heard some strange
things about it, like:

1. Its far too expensive for any reasonable budget.

Price is probably the most common misconception. I've even heard
this from good friends who have seen me take this option just
about any time I want.

The only thing that price and these apartments have in common is
that both can give you a huge choice. The big difference is that
when you know how to find the perfect place, and you understand
how much freedom you can gain, you can win with this game just
about every time you play.

Finding a great apartment has nothing to do with luck. It has
everything to do with knowing where to look, and getting a huge
choice that fits a given budget.

2. You'll Struggle to get a good location, and be nowehere near the action.

When I first started to travel to Rome, I thought the same thing.
But, you know what, its just not true. The resource I'll recommend to
you at the end of this article can put you right next to The Spanish
Steps, in a glorious apartment with balcony views. They can also find
you a family villa, tucked away in the hills outside the City - and
pretty much everything in between.

I've rented apartments in Rome plenty of times since my early
stays in the cities Hotels, both on business and pleasure, and
not a single one of these places has let me down . In fact, they
were all perfectly sited for my needs on each trip, sometimes
bustling and convenient, sometimes peaceful and secluded.

And the fact is, you don't need to spend hours of research to
find just the right thing. These days you can simply go to one
website and find a choice of apartments to match your requirements.

With my partners at Venere.com, that's a breeze.

3. Isn't it just less hassle to book a package deal?

Renting an apartment in Rome is cool for two reasons. First, you
get an unbelievable amount of freedom and flexibility that most
city centre hotels just can't offer. Just come and go as you please.
Drop in for a quick shower after a hard days sightseeing, and freshen up
before you go out to the Opera House. Use as a base to entertain friends
and family into the early hours, there's no-one to complain
about the noise! Sleep in till lunchtime if you want, there's
nobody clamouring to clean the room.

The second reason is that you get much closer to the people.
You can easily find a rental property that's tucked in with
the locals... say, just off the Piazza Navona near the city
centre, and really get a feel for Roman life close up. I
promise you it takes a short vacation to another level
of experience, and you could find you're visitng the
Eternal City more and more often.

For both reasons, I believe that the minor hassle of making
slightly more detailed plans before you travel is well worth
the effort. Most people don't understand that, and that's why
they miss out.

4. You'd Need A Top Quality Agent You Can Trust with your Money

And at this point I tend to agree with them. Business and leisure
travellers have been using the Agent I recommend for many years, and
they specialise in renting apartments in Rome. It's one of their
biggest sources of revenue, and therefore a line of business that
they guard carefully. If you're ready to have a look at the
huge choice and value on offer, here's a link for you:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/Venere

The truth is, I needed to have an ultra reliable resource to back
up my travel plans, and I wanted to deal with people that had
strong contacts on the ground in Rome. And that's all they do!

It can take me less than fifteen minutes to find and book my
exact requirements every time I click through to their site.

So, You don't need to search for hours when you want to rent
an apartment in Rome. You just have to look in the right place.

That's all for now. In my next article, I'll explain more of my
travel tips for your time in Rome

Best wishes for a great vacation,

Les Sheppard

Get full information about planning your trip to Rome:

Lets-Travel-Rome.com

Italy gets a taste of winter.

2005-11-25T14:58:00.000-05:00

Early snow and icy winds sweep the peninsula.

(ANSA) - Rome, November 23 - After enjoying a very mild autumn, Italy this week finds itself in the grips of a chilly preview of the winter to come .

Temperatures began dropping at the weekend and snow soon followed after the peninsula got caught between a cold front from the north and damp air rising from the south .

Central-southern regions were the hardest hit by the wintry weather on Wednesday with schools closed in cities like Potenza where up to 30cm of snow fell during the night .

Snow made a mess of traffic along the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway where traffic is blocked in some places due to accidents and only vehicles with chains are allowed to travel where traffic si moving. Rail service in southern Italy also fell victim to the snow and wind after trees fell over tracks along the Potenza to Foggia rail line .

Traffic was regular in the central region of Umbria, where there was ample snow during the night even at lower altitudes .

Some 60cm of snow accumulated in the Montefeltro area of the Marche region and chains are obligatory in the mountains there .

Chains are also necessary in the mountains of the Emilia-Romagna region and snow fell Wednesday morning in Bologna .

Further north, snow was reported around Milan, while the northeast Friuli-Venezia Giulia region was hit by the bone-chilling Bora north wind which gusted up to 117kph in Trieste .

In Rome, buyers need time and luck

2005-11-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

By Elizabeth Helman Minchilli International Herald Tribune

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2005

ROME In most cities throughout the world, someone searching for a new home is looking for certain modern conveniences, comforts such as elevators, parking and an adequate number of bathrooms. But priorities change when the city in question is Rome.

