Museo Pietro Canonica

Museo Pietro Canonica

This small museum is located in the heart of Villa Borghese and is dedicated to the artist Pietro Canonica (1869-1959). Canonica was a sculptor of international repute, as well as a music lover and a composer in his own right. He spent his formative years in Turin in the last years of the nineteenth century, prior to a long period passed n the courts of Europe, where the aristocracy commissioned portraits and other commerative works from him. He moved to Rome in 1922 and in 1927 managed to get the municipal concession for the building that is today the museum. He used it as his home and studio, undertaking in exchange that, when he died, he would leave all the works that he collected there over the years to funish it as a museum in his name. This unusal museum gives an impression of all aspects of Canonica's life, both private and professional.

Museo Pietro Canonica
Viale Pietro Canonica, 2
(Piazza di Siena)
Villa Borghese
00197 Roma

The museum is open Tuesday- Sunday from 9am- 7pm. For more information visit http://www.museocanonica.it

5:46 PM Share:

Congo Reportraits

Musei Capitolini- Centrale Montemartini, 13th April- 13th May

As part of 'FotoGrafia- Rome's international Festival', the exhibition space of the Centrale Montemartini of Rome wil host the photographic exhibition supported by the Office of equal opportunities and the Office of Cultural Politics of the Municipality of ROme "Congo Reportraits", the photo's by Laura Salvinelli showing the dramatic reality of modern congolese society. The photographs by Laura Salvinelli are dedicated to one of the African countries that has suffered most in our times, and bear witness to the tragic conditions of life for women and children in Congo, the mian victims of the continual war and poverty of the region.
After having worked as a photographer and portraitist in the theatre, Laura Salvinelli has in recent years started a close collaboration with humanitarian associations, creating reportages and telling stories from various parts of the world. These images are also part of this work and focus particularly on the area Kimbanseke of Kinshasa in which Pangea Onlus Foundation is developing a project to help young people in difficulties and orphaned children.

You can find out more at http://www.centralemontemartini.org

6:35 PM Share:

CIBUS Roma 2007

CIBUS will take place at the Nuova Fiera di Roma, Via Eiffel (Ponte Galeria) from 13th-16th April.

For the past 25 years this festival dedicated to Italian food has been one of the most importnat in the world. CIBUS is a major worldwide promotional tool for the Italian food industry. The festival includes; themed conventions for the whole festival period, but also visits to the Capitoline Museums, 'Cinema and Food', a mini festival organised by the Casa Del Cinema, displays organised by the Food Industry Museums- MuseImpresa.

You can find more information about this event at http://www.federalimentari.it

7:12 PM Share:

6° Rome Independent Film Festival

Independent film, both Italian and International, is the protagonist of the Rome Independent Film festival about to begin it's 6th edition, at the Cinema Nuovo Olimpia (Via in Lucina, 16g). The event will take place from 13th- 19th April.

As well as long films there will be documentaries and short films and there'll be a convention on cinema law, a seminar on television formats and a digital cinema workshop.

Amongst other events is the 'Horror Day' organised in collaboration with the Brussels International festival of Fantastic Films and evenings dedicated to cinema from Spain, Canada and Iran.

Visit http://www.riff.it for more information.

5:04 PM Share:

Campioni Sempre- football in Pz del Popolo

Campioni Sempre is a project designed by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, to re-discover the significance of football through 150 days of events organised throughout Italy. During this 'tour' they will be supporting the Italy as candidate for the EURO 2012. You can show your support by signing the large football.

Piazza del Popolo will be full of events, games and guests on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April, from 10am - 8pm. 5,000 children from football schools will be training in the piazza during the two day event and there will be various games and activities.

For more information about this or other tour stops visit http://2012-figc.org

7:49 PM Share:

EXPLORA- Childrens Museum

Explora Il Museo dei Bambini di Roma, is a museum dedicated to children, schools and families, located at Via Flaminia, 82 (close to Piazza Del Popolo).

Children must be accompanied by at least one adult and there is a strict no admittance allowed to adults without a child. Tickets cost €7,00 for children aged 3-12 and €6,00 for adults (from 12 years and up). Under 3's admitted free.

Explora is a city on a child's scale where everything can be observed, touched and experimented with. It allows children the possibility to discover everyday facts and realities experimenting first hand the Environment, Society, Communication and 'me'.

6:38 PM Share:

Villa Borghese for kids

Villa Borghese is a great to take a break from sightseeing and relax. It is also full of activities and places of interest to children.

You can hire bikes (family carts as shown above, or individual bikes) from various points within the park including; Viale Medici (Pincio), Viale J:W: Goethe, Viale delle Belle Arti and others.

You can rent a rowing boat at Giardin del Lago. Open daily from 9:30 am until sunset.

Take a trip around the park on the Cinecaffè Express train (shown below).

Take the kids to visit Casina di Raffaello (Viale della Casina di Raffaello- Piazza Siena), a recreation centre for children between the ages of 3 and 10. It offers a vast program of constantly revised activities. Some, aimed at creative play, are free; others have a cost. Open Tuesday- Sunday from 9am- 7pm. See http://www.casinadiraffaello.it for more details.

You could take the kids to the Cinema dei Piccoli, the smallest operating movie threatre in the world. With 63 seats, the climate controlled room offers a rich selection of films for children during the day (for adults in the evening). It is also wheelchair accessible. For more information visit http://www.cinemadipiccoli.it

There are also many sites, (like the one shown in the above photo) throughout the park with rides and activities for children. You can also rent roller or inline skates, pony rides and much more...

5:14 PM Share:

Book related events for kids

La Feltrinelli is one of the most famous book stores/chains in Rome and has outlets all over the city. Every month they organise events for the public at their various stores including book signings and music events. they often have events suitable for children.

Events this month that might be of interest are:

Sunday 15th April, lafeltrinelli/ Libri e Musica at Viale Libia, 186- 11am. Geronimo Stilton e Oscar Tortuga. These popular characters will be present in store for fun and games. For ages 5 and over.

Sunday 22nd April, lafeltrinelli/ Libri e Musica at Viale Libia, 186- 11am. I Giocattoli Creativi. A workshop with fun and games about how toys are made. For ages 7-11.

Sunday 29th April, lafeltrinelli/ Libri e Musica at Viale Libia, 186- 11am. La Bella Addormentata (Sleeping Beauty). member of the Compagnia del teatro verde will be in store to act out the story of the beautiful princess, with a twist to the traditional tale...the prince refuses to kiss the princess! Sure to be lots of fun. For ages 6 and over

Monday 30th April, lafeltrinelli/ Libri e Musica at Viale Libia, 186. Free guitar lesson for children aged 8-18 for the first 24 to sign up

You can find out more about the monthly events at the laFeltrinelli website http://www.lafeltrinelli.it

6:58 PM Share:

Bioparco (Zoo)

Founded in 1911, Bioparco is one of the oldest Zoos in Europe and is home to a good selection of mammals, reptiles and birds. Bioparco has elephants, lions, bears and a whole host of other animals. The monkey's are great fun to watch!

Bioparco cooperates at national and international level in the conservation of endangered species. It's a member of ' European Association of Zooz and Aquaria' (EAZA), 'World Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (WAZA) and 'International Species Information Species (ISIS). The hosted animals are born in captivity either here or in other zoos, or come from confiscation of species illegally imported into Italy. Many of the animals are also included in international programmes of reproduction in captivity, as they seriously risk extinction.

The zoo offers free guided routes, animal feeding and animal discovering activities. It also has a train 'The Bioparco Express' which runs within the park and gives a fun way to see the animals.

Bioparco facilities include:

• 3 snack bars and a restaurant


• pic-nic area


• "Caffè del Parco" with sanck bar, self service and roof garden


• Bioparco shop


• meeting centre for conferences, conventions and gala performances


• free parking at the entrance

There is a 'Lake Oasis' for you to relax and a childrens area where kids can play on the 'Arc of Animals', a big ship shaped structure with paths, games, slides and swings.

You can find more information about the zoo at their website http://www.bioparco.it

7:28 PM Share:

Kids in Rome

Following a recent comment on this blog, the rest of this weeks posts will be focussing in kids (bambini) in Rome.

For up to date information about events and kid-friendly places to visit, check the Offical Rome website http://www.comune.roma.it or the tourist office website http://www.romatourismo.it
Alternatively call the Tourist Call Center on 06 8205 9127 who are open daily from 9am- 7:30 pm.

Most of Rome's main sites and museums have free admission for under 18's or reduced tickets.

There are lots of tour buses that operate, on a STOP and Go basis, in Rome and have stops close to the main tourist sites. This is probably the best option for seeing the city with small children as other methods may involve a lot of walking.

7:14 PM Share:

MIRACLE PLAYERS

The Miracle Players is an English speaking theatre troupe based in Rome, Italy. They perform original texts and comic adaptations of classics in various historical locations. Every summer the Miracle Players perform comic theatre in English at the Roman Forum.
Inspiration for the shows is drawn from Rome's history and protagonists. These summer shows are a great delight to English speaking tourists not least of all because they are performed free of charge and are suitable for all ages.

You can find out more about the Miracle Players at their website http://www.miracleplayers.org/

The Miracle Players operate with the kind support of CP Centro Pilota Srl - Event and Conference Services. Please visit their website.
English: www.eventservices-italy.com
Italian: www.centropilota.it

6:19 PM Share:

Public holidays in Italy

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

January 1, New Years Day
January 6, Epiphany
March/April, Easter Monday
April 25 Liberation Day
May 1, Labour Day
June 26, Saint Peter& Saint Paul
August 15, Ferragosto
November 1, All Saints
December 8, Immaculate Conception
December 25, Christmas Day
December 26, Saint Stephen

6:10 PM Share:

Travel blogs about Rome

I was searching the internet for sites about Rome and Italy and came across this rather interesting site www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Rome. Here you'll find a variety of links to blogs written by people living in or travelling through Italy. This is a nice idea and worth checking out if you're interested to know what others are doing whilst in Italy. It may give you some ideas for your own trip!

6:02 PM Share:

Review of Italian for Tourists

Ron Berry is a fellow writer and member of a writers group I belong to and he kindly reviewed my book 'Italian for Tourists', this is what he wrote:

Italian for Tourists
A review

I don't speak Italian. I have enough trouble with English (or is itAmerican). Jo Linsdell has written the definitive guidebook. I know if I ever make it to Italy, this is the book I want. Why? Becauseit's layout is simple, easy to use and covers everything. Ms Linsdell has put in a guide to how to pronounce the letters and put in themost common of phrases. There is not a lot of excess wording so finding what phrase or word you need in a hurry is very simple. Thisbook is a must for anyone traveling to Italy. The only negative is that it doesn't go into all the bad language that Italian drivers throw at each other. Wait, that's a good thing.

The first thing you notice is how the book is divided. Then you getthe guide to how to pronounce each letter and in Italian, you do just that. After that, all you have to do is look for the section youneed, airport, train station, hotel, etc, and all the common phrases are there. Anyone who travels can use this book. There are many Italian to English books or other combinations, but none are as easyto use as Italian for Tourists. I highly recommend this to anyone traveling to Italy.