Here, history is the thing. Some people do find homes in former palaces with noble pedigrees, but "only if you are lucky," said Letizia Bucci Casari Pasolini of Liveinit, a luxury real estate agency here. And living in the heart of the city's ancient center usually means that buyers must be willing to make concessions.

"The high-end home market here in Rome is defined by several factors," explained Matilde Cartoni, Pasolini's partner. "First of all, of course, is location. Not only does the property have to be in the historic center, but also preferably in a historic palace. Then everyone also wants panoramic views, but also terraces. And the 20th-century amenities like a parking space and an elevator are also requirements."

The problem is, apartments that match this checklist are few and far between. "If we get a really great apartment, in the center, with a terrace, we can sell it in one or two days," Cartoni said.

One of the determining factors in the lack of high-end properties is the size of the city itself: The historic center is an area only about twice the size of New York City's Central Park.

"While Italian buyers, especially Romans, will consider more residential neighborhoods such as Parioli or Prati, foreigners, and particularly Americans, want to be right in the thick of things," said Benedetta Barendson, of the Ruzzetti agency.

"For foreigners, buying in Rome means buying into the sense of history. That translates into a noble palace, hopefully with frescoes and architectural details. These places are very difficult to find."

Rome's luxury market also differs somewhat from other European capitals. "There is very little movement," Barendson explained. "Anglo-Saxons change their living arrangements as life changes. For instance, the kids will move off to university and so the parents will downsize, putting their original home on the market. Instead, the Italian mentality is quite different and they think of their homes as a nest egg. They would rather hang on to the property, and eventually leave it to their children. This means that some of the best properties never come up for sale."

Up until a few years ago, many considered the Roman high-end market undervalued compared with, say, that in London or Paris. But in the last three or four years the city has become recognized as a great place to live and so prices have risen to level seen in other European capitals.

The Jubilee year of 2000, a holy year of celebration for the Roman Catholic Church declared by Pope John Paul II, saw many of the grimy facades spruced up. And under the last mayor, Francesco Rutelli, many of the city's traffic-clogged squares have become pedestrian havens.

Major art shows now regularly make stops here, as do dance and theater troupes during the city's many cultural festivals. All this, plus a relatively temperate climate makes it a place where many want to have second homes.

The prices being asked for top-flight properties reflect their rarity.

When almost all of the elements come together - view, history and parking - the price is about 12,000 to 13,000 a square meter, or $1,300 to $1,400 a square foot.

But an address in a particularly sought-after historic building or square, or with a large terrace and a panoramic view, can add another 20 to 30 percent to the asking price.

And, "even if you come to Rome, with a lot of money to spend, it's not a given that you will be able to find something," said Paola Di Bari of the San Andrea agency, luxury division of the large Gabetti agency.

The apartments that De Bari deals with are often located on such important squares as Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Farnese. "When a property with amazing views comes up at these locations," she said, "they are almost like works of art. The demand is so high that it is almost an auction mentality when determining the price."

An apartment on Via del Governo Vecchio, near Piazza Navona, was recently sold by the Agnelli family of the Fiat auto empire. The apartment, which measured 400 square meters, or 4,300 square feet, had some frescoes and a car space, but no views. It sold for 8 million.

One result of the tight sales market is that it is fairly easy to find a fantastic rental, often at about 15,000 a month.

"Wealthy owners who own the great apartments are much more likely to rent for short term than to sell," De Bari said.

For example, the piano nobile, or main floor, of Palazzo Orsini, which is located within the ruins of Teatro Marcello, boasts frescoes, history and its own private orange orchard.

It belongs to the Origo family and has been rented to visiting Americans forseveral years.

The resurgence of the movie and TV industry, such as the filming in Rome of Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" and, more recently, the 12-part series "Rome," a £58 million, or $99 million, joint venture of the BBC and HBO, also has convinced many owners to become landlords.

"Cinema has brought a lot of rentals onto the market," Barendson said.

"Since these people always want the top, and are willing to pay top dollar, some Roman families have decided to rent out their own homes, going to live in their country villa for a few months, during filming."

When Mel Gibson was shooting "The Passion of Christ," his 2004 release, he had no problem arranging to rent a 400-square-meter apartment, with terraces, in a historic palace not far from Piazza Farnese. But agents say he recently has given up looking for a place to buy because nothing has come on the market that meets his needs.

"We were very discouraged from even looking for something to buy when we first moved here," said Jeanette Montgomery Barron, a photographer who moved to Rome from America with her husband and two children in 2003. "Every one told us that the market was too tight, and it was better to rent."

They now rent a light-filled, 250-square-meter apartment on the top floor of Palazzo Lante, a stone's throw from the Pantheon, but they are considering buying once again. "I don't think the market has changed," Barron said. "But we would now rather live in a more 'Roman,' family neighborhood, like Monti."