Ron Berry

Order your copy of Italian for Tourists today from www.lulu.com/jolinsdell

7:50 PM Share:

AMA Roma

AMA Spa, Azienda Municipale Ambiente (Municipal Environment Agency)- funded in 1985 - is the Italian leading company in the field of environmental services and Urban Solid Waste managing. AMA provides urban hygiene services across the area of the Municipality of Rome - the largest in Italy - by ensuring the daily collection, haulage and disposal of about 4,000 tons of wastes, the cleaning of streets and pavements covering a total area of 25 millions square meters and the cleaning of 250 local markets, 5 big city markets an weekly markets.

Moreover, AMA provides for the separate collection of glass, plastic aluminium and metal, the recovery of hazardous urban waste, such as batteries and pharmaceutical products, vehicle batteries and abandoned syringes and - upon request - the cleaning of cesspools.

AMA also manages the Funeral and Cemetery Services and through "All Clean Roma" and "Sanama", two companies in which it has a stake, sees to the protection of the outer surfaces of monuments and buildings and to rat extermination, disinfection and disinfestations.

Apart from the green containers for urban waste, AMA provides the following to Romans:
White containers for paper objects, such as books, magazines, newspapers, exercise books and cardboards.
Blue containers for glass, metal and plastic objects, such as bottles, cans, jars, containers.
AMA also recovers about 100 tons per annum on average of lead batteries that contain highly pollutant substances. To this end AMA has installed grey containers in 32 business centers for car and motorcycle batteries.
Small batteries can be disposed in the yellow containers available to citizens in every primary and secondary schools and on all business premises.
Special white containers for the collection of expired pharmaceutical products may be found in all Pharmacies and business premises.

Old furniture, such as sofas, chairs and tables, or household appliances, such as washing machines or vacuum cleaners, must not be dumped in containers nor left on the streets, as this seriously damages the image of the city and pollutes the environment. The solution - free of charge - is to bring those bulky wastes either to the AMA collection centers (open Tuesdays to Saturdays - excluding holidays - from 3:00 to 6:00 pm) or to the "Isole ecologiche"(open 7:00 to 11:00 am and 2:30 to 7:00 pm Mondays to Saturdays and 7:00 to 11:00 am on Sundays)

Alternatively, costumers can use the home collection service of bulky wastes which AMA provides upon requests. Different prices will be applied depending on the quantity of wastes and on the kind of recollection (ground floor or upper floors)

In order to book the service you can call 060606 (English-speaking operators available Monday to Saturday 4pm to 7pm) to agree on the price, date and time of collection. Payment will be made on recollection.

Rome is a beautiful city, let's keep it that way. For more information about AMA Roma visit their website http://www.amaroma.it or call their toll free number 800-867035

8:47 PM Share:

short story contest reminder

I'm looking for short stories connected to Italy in some way. You're story could be based in Italy or have Italian people in it. Use you're imagination. As long as it has a connection with Italy it's valid.
The categories are fiction (any type), non-fcition and poetry. The genre is up to you but please keep it clean. No swearing, explicit violence etc...
Stories should be between 500 and 1500 words in length and may be used in a future anthology. Original content preferred.
Share your love of Italy and have the chance to have you're story published!
Deadline for submissions is 30th April 2007. Please send your submission to jo_bins@yahoo.com with 'short story contest' in the subject line.

7:43 PM Share:

Italy-England under 21's

The Italy vs England under 21's football match marked the first game at the new wembley stadium in England. The final result was 3-3 and the Italian Pazzini (who plays for Florentina) won 'man of the match', scored goals and was clapped by the whole stadium on leaving the pitch. A great game to watch and a great show of sportsmanship by both teams and supporters.

8:12 PM Share:

Trash People

Piazza Del Popolo, Rome

21st- 29th March 2007

Trash People is an exhibition, by Ha Schult, of life-size figures made from compressed industrial waste and urban consumer refuse. Every single object or piece of rubbish that makes up each figure is a direct reference to our daily lives. The artists message, intentionally powerful, is a warning for us to consider which way we should turn to seek our quality of life.

The installation, made up of 1000 elements, multiples the impact that one sculpture makes by sheer numbers. The gravity and importance of the message is all the more obvious due to the vast dimensions of the installation.

The artist, Ha Schult, was born in 1939 and grew up among the ruins of Berlin. Having studied at the Art Accademy in Dusseldorf, Schult has created many pieces over the years. His actions focus on the social environments within cities around the world. His artistic work is expressed by images that make a forceful impact.

This thought provoking piece of artwork is well worth a visit. Visit http://www.haschult.de/ for more information about this artist and the Trash People World Tour.

6:26 PM Share:

cin, cin, cinema

For all you film lovers out there, between 5th March and 5th April, Cin, Cin, Cinema is offering cinema tickets at reduced prices.
Valid Monday to Thursday for an afternoon showing pay only €3,00 and for the evening just €5,00 for a ticket. Better still if you go to the cinema 4 times you get 2 tickets free! (you will need to show the tickets for all the showings so keep them safe).

For more information visit http://www.cincincinema.it or call +39-06-4470-2282

7:16 PM Share:

Villa Borghese card

If you like parks, museums, art galleries and attending special events the Villa Borghese card might be the thing for you.

This annual card offers 1 free entrance, discounts at museums and the zoo as well as saving you money on events and other services offered in the Park. All this for just €10,00!

It might be valid all year but you'll get your money worth in just a few days.

For more information visit http://www.villaborghese.it or call +39-06-8205-9127

6:07 PM Share:

Short story contest

I'm launching a new contest and you're all invited to enter!

I'm looking for short stories connected to Italy in some way. You're story could be based in Italy or have Italian people in it. Use you're imagination. As long as it has a connection with Italy it's valid. The genre is up to you but please keep it clean. No swearing, explicit violence etc...

Stories should be between 500 and 1500 words in length and may be used in a future anthology.

Share your love of Italy and have the chance to have you're story published!

Deadline for submissions is 30th April 2007. Please send your submission to jo_bins@yahoo.com with 'short story contest' in the subject line.

6:42 PM Share:

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo is a great place to visit. The views from the terrace at the top are amazing and it's full of interesting rooms and tunnels that are well worth exploring. A ticket normally costs €5,00 however this is increased to €7,00 when the Castel hosts exhibitions or special events.

Audio guides can be purchased from the bookshop inside for €4,00 single or €6,00 double and are available in the following languages; English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.

For more information you can contact the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo at +39-06-3996-7600

12:49 PM Share:

Rome marathon

The Rome marathon takes place on Sunday 18th March this year. An estimated 15,187 marathoners from over 72 nations will participate in the event, putting Rome 5th in the World and 3rd in Europe.

There is also a Marathon Village (Palazzo dei Congressi) which is open from 15th March until 17th March, 10am until 8pm everyday. Runners can pick up their bib numbers and race packet for the Marathon and the 5k Stracittadina Fun Run. They can also visit stands, attend concerts and shows, utilise sports facilities and take part in the entertainment festivities. The estimated number of visitors to the village is about 87,ooo.

Full information about the marathon can be found at www.maratonadiroma.it

6:58 PM Share:

Answers to Quiz

Let's see how you did...

1) In the Vatican Museums which are part of the state called 'Città del Vaticano'

2) Although the actual number of hills in Rome is about 20, the famous 7 are; Palatine, Celian, Capitoline, Aventine, Quirinal, Esquiline and Viminal.

3) Romulus and Remus.

4) Michelangelo

6:53 PM Share:

Quiz

Here's a little quiz to test your knowledge of Rome and Italy. Answers will be posted tomorrow.

1) I'm in Rome, but not in Italy. Where am I?

2) Name the 7 hills of Rome

3) Name the two legendary founders of Rome

4) The statue of Moses housed in the small church San Pietro in Vincoli was the work of which famous artist?

6:38 PM Share:

Roma Pass

The ROMA PASS is the capital's first cultural tourist card offering discounts and services to encourage visits to the city museums and "allow tourists and other visitors to enjoy the sights of Rome". Launched by the Municipal Authorities of Rome and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage in conjunction with ATAC, the pass costs €20,00 and entitles the holder to; free admission to the first two museums and/or archaelogical sites visited, full access to the public transport system, reduced tickets and discounts for a variety of other museums and sites visited as well as exhibitions, music events, theatrical and dance performances and all other tourist services.

ROMA PASS is valid for 3 days from it's validation date and comes with a kit that includes; Roma pass transport ticket, Roma Map, Roma Pass guide and Roma News.

For more infomration about ROMA PASS visit www.romapass.it or contact info@romapass.it

6:29 PM Share:

Dining out- Royal Art Café

Located in Piazza del Colosseo with front row seats from which to view the world famous Colosseum, the Royal Art Café is a popular choice for both tourists and locals. Opened in 2000, the restaurant offers seating for around 200 people with a choice of roadside, indoors or terrace.

The menu contains traditional Italian meals based on meat dishes, plus a variety of salads and pasta. There is also a wide range of deserts.

The restaurant is open all day (8am-2am) with live music in the evenings. Due to its terrace over-looking the Colosseum, the Royal Art Café is also a popular venue for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.

Royal Art Café
Piazza del Colosseo 1
00184 Roma

tel: +39-06-7759-0270

Website: http://www.royalartcafe.it

6:33 PM Share:

language- Personal pronouns

I io
You tu
He lui
She lei
We noi
You voi
They loro

8:31 AM Share:

Festa delle Donne!

BUON FESTA DELLE DONNE!

International womens day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Italy. The mimosa (shown above) is the symbol of the festa delle donne in many cultures as is given as a gift to women on 8th March. The mimosa has been the symbol of 8th march since it was used in 1946 by the UDI (Unione Donne Italiane) when preparing for the first festa delle donne after the war.

The origins of this much celebrated day are some what unclear. Some say it was started in Copenhagen in 1910, others in St. Petersburg in 1917. Whichever the reason we celebrate, the festa delle donne is a day to give thanks for all that women do in the world and a day to reflect on discriminations and violent against them.

9:15 PM Share:

Language- Romanesco

A romance dialect spoken in Rome, Romanesco is one of the Central Italian dialects, and therefore very close to Italian and Tuscan. Romanesco is used informally by most natives of Rome and contains many expressions and sayings.

Nowadays classical Romanesco is disappearing and being replaced by the more vulgar Romananccio.

9:06 PM Share:

Rome- The facts

The above image is the Seal for Rome. SPQR means Senatus Populus Que Romanus. Rome has many nicknames including among others; the Eternal City, Caput mundi (Capital of the World) and the city of teh seven hills.

Rome is the Capital of Italy and found in the region of Lazio. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian peninsula, where the Aniene river joins the Tiber river. Rome is one of the largest cities in the European Union.