The neighborhood known as Monti recently has risen to the top of everyone's list of hot places to live in Rome. The neighborhood, which is decidedly residential, is in the ancient Roman Suburra, the teeming area adjacent to the Forum. Today, the area is defined on one side by Via Nazionale and on the other by the Via dei Fori Imperiali, with the Colosseum at one end. It is a charming warren of small alleys and quaint piazzas.

Less touristy than the areas around Piazza Navona and Piazza Farnese, the neighborhood is still very centrally located.

Tommaso Amodeo, a manager of an information technology company, recently bought in the Monti neighborhood. His 200-square-meter apartment is on a top floor and has a small terrace, but he had looked for more than a year before he found it. "To find something in Rome these days you have to have a lot of patience," Amodeo said. "There is no lack of overpriced mediocre apartments, but finding something truly great is next to impossible, even if you have limitless funds."

Most agents view the luxury market as very stable at the moment. "For the last year the real estate rental market in Rome, in general, has seen a 20 percent drop" in value, Cartoni said. "In theory the economists tell us that this should be reflected, after about six months, in a drop in the sales market as well. In Rome we haven't seen this happen - but since New York and London haven't followed this formula, perhaps Rome sales will stay strong as well."

Di Bari agreed. "Even if there is going to be a general crisis in real estate - which everyone is predicting - the luxury won't be affected," she said. "The prices will keep going up."

‘Real’ look at ancient Rome

2005-11-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

By R. GOWRI

Nov 24:
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WHAT was it like living in ancient Rome during the the days of Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus? Most of us would have no inkling, apart perhaps from visions of marble columns and graceful buildings and Romans with chiselled features walking about in spotless togas, perhaps even of Elizabeth Taylor as the beautiful and ambitious Cleopatra having liaisons with important Roman leaders.

Hollywood’s romanticisations of Rome’s early days are basically just that — romantic notions. Now if you want to get a load of the real thing, HBO is serving up ancient Rome — much closer to depictions in written records, circa 52 BC. A cosmopolitan metropolis with many of the characteristics of a modern-day city like Mumbai, extreme wealth beside extreme poverty, dirty hovels beside sprawling villas, with every man — ruling class elite, soldier, slave and peasant — embroiled in the politics of the day, or having it touch every aspect of their lives.

But HBO’s Rome is no documentary, it’s an epic unfolding as a drama series, from the high-powered drama of the Senate and the growing enmity between Caesar and Pompey to the subtle dramas playing out in the living rooms and bedrooms of the landed and the plebeian, and not forgetting the more graphic drama in the killing fields and taverns.

We witness political manipulations, ambitious scheming by women, love and passion, gladiator battles and torture. It’s even a bit like Dynasty and Dallas in parts, in a different setting and with far more substance, right there with racy dialogue and plenty of seduction. (Asian viewers will be seeing “edited” screenings suitable to Asian sensibilities though!)

Rome portrays the historical events through the experiences of two soldiers of Caesar’s 13th legion, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. Each make unlikely companions but have an impact on the other’s life, eventually having to make life-changing decisions and deal with morality issues.

Vorenus (played by Kevin McKidd) also has to “re-connect” with his wife (Indira Varma) whom he has not seen for eight years. And Pullo, returning to the city, can’t stop his womanising and fight-picking adventures.

The historical events serve as a backdrop and a catalyst for the personal stories of everyday life at the time.

Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) has completed his conquest of Gaul, returning to Rome with battle-hardened soldiers, plunder, and a populist agenda for radical social change. The aristocracy is fearful and threatens to prosecute him for war crimes if he enters Rome. Pompey (Kenneth Cranham) is co-consul of Rome and, once, mentor of Caesar and beloved of the aristocrats. There’s also the scheming Atia of the Juli, niece of Caesar (marvellously portrayed by Polly Walker); the impulsive Mark Anthony (James Purefoy); Servilia of the Junii (Lindsay Duncan), the mother of Brutus; and Gaius Octavian (Max Pirkis), the quietly observant great nephew of Caesar and son of Atia.

And so begins the turmoils of the Republic and Rome.

Apart from the impressive picturisation of Rome of old, another asset of the series is its ability to grow on you. The first episode (journalists had a preview of episodes 1, 2 and 3 at a resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand, courtesy of HBO Asia) was admittedly a bit of a slow-starter and confusing to those whose Roman history is scratchy, but by the third episode the characters had already developed beyond expectation, revealing that even the mildest had inner demons to hide and battle. And, by then, you were already anxious to see the fourth.

'I'm Surprising My Wife With a Romantic Trip to Italy'

2005-11-20T11:30:00.000-05:00

After serving overseas in the air force, Richard Farrow is taking his wife, Andrea, on a whirlwind vacation.

"Two years ago, my husband got activated with the military," Andrea Farrow, of Murrieta, Calif., wrote to us last summer. "While he has been all over the world, he has actually 'seen' very little of it other than military bases." Andrea was planning on dropping off her three sons with Grandma and taking a two-week trip to Europe in late March with her husband, Richard, a member of the Air Force Reserves, soon after he was released from duty. She wasn't sure where to go, listing Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and Scotland among the places that interested them. When pressed for specifics, Andrea named Pompeii and Venice, and it became clear that we should help them focus on Italy.

A short while after agreeing to coach the Farrows, we got an e-mail from Richard: "My wife doesn't think that we're going, because of some money issues. If she e-mails you about it, just ignore her. I guess this vacation is now going to be a surprise." Andrea never told us they were canceling the trip outright, but after a few weeks we stopped hearing from her. Richard stayed in touch with us between missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we managed to keep the planning a secret. At one point, worried that Andrea was "getting a little snoopy," Richard even switched e-mail addresses to throw her off. "Andrea thinks we can't afford this," Richard wrote, "but we'll manage. I will sell my car if I have to."

The small towns and hills of the Chianti region (Italian Government Tourist Board)

The Farrows wanted to travel primarily by train, and we told them to research routes and schedules at trenitalia.com. After plotting out a rough itinerary according to their requests--a mix of Italy's major attractions with some off-the-beaten-path fun--we suggested that they spend $564 on a second-class, two-person Italy Rail 'n Drive pass, which comes with four days of train travel and a two-day compact-car rental.

"I'm a history teacher," Andrea had said, "so castles, ruins, and historical sites are a must." The Farrows' first glimpse of Italy is in Rome, where their tight schedule allows for three days. Although they want to see the city's big-name attractions, we told them not to get bogged down with a checklist of sights. There are a number of ways to enjoy Rome, such as window-shopping the fashion boutiques of Via dei Condotti, tasting the creamy gelato at Giolitti, and wasting an afternoon at a café on Piazza Navona (so that Andrea can engage in an activity that she had requested--"sitting outside and watching people as they move about their daily lives.")

The Farrows are using the first day of their rail pass to head two hours south to Naples, where they'll switch to a private rail line not covered by their pass (Circumvesuviana, $3) for a 40-minute ride to Pompeii. We pointed out to the Farrows that to be most efficient, before they leave Napoli Centrale station for Pompeii they should place their luggage in a storage room and reserve a sleeping berth, or couchette, on an overnight train to Venice that evening (roughly a $20 supplement to their rail pass).

Wandering around the dusty streets, crumbling temples, vacant houses, intact bakeries, and amphitheater of Pompeii--all frozen in time (a.d. 79, to be precise) by the hot ash of a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius--should eat up five or six hours. Snack trucks lining the road to Pompeii provide a simple lunch, and gift shops sell excellent illustrated guides to help navigate the ruins. If they limit themselves to three hours in Pompeii, they may be able to squeeze in Herculaneum, the less crowded and in many ways more evocative victim of Vesuvius. They just need to hop out at the Ercolano stop on the return to Naples.

The overnight train arrives in Venice at 5:31 a.m., a great opportunity to watch the sun rise over the city of canals. We instructed the Farrows to drop their bags at their hotel--the family-run Hotel Bernardi Semenzato--and head directly to the famed Piazza San Marco, which will be wonderfully empty at that time of day. The Secret Itineraries tour of the Doge's Palace, adjacent to St. Mark's, is up next, and guides give an overview of the 1,000-year history of the Venetian Republic while bringing visitors through cramped wooden chambers hidden behind tapestries in the lavish palace.

As part of the special tour, Richard and Andrea will even get to clamber up to "the leads," the attic prison cells from which Casanova once escaped.

"We'd like to go to some out-of-the-way places that most tourists don't see," Andrea had insisted, prompting us to recommend that on their second day in town they explore Venice's outlying islands by ferry, or vaporetto. The glass factories at Murano, a mini-Venice with canals and cathedrals but no crowds, are fascinating. The fishing village of Burano is known for its brightly colored houses, and then there's also the largely abandoned island of Torcello. It was a former haunt of Ernest Hemingway and is home to little more than some weedy canals, a couple of restaurants, and a 1,000-year-old church glittering with mosaics.

Limiting Venice to two days may seem like sacrilege, but the Farrows demanded a fast pace. Andrea had said she wanted to see as many things as possible, concerned that they'd never take a similar trip again. We told them to hop a morning train that by early afternoon would land them in Pisa for mandatory photo ops of the Leaning Tower. A couple of hours is plenty. They'll continue on to the seaside village of Riomaggiore, where brothers Roberto and Luciano Fazioli rent fantastic apartments for $65 to $130 double. Riomaggiore is the southernmost of five villages along the cliffs of the Riviera known as the Cinque Terre. The villages are connected by a series of ancient goat paths that are scenic and great for hiking.