The Historic Centre of Rome is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

8:49 PM Share:

San Pietro in vincoli

San Pietro in Vincoli or Saint Peter in Chains is a small church located close to the Colosseum in Rome. This ancient basilica is dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle. It was built in 442 over the ruins of an Imperial villa, to house the chains that had bound St. Peter in Jerusalem. The church has been restored, rebuilt and renovated several times over the years and since 1970 has been property of the Italian state.

Although this small church contains numerous paintings and frescoes, the most famous piece of art is Michelangelo's Moses from 1545 found to the right of the altar.

The chains of St. Peter are displayed in the confessio before the altar. The feast of the chains of St. Peter is celebrated on 1st August. The feast of St. Peter and St. Paul is on 29th June.

Address: 4a Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli, 00184 Roma

Normally open daily 7:00-12:30 and 15:30-18:00

8:30 PM Share:

Easter words

L'agnello — lamb
Buona Pasqua — Happy Easter
Il coniglietto — bunny rabbit
La crocifissione — Crucifixion
Pace — peace
Pasquetta — Easter Monday
Primavera — spring
La resurrezione — Resurrection
La Settimana Santa — Holy Week
L'Ultima Cena — Last Supper
Le uova — eggs
Venerdì Santo — Holy Friday

7:49 PM Share:

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is the best preserved building of ancient Rome. Dedicated to the planetary Gods, the original temple was built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC. The temple was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 120 AD however Agrippa's name remained inscribed over the entrance.

After being abandoned under the first Christain emperors, the temple was given to the Church by the Eastern emperor Phocus in 608 AD.

Both the height and the diameter of the interior of the building measure 43.3m. It's dome is considered one of the most important achievements of ancient Roman architecture.

Italian kings, Vittorio Emanuelle II and Umberto I along with the artist Raphael are buried here.

6:35 PM Share:

Italian Food

Italy is World famous for it's diet. Pasta is a common element throughout the various regions of the country. Divided into two types, lunga (long), such as spaghetti and linguine and corta (short) which includes penne (tubes) , conchiglie (shell shaped), fusilli (corkscrew shaped) and many others.

Pasta sauce ingredients vary quite dramatically from region to region and there is an obvious difference between north and south. In the north, sauces are traditionally richer and often contain red meat e.g. ragù or as it's sometimes known bolognese. As you head south sauces tend to contain more vegetables and on the coast lots of seafood.

Freshly grated cheese is used to top most pasta dishes. Common types include parmigiano, grana padano, pecorino and ricotta salata. The type of cheese used also varies between regions.

7:19 PM Share:

Civil Weddings in Italy

It is possible for foreign nationals to have a legal civil wedding in Italy. It has recently become much easier for foreigners to marry legally in Italy, however Italy is notoriously bureaucratic which can make it a complicated and time consuming task.

In most regions of Italy civil weddings can take place in hotels or villas as an alternative to the registry office. There are however some restrictions, e.g. a wedding cannot be held outdoors. Some cities only allow weddings in a registry office, but as these are usually located in historic and beautiful buildings this is not as bleak an option as it would be in some other countries.
By law in Italy an official interpreter must be present at all marriages between foreign nationals. The registry office will supply you with a list of interpreters in the area.

Publication of Banns: For marriages between Italian nationals it is a requirement that banns be posted for at least two weeks (it varies by region) before a wedding licence is issued. This requirement may be waived in the case of marriages between non-nationals, but it is important to check this with the registrars office in the area where you plan to marry.

Documentation: Birth certificates, Valid current passport, A Certificate of Freedom to Marry. This should be completed and returned to the registry office where you will marry not less than 8 weeks and not more than 12 weeks before the marriage takes place. In Italy a divorced person cannot marry until at least 300 days after the issuing of a Decree Absolute and will need to supply a copy of the Decree Absolute. In some regions an affidavit by a 3rd person drawn up in the presence of a solicitor, stating that since the date of divorce you did not re-marry may be needed.

A widowed person will require the Certificate of their first marriage and the Death certificate of the deceased spouse. An affidavit by a 3rd person drawn up in the presence of a solicitor, stating that since death of former spouse you did not re-marry may be asked for.

There is no legal residency requirement in Italy, but local regulations vary and some registry offices require that you register 2-3 days before the wedding takes place.

A Marriage Certificate will be provided by the registrar immediately after the wedding.

You can find out more about weddings in Italy in 'A guide to weddings in Italy' available now from http://www.lulu.com/jolinsdell

6:10 PM Share:

Shopping in Rome

Rome offers shopping opportunities for all budgets. Individual neighbourhoods have their own corner shops, butchers, bakers and bars, however most of the city's quality and speciality shops are located in specific areas.

Via Condotti and it's surrounding streets (located in front of Piazza di Spagna) contain most of the big names in fashion, accessories, jewellery and luxury goods. Here you will find Gucci, Prada, Christian Dior and alike.

Via del Corso is where you will find mid-range clothes, shoes etc... Here you will find stores like Miss Sixty, Diseal etc..

Should you wish to venture out of the centre take the metro A to Subaugusta. Here you will find a small shopping centre but also Via Tuscolana, a long road full of mid-range to inexpensive shops. There are many zones like this in Rome so if you have the time, move around the city a bit and discover them. It'll be worth your while.

There are also several markets in Rome worth visiting. Porta Portese is the largest and takes place on Sunday mornings. You will find bargains galore. Happy shopping!

7:00 PM Share:

Visiting Italy

Included in this blog is various information about Italy, especially Rome, and tips for tourists. As personal experience plays an important role in the type of tips and information a person can give about a place, I thought I'd add this post so that you can all add your own tips drawing on your own personal experiences.

Did you use a particular tour company during your visit? were they any good?
Do you know of a hidden treasure worth visiting?
Do you have tips for saving money during your trip?
Did you eat at a particularly good/bad restaurant?

Add a comment to this post with a tip for others planning on visiting Italy.

7:37 PM Share:

Piramide

This monument is the tomb of Caius Cestius, Praetor and Tribune of the plebeians during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Cestius, having visited the pyramids in Egypt, decided to create one for himself as a tomb.
It is made from white marble and incorporated in the Aurelian walls. During the second half of the 17th century, while the base of the pyramid was being cleaned, various pieces of columns were found, along with marble bases with the names of the descendants of Caius Cestius engraved on them, and a bronze foot. Inside the monument, there were no precious objects, probably because a law had been passed forbidding excess luxury and the burying of gold. As a result, the gold-embroidered clothing belonging to Caius was sold, and the heirs used the money to erect the large bronze statue, of which just the foot remains.

7:24 PM Share:

Political crisis

As you have probably seen mentioned in the news Italian politics is in crisis. Since becoming the President Romano Prodi has been under pressure from the population (regarding mainly the increase in taxes) and other politicans (regarding mainly the troops in Iraq).

Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Repubblic, has ordered a vote of trust to be carried out in the chambers. There has been a lot of talk of Prodi being forced to resign. The results of the vote should be final by next Wednesday.

A recent survey on yahoo Italia shows that the population (57%- 2218 votes) think the best thing to do to resolve the situation is to hold new elections.

8:10 PM Share:

Pronunciation guide

Italian pronunciation might pose some difficulties for beginners however it is not difficult if certain basic rules are followed:

1. 
   All letters, both vowels and consonants, must be pronounced, with the exception of h


2. 
   If 2 or 3 vowels follow each other in a word, each one is pronounced and retains its own individual sound.


3. 
   If a word contains a double consonant you pronounce both consonants

To find out more about the Italian language and learn the words and phrases needed when visiting Italy, get your copy of 'Italian for tourists' from http://www.lulu.com/jolinsdell today!

7:35 PM Share:

Arco di Constantino

One of Rome's most important victory arches, Arco di Constantino can be found on the western side of the Colosseo. It was constructed in 312AD in honour of Emperor Constantine following his victory over Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge (north-west of the Villa Borghese, in zona Olimpica). The arch was made in marble taken from other constructions.

8:19 PM Share:

Colosseo

The Colosseum or Colosseo was orignially known as the Flavian Amphitheatre or Anfiteatro Falvio. Construction was started in 72AD by Emperor Vespasian in the grounds of Nero's private Domus Aurea.

The massive construction could seat more than 80,000 people. The games held to mark the inauguration of the Colosseo lasted 100 days and nights, during which time thousands of people and animals died.
Gladiators were prisoners of war, slaves sold to the gladiator schools or volunteers. Fights were not necessarily to the death as a defeated gladiator could appeal to the crowd and the presiding magistrate, who would signal whether he had fought well and deserved to be saved or if he should be killed. Successful gladiators became popular hero's and would live to enjoy a comfortable retirement.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseo was abandoned and later became property of the Church. There are in fact a few graves located inside the Colosseo.

8:59 PM Share:

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi, is one of Rome's most famous monuments. Designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 this high-baroque fountain dominated the tiny piazza. It's water is supplied by one of the cities earliest aqueducts.

The famous custom is to throw a coin into the fountain (over your shoulder facing away from it) to ensure your return to Rome.

7:34 PM Share:

February 14th

Originally, celebrated in honour of the Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods, February 14th has always been a lucky day for love. Juno was also regarded as the Goddess of Women and Marriage, and her holiday was observed on the eve of the annual Roman fertility festival called the Feast of Lupercalia which was dedicated to the Gods of Agriculture, Lupercus and Faunus along with Romulus and Remus – the legendary founders of Rome.

You can find out more about Valentines day in Italy in my ebook 'The Patron Saint of Lovers' which is available to download now at http://www.lulu.com/jolinsdell

8:40 PM Share:

Phoning in Italy

The country code for Italy is 0039.

Should you want to call home when in Italy you have several choices.

1) Use a public telephone. This is likely to be very expensive and is therefore not recommended.

2) Phone from one of the many Centri Telefoni or call centres located throughout most cities. These tend to be equipped with banks of phones and (occasionally) staff. You normally speak first and pay later, however some phone booths require a prepayment.

3) Buy an international call card. These are sold in most bars and newsagents. e.g. Edicard, allows you 300 minutes calling time for just €5,00. You can use the card at public phone booths or fixed land lines. This is the most cost effective option.

7:26 PM Share:

And the winner is....

The blog comment competition is now over. Thank you to all of you that took part. All names were put into a hat and one was picked out and the winner of a free copy of my latest ebook 'The Patron Saint of Lovers' is Sandy Wells. Congratulations to Sandy!

To receive your prize please send me your email address or contact me at jo_bins@yahoo.com

8:20 PM Share:

Carnevale

Lent or la Quaresima. Abstinence from traditional pleasures; maybe wine, tasty Italian deserts (dolci),or not speaking swearwords (parolacce). How do Italians prepare for 40 days of self-inflicted deprivation? Throw a party that lasts for weeks!