Next is Florence and two days of sightseeing, followed by a day of cycling through the small towns and hills of the Chianti region with an outfit called I Bike Italy. The Farrows pick up their car in Florence for a final two days, heading south to San Gimignano, a kind of medieval Manhattan with 14 stone towers atop a hill. After lunch at La Mangiatoia--with a bottle of the local white wine, Vernaccia--they drive on to Siena, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. The Campo, Siena's sloping, scallop-shaped central square, is a stone's throw from the place we recommended the Farrows stay, the Piccolo Hotel Etruria.

Before returning to Rome, the Farrows have one last stop. Along the back road from Scansano to Manciano, at a sharp bend just beyond a bridge, they'll see cars parked on the shoulder. Across the field is Saturnia's Cascata del Gorello, hot mineral waters that spill down the hillside in a series of relaxing pools.

The total cost of the couple's trip should be about $4,500--well within the budget Richard gave us. "My wife has done an outstanding job raising our three sons and taking care of our house while I've been away," he said. "She deserves this." Now they know they can afford it. We just wish we could see the look on Andrea's face when she finds out.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Detention at Rome airport upsets Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

2005-11-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

11 November 2005

JOHANNESBURG - Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the controversial former wife of Nelson Mandela has demanded an apology from Italian authorities following her detention at an airport in Rome on Thursday, South African media reported on Friday.

A spokesman for Madikizela-Mandela told a radio station, the 71-year-old political activist was held for 45 minutes at Fumicione airport without explanation. She was later released “without an apology” despite the fact that her travel documents were in order, Udo Froese told the Johannesburg-based 702 radio station.

Madikizela was en route to Sardinia to attend an international conference on culture and mediation as an invited guest speaker, he said. The outspoken anti-apartheid veteran who was convicted of fraud and theft recently, was travelling with a delegation that included her daughter Zinzi.

Edmund Tijerina: Pizza master eyeing world title

2005-11-20T11:15:00.000-05:00

San Antonio Express-News

Who makes the best pizza in the country?

Of course, a New Yorker would say it's Ray's (and then argue about which Ray's they mean) and Chicagoans would debate among Gino's East, Giordano's or Lou Malnatti's.

But San Antonio's own Gus Nassar, owner of Rome's Pizza on De Zavala Road, is now a contender for that title. After all, he's a member of the 2006 U.S. Pizza Team that will travel to Italy to take on the best in the world.

In a competition in New York earlier this month, he took second place in the nation in the Best Pizza category with his Millennium 3 pizza.

His recipe includes pesto and mozzarella, with roasted rosemary potatoes, sautéed spinach and marinated grilled chicken breast. It's then topped with Gorgonzola cheese. He introduced it at the beginning of the millennium.

The world pizza competition takes place in April.

A little preparation takes the hassle out of your trips

2005-11-20T10:59:00.000-05:00

By Pamela Young
Special to the Star-Bulletin
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I found this article in Google News, and although Pamela doesn't mention Rome in her script, I really think there's a ton of good advice here, especially if you're new to foreign city travel.
---===(*)===---

You can find us in any airline VIP lounge. We are the ones in the rumpled blazers, hunched over peanuts and orange juice. Some of us stare blankly at the TV monitor, which is blaring a music video in a foreign language. We are frequent flyers and we are very, very tired.

In 22 years of "Mixed Plate" assignments around the world, I've learned the hard way that traveling, for work or play, is an art. And like any skill, it takes practice, rehearsal and performance.

Yet many people stumble into a vacation ill-prepared to face the physical and mental challenges of long-distance trekking. They pack their vitamins and Instamatics, but leave behind common sense and courtesy. For a "Mixed Plate" series on KITV 4 News at 5, we worked with health practitioners, the U.S. State Department, the Consular Corps and Hawaiian Airlines to come up with a simple checklist to smooth the way from here to there.

Here are a few timely tips for summer sojourners:

10. Do the research. Go online or to the library to bone up on your destination and answer questions such as: Is it safe? How's the weather? When is festival season?Americans tend to book vacations for the summer, not knowing that August is also holiday time for Europe. Many businesses and attractions shut their doors for those four weeks. February is great in Rio de Janeiro, but close to Carnival time, the hotel rates will be exorbitant. Doing the research helps travelers avoid costly mistakes, but also enhances one's appreciation for a destination and a different culture.