The word Carnevale comes from the term carne levare since eating meat was restricted as an atonement while preparing for Easter (Pasqua). The celebration itself has roots in ancient pagan celebrations such as Saturnalia and Lupercalia. In Italy il Carnevale is traditionally a time dedicated to parades, dances, masquerade balls, entertainment, music and widespread merriment. One of the oldest remaining documents about the use of masks in Venice dates to May 2, 1268, when the citizens where banned from playing a certain game while wearing masks. Nowadays mischief and pranks are part of the festivities, children bombard each other with silly string spray and confetti (coriandoli), adults attend extravagant costume balls, and some towns have a series of parades with spectacular papier–mâché floats.

8:05 PM Share:

Largo Argentina

As well as being the home to the ruins of 4 Roman temples and the remains of pompey's theatre, located in Largo Argentina is the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. A no-kill shelter for homeless cats, of which Rome has many. Volunteers from different countries around the world, who created the shelter, work here 7 days a week.

If you would like to be involved you can give a home to a cat, adpot a cat at a distance or make a donation. You can also work with them looking after the cats, as a tour guide or administartive help.

You can find out more about the Cat Sanctuary at their website http://www.romancats.com/

8:09 PM Share:

Why was the Roman Empire important?

Many of the things we do and have originated from the Romans:

Language. The language we use today was developed from the Romans. The Romans wrote and spoke in Latin and many of our words are based on Latin.

The Calendar. Started by Julius Caesar it is based on the Eaths movement around the sun. The names of the months where taken from the names of Roman Gods and rulers. July is named after Julius Caesar himself.

The Romans also gave us:
A legal system and laws
The Census
Straight roads
Central heating
concrete
Aqueducts (bridges for water).

8:48 PM Share:

When in Rome

Rome is an amazing city. Whether your into the churches, the art, the gorgeous food and wine or the handsome Italian's, this city has it all.
What to do depends on 1) if it's your first trip 2) your interests 3) how long you go for.
1) If it's your first time in Rome there are certain "must sees". The vatican, the colosseum, trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna etc... Rome is actually very easy to get around and you should be able to cover all the big sites in one or two days. Make sure you get to the vatican early or you could find yourself in line for hours.
2) A lot depends on your interests too. There are churches everywhere which are worth a visit both for religous reasons and for the art. Monuments are everywhere too and you'll find you see a lot of art and history just walking around the city. If you're more into nature and relaxing, there are numerous parks (Villa Borghese is right in the centre and great for a picnic. From the Pincio you get a great view over Rome too).
3) How long you stay for will also effect how much you see. As the famous saying goes "A lifetime is not enough". If you have a couple of weeks check out the big sites in the centre and some of the lesser visited ones like St. Petro in vincoli (up the hill in front of the Colosseum which has in my opinion one of Michelangelo's best pieces), take one of the boat trips down the tevere river to Ostia (the beach), get a bus to Tivoli and go to Villa D'este (a beautiful villa with gorgeous gardens full of statues, fountains, and view of Rome from a distance)
make sure you eat at restaurants where Italians eat and not at the tourist restaurants in the centre. Although some tourist menus are ok they are nothing compared the Italian food prepared for Italians. Think about it, tourists menus are created for people who won't be coming back, proper Italian restaurant what the people to come back and therefore have better quality of food and service...and price!

8:50 PM Share:

Football banned for 2 weeks

All football matches have been banned for a 2 week period following the death of an Italian police officer. The Police officer was killed during the violence between fans and the police force that followed a match in Catania. This is not the first time a person has been killed under a similar situation. Unfortunately violence has been part of the history of football for many years however in the past it was fans vs fans. Now it's police vs fans and the attacks are becoming more and more violent. No one seems to know how to resolve the situation here in Italy but there has been a lot of talk about following the UK example of no tolerance to any form of violence. General public opinion here is that a 2 week ban will make no difference to the situation. There is talk that some matches will take place on Sunday 11th but this will only be valid for stadiums that meet certain levels of security.

8:37 PM Share:

Reminders

1) Don't forget there's still time to leave comments and and take part in the blog commetns competition. For every comment you leave on this blog before february 10th, your name will be entered into the prize draw (*up to 3 times).

2) Remember that every Saturday at 6pm CET there is a chat in my chatroom at http://jolinsdell.tripod.com with different guest speakers dropping by every week to share their knowlegde and answers your questions. Don't miss out, join the chat!

3) If you want to be kept up to date on my latest projects, articles in press, interviews and other general news sign up for the free monthly newsletter at http://jolinsdell.tripod.com

8:22 PM Share:

St. Valentines day is fast approaching and if you're looking for an original gift check out my latest ebook 'The Patron Saint of Lovers' which is out now and available to download from www.lulu.com/ jolinsdell. It's cheap and easy to send to whoever is in your soft spot this year. More original than chocolates or flowers and will last a lot longer than both.

Ever wondered who St. Valentine really was? or How the Italians celebrate Valentines day? 'The Patron Saint of Lovers' has the answers to these and other questions.

Share the love, get your copy today!

http://www.lulu.com/jolinsdell

8:15 PM Share:

Villa d'Este- Tivoli

Villa d'Este has been on the list of World Heritage Sites since 2001. Famous for it's beautiful gardens full of majestic fountains and grottoes, Villa d'Este was created by Pirro Ligorio for Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este and represented something absolutely new in the panorama of the 16th Century Villas.

Uberto Foglietta wrote in 1569 "no matter which direction one set's one's gaze, there are spouts of varied styles and of such splendor of design thatone must conclude that in all the world there could be no such place which is not greatly inferior".

Even today at 500 years of age, Villa d'Este continues to amaze and draw in thousands of visitors every year.