9. Do the paperwork. Is your passport valid? Some countries will not allow entry if your passport is six months from expiration. Do you need a visa or documentation of vaccination? Do you have receipts for your camera gear to prove it was purchased in this country? Always carry medical documents verifying blood type, allergies and conditions that might require emergency care.

8. Pack judiciously. Choose your travel wardrobe for versatility and endurance: non-wrinkle sets of shirts, blouses, skirts and pants that can be combined for different looks. Those new red stilettos are cool, but you'll find yourself cursing after three hours of strolling the Champs Elysees. Comfortable shoes are a must, even if they are dorky.I like to pack comfy clothes I don't expect to wear past the trip. Wear 'em, dump 'em. Who wants to pay a hotel laundry bill ($6 for a pair of jeans!) or spend the evening washing clothes in the bathtub? Disposable travel wear also ensures lots of suitcase space for the new clothes you intend to buy!

7. Stay healthy. Drink lots of water on the flight. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. On long flights, make sure you walk around the plane, stretch your legs, do yoga -- anything to bring circulation into your arms and legs. Be generous with hand lotion. Nothing sucks the moisture out of your skin faster than aircraft air conditioning. Bring all your prescription drugs and cold medications. In some countries, over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines are not available without a doctor's prescription. If you buy medications abroad, be sure the pharmacist fully translates the contents. One of the joys of foreign travel is being able to sample different cuisines. Part of your research (No. 10) should have included the safety of water and food. Avoid food offered at roadside stalls. Bring an immerser to boil water in your hotel room (I do this even in New York!). Of course, in the quest for righteous grindz I've broken a few of the most obvious rules. And on "Mixed Plate" assignments, there is always some joker daring me to eat eel's head or ox testicles. Yet my only serious illness came after drinking milk in Belgium, one of the cleanest countries in the world.The pasteurization process there wreaked duodenal havoc. Obviously, I did not do the research.

6. Time is of the essence. Unless you're going to a neighbor island, Hawaii travelers can expect a minimum four-hour haul across the pond. That means at least 2,500 miles and a time zone or two. Convincing your body to time leap is no easy task. Jet lag can zap your energy and muddle your mind. The prep starts on the plane. Adjust your watches to destination time. Try to sleep if the flight is an overnighter. Some passengers find the herbal supplement Melatonin helpful for traveling sleep, but check with your doctor before taking any medication. At your destination, adjust to local sleep hours. Even if you're tired, try to stay up until dark.

5. Ni shuo putonghua? Learn the language. There may not be enough time for you to conjugate verbs, but the very basics are always appreciated. I borrow tapes and CDs to learn as much as I can before departure. At the very least, know how to say "thank you," "please" and "excuse me." They are the three most valuable expressions for a stranger in a strange land.

4. Combien d'argent? Learn the money. The euro has made life easier for vacationers on the Continent, but we still have to deal with yen, yuan, baht, chaht, rupees, pesos and dinar. Find out the exchange rate and make a chart, breaking down the amounts and their equivalents in American dollars. For example, if I see a pair of shoes in Hong Kong priced at $100HK, I divide by eight (the rate is usually around 7.6), and I know I'll be paying about $13US. Of course, you can always take a calculator, but that pretty much pegs you as a turista ... a disadvantage when haggling.

3. Learn the customs. Know when to bow, when to shake hands, when not to touch at all. The Chinese have embarked on a public education program to introduce Beijing residents to Western-style manners. They seek not to offend visitors during the 2008 Olympics. As vacationers, we have the same responsibility not to offend our hosts. For example, ask before taking that snapshot of smiling children in Kenya. In some cultures, a camera is a thing of evil. Some governments charge fees for the privilege of photographing their palaces and monuments. Every culture has a standard for acceptable public behavior. Never forget you are playing in somebody else's back yard.

2. Go with the flow. The trains in Italy are notoriously late, though few passengers complain. It simply is a given. Our train from Rome to Venice was not only 45 minutes late, it turned out to be a local, not an express.That meant eight hours on the tracks, arriving well past midnight. Que sera, sera. The ticket-taker suggested we order a bottle of wine and enjoy the view. And that's exactly what we did. Sometimes all you can do is surrender.

1. Show your aloha. A smile goes a long way, especially when you can't find the words in your foreign language dictionary. Half my suitcase is usually occupied with boxes of chocolate macadamia nuts. If the recipient is Asian, I wrap the box in colorful paper and ribbon. Red is good luck, gold is festive, but avoid white, which is used only for funerals. When I don't know the proper gratuity, when I enter someone's home, when I want to say mahalo, a gift from Hawaii is golden.

When in Rome . . .: How to do it like a local

2005-11-20T10:53:00.000-05:00

By Ken Dilanian
Special to the Chicago Tribune
Published May 22, 2005

ROME -- Seduced by those endless television images of sun-dappled St. Peter's Basilica during the papal transition? Thinking of booking a trip to the Eternal City?

You're not alone. Travel agents say Americans are heading to Rome in droves this spring and summer, thanks in part to the city's visibility during the pope coverage.

It's a great idea. I've lived here for almost three years, and I still discover something new to like about the place almost every day. For a visitor, Rome is a catalog of wonders that almost always makes for an unforgettable experience.

But Italy's capital, like Italy itself, is not all hearts and flowers. As any expatriate resident will tell you, there is a lot to dislike about living here. Luckily most of it—like the mind-bending bureaucracy or the paltry choice of non-Italian restaurants—is irrelevant to the tourist.

Still, there are a few things worth knowing to avoid common pitfalls and make your trip go more smoothly. Here's an insider's guide to a pleasant Roman vacation.

Where to stay: The first thing you'll notice when you start hunting for Rome hotels is that the old reliable chains are either exorbitantly expensive or nowhere near the historic center. And amenities like a fitness center don't exist in a decent location for less than $300 a night. Welcome to Rome's overpriced lodging market, made worse for Americans by the sagging dollar. Demand seems to be pushing prices ever higher this season, and many of the gems are already booked solid.

Unless you are prepared to spend a bundle, what you can hope for is a quaint place in a good location, like the basic, three-star Hotel Siena near the incomparable Trevi Fountain, where a double in late May is going for about $240 a night. If you have to go further downmarket, consider that you aren't coming here to hang around your hotel, anyway.

If you can, stay in the neighborhood known as Old Rome, where you can walk to almost everything you'll want to see. The ideal locations are near Campo di Fiori, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon or the Trevi. Trastevere is also wonderful, if not quite in the very center. If I had to choose between a great hotel and a great location in Rome, I'd pick location. The dingy Metro often doesn't go where you need it to, taxis are expensive, and the overcrowded buses aren't easy to navigate.

There are a lot of budget hotels around the Termini central train station. Stay there if you must, but be warned that it gets a little seedy at night, and it's a hike from many of the sights. Likewise, staying near the Vatican or the Colosseum can be fine, but it means that you are not really within an easy walk of most of the tourist trail. Many travelers are willing to brave the Termini neighborhood, though, to stay at the new Radisson SAS. It's Rome's version of hip minimalism, and it has an outdoor pool.

If you are unsure about a hotel, see what other guests had to say about it on www.tripadvisor.com, which also links to Web deals. Use the link to the right of this Blog. For bargains also try the site www.venere.com. As an alternative, consider renting an apartment for a week.

When you land: Under no circumstances should you take a taxi into the city from Fiumicino Airport. There is a reason taxi drivers wait in line for hours for a single airport trip. Even an honest fare can easily run 50 euros, and honest airport fares for non-Italian-speakers are about as common in this city as a decent hamburger. A savvy investment banker I know was fleeced for 100 euros—$135.

You have at least two good alternatives. One, take the Leonardo Express, a comfortable 10-euro train that whisks you to Rome's central train station, Termini, in 35 minutes. You can even buy tickets with a credit card in the small machine outside the ticket office (don't forget to validate the ticket by inserting it into the yellow box near the platform). From Termini, you can take a much cheaper taxi to your hotel. The truly determined can try the Metro by following the signs.

Option two is a car service, which will send a driver to meet you in the airport arrivals hall for less than the cost of a taxi. Lately I have been using www.romeshuttlelimousine.com, which charges 35 euros ($47). It's nice to see somebody waving a placard with your name on it.

What to see and do: You already know the big stuff. This is a city of awe-inspiring ruins, amazing churches and compelling monuments—and it's a place where just walking the cobblestones streets is unlike anywhere else in the world. Save a full day for St. Peter's and the Vatican museum, of course. Your guided tour—highly recommended—will end in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals recently elected Pope Benedict XVI.

The three other "patriarchal basilicas"—St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul's Outside the Walls—are each stunning, and worth a visit. But my favorite church is St. Mary Over Minerva, near the Pantheon, with its gothic interior and striking blue ceiling.

Other places to take a tour include the Colosseum—the guide will find you in line—and the Roman Forum, where a good guide can bring that old marble to life with stories of treachery and glory.

My other favorite experiences include a stroll in one of the parks, either Villa Borghese to the north of the center or Villa Doria Pamphili near Trastevere; climbing the stairs to the Campidoglio, the Michelangelo-designed City Hall complex, where you are rewarded with views of the Roman Forum; and people-watching in and around Via Condotti, home to Prada, Armani et al. Which brings me to…

Where to shop—or not

With the exchange rate where it is, there are no bargains here. That Versace blouse is probably cheaper back home, even if you dutifully pursue your refund of the 20 percent sales tax on purchases over 155 euros. What's more, Rome is full of tiny stores with limited selection, inconsistent quality and often-indifferent service. Once you get their attention, many shopkeepers don't want you fingering their merchandise—they insist on bringing you your size, then hovering. My wife, for one, can't stand shopping here for that reason.

Still not dissuaded? Okay, it's true that the Italians are good with leather, ceramics and housewares. The biggest shopping streets are Via del Corso, which runs through the heart of central Rome, and Cola di Rienzo, across the Tiber closer to the Vatican. Funkier boutiques can be found around Camp di Fiori and Trastevere.

Rome now has a bona fide outlet mall called Castel Romano, but getting there by public transportation, which I did once, involves taking the Metro, then a bus; then being left by that bus on the side of a highway; then walking a mile. If you must, take the B line to the Laurentina stop, then a Cotral bus toward Pomezia-Latina to the Castel Romano stop.

Where to eat: Dining is an integral part of an Italy vacation, and you should peruse the Web for recommendations. It's easy to eat badly here, though, even at guidebook-sanctioned places. It is also possible to find yourself staring at the same menu every night. Romans are not known for culinary adventurousness, and this is a city full of tourist traps.

That said, just because the place is full of tourists and the menus are in English doesn't mean it will be mediocre. The best (and most expensive meal) I've eaten in Rome was at El Toula (www.toula.it), on Via della Lupa, which is probably in every guidebook, and which even served butter with the bread, American style. Order the veal.

My wife and I often take visitors to Girarrosto Fiorentino (www.girarrostofiorentino.it), at Via Sicilia 29 near the U.S. Embassy, because they serve a sumptuous Tuscan appetizer plate of cold cuts, buffalo mozzarella and grilled vegetables, and, if you have any appetite left, great steaks. I also recently ate a wonderful meal at Taverna Trilussa on Via del Politeama in Trastevere. L'Archetto, at Via dell'Archetto 26, has dozens of varieties of spaghetti, done up with all manner of cheeses, meats and spices.

For my money the best espresso is served at Caffe Tazza D'Oro (www.tazzadoro.it), near the Pantheon, and the best gelato, if you prefer the creamier kind, is at San Crispino (www.ilgelatodisancrispino.com), tucked away near the Trevi Fountain.

If you want pizza that clings to its historic roots, try the Verace Napoletana option at Pizza in Blue, overlooking Piazza Barberini. This wood-oven-baked variety uses just the right San Marzano tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. The owner runs a famous Naples restaurant that was a pizza pioneer.

Since a 10 or 15 percent service charge is included in the bill, you need to tip only a euro or two, except at high-end places, where you can leave 5 percent extra.

Other trips: Rome is generally a safe city, but pickpocketing and purse snatching are pandemic, so guard your valuables, especially on a crowded bus or train.

People of color may find a less welcoming atmosphere in Italy than in northern Europe, though it often seems born more of ignorance than hate. Italians, especially in the south, tend to stare at people who are different from them. My wife, who is Korean-American, has had some unpleasant experiences here, and I once saw some young idiots scream mockingly at a group of Asian tourists in the street. But some people report no problems at all. For more information, check out the minority travelers' forum at www.ricksteves.com.

On a lighter note, waiting in line is seen as a sort of quaint notion in Italy: a nice idea but optional. So don't be afraid to assert yourself when somebody steps in front of you at a taxi stand or a bar. A sharp "mi scuse" usually does the trick. Bars, by the way, are where you go to get an espresso and a snack, and you usually need to pay first, then take the receipt to the counter.

Lastly, horde your change. Italian merchants never had enough in the lira days, and they don't have enough now. Don't even think of asking a small shop to break that 50-euro note you just got from the ATM.

Now that you know to be ready for them, none of these minor hiccups should detract from the majesty of one of the world's great centers of art, culture and beauty.

Looking For A Specific Page On Our Website?

2005-08-14T13:10:00.000-04:00

Many readers have asked me for an updated site index so that they could find pages quickly and easily, so here it is...

The Lets Travel Rome Site Index

You can go straight to the page you are looking for from here without searching around the site and wasting valuable time.

We hope you enjoy your visit to our site...

Lets-Travel-Rome.com Home - Just the home page for our website

Rome Attractions - Our overview of some of the most beautiful sights in Rome

Rome Accommodation - Help with finding the perfect place to stay.

Ancient Rome - Our quick look at the history of this great City.

Rome Tours - Plan the perfect vacation, and make sure you see it all!

Flights to Rome - Get all the best deals, and the most convenience.

Roman Life - La Dolce Vita is waiting for you!

Speak Italian? - Make your visit to Rome even more enjoyable.

Site Map - Get further into our site by using these other quick links.

Les Sheppard
Lets-Travel-Rome.com