You can find out more about Villa d'Este at http://www.vilaadestetivoli.info, by emailing villadestetivoli@telekottageplus.com or by calling +39 0424 600460

8:03 PM Share:

Tips for tourists

Here are some tips for enjoying the best of Rome without spending a cent:

1) The Vatican museums are free to enter on the last Sunday of every month. make sure you get there really early to avoid having to wait hours in line though.

2) Rome is full of fantastic parks and churches which are all free to enter. Even small lesser know churches house some lovely little surprises and most of the parks offer amazing views of the city and are full of fountains and other monuments.

3) The Roman Forum is free to enter. Enter behind the Vittorio Emanuelle monument in Piazza Venezia and take a stroll through the ruins in the Roman Forum whilst heading towards the Coloseum. The museum across the road from the Forum is free to enter and has some great things on display from back in Roman times and follows the history of the Roman Empire. It is also free to enter.

4) In the summer months of June and July Rome is full of free concerts. The biggest nomrally take place in Circo Massimo, Piazza San Giovanni and in front of the Coloseum. Big name stars offering free concerts, what more could you want?

7:53 PM Share:

Tivoli

Once a holiday destination for Roman Emperors today Tivoli is visited by millions of tourists. Home to three amazing villas; Villa Adriana, Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana plus the Terme di Roma known as the 'beauty-farm' of the gladiators.

Tivoli can be easily reached from Rome by either bus or car. Buses go regularly between Rome (Ponte Mammolo) and Tivoli centre. To arrive by car just follow the A24 Roma- L'Aquila until casello di Tivoli or take the Statale Tiburtina from Rome.

During June and July the Festival Tivoli Estate takes place with concerts and shows.

To know more about Tivoli visit http://www.villadestetivoli.info, http://www.tibursuperbum.it or http://www.parchilaszio.it

7:34 PM Share:

Piazza di Spagna

Piazza di Spagna holds a special place in my heart as it's where I met my now husband. A popular meeting place by both day and by night, The Spanish Steps are one of the most famous sights in Rome.

By day the piazza is full of tourists taking a second to rest their feet, take a pause from shopping (it's located at the end of the fabulous and very expensive Via Condotti- home to fashion houses such as Gucci, Prada and Christian Dior) or simply to take in the views.

In the evening it transforms into a social gathering point for both Italians and tourists. You are likely to find young Italian men playing guitar, singing and trying their luck with the tourists. One of the most common phrases you'll hear in this piazza is in fact "Ciao Bella" which means "hi beautiful".

Despite their name, the Spanish Steps were commissioned by a Frenchman Etienne Gueffier who in 1723 tried to link Piazza di Spagna with the French-owned church Trinità dei Monti on the hill above. A century earlier the piazza had been home to the headquarters of the Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See giving the name to both the steps and the square.

The Museo Keats-Shelley, the lodgings where the poet John keats died in 1821, is also located in the piazza.

11:05 AM Share:

Reminders

1 ) This Saturdays chat at http://jolinsdell.tripod.com.
Peter Carusone, author of 'Where's the Minestrone?' and Professor of Marketing will be the guest speaker in this weeks chat. He will be discussing marketing and sharing information and tips to help you market your writing. There is a free handout for all who attend. As always, the chat starts at 6pm CET (that's 12 noon EST). Feel free to invite anyone you think might be interested. The more the merrier!

2) You still have a chance to be part of the blog comments contest. Until February 10th anyone who leaves a comment on this blog will be put in the prize draw to win a free copy of my ebook 'The Patron Saint of Lovers'.

3) If you like this blog why not sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://jolinsdell.tripod.com. It's free and keeps you up to date on competitions, new book releases, articles in press, the chatroom and more.

8:58 PM Share:

This blog is a winner!

As the Romans Do has just won it's first award!

The Muse It Up Awards took place between the 1st and 20th January 2007. A big thank you to all who voted and made this site the winner.

More information about the Muse It Up Awards can be found at http://museitupclub.tripod.com/themusepeerawards/id12.html

10:46 AM Share:

Famous people- Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar is one of the most known figures in Roman and World history.

Born in July around 100 BC Caesar, Julius Caesar was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in World history. He played a major role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire and the civil war in 49 BC left him the undisputed master of the Roman world. He was also responsible for the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC.

He gained control over the Roman government and began making extensive reforms of both Roman Society and government. After being proclaimed dicator, he was assassinated by his friend Brutus in March 44 BC. His murder lead to another civil war.

You can find out more about Julius Caesar at http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Caesar-J

8:55 PM Share:

Money matters- The Euro

History was made on 1st January 1999 when 11 (this later became 12) countries from the European Union decided to create a monetary union with a single currency, the Euro.

Euro bank notes and coins entered circulation in these 12 countries on 1st January 2002. The 12 countries are Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland.

The € symbol is made by the first letter of Europe crossed by two parrell bars to indicate the stability of the euro.


The 7 banknote denominations have a common design in all countries, however the 8 denominations of coins include different national designs on one side and a single European design on the other.


Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.
Euro coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 Euro.

You can find out more about the Euro at http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/our_currency_en.htm

8:59 PM Share:

Reminders

Just a few reminders:

1) At 6pm CET, Saturday 20th January, Tammy Powley will be a guest speaker in my chatroom at http://jolinsdell.tripod.com. She will be discussing professional blogging and giving out a free handout full of useful information to all who attend. Don't miss out, join the chat!

2) Blog comment contest. Until 10th February anyone who leaves a comment on this blog will be put in to the prize draw to win a free copy of my book 'The Patron Saint of Lovers'. The more comments you leave the greater your chance of winning!

3) The Muse It Up Awards. Thank you to all of you that have already voted for this blog and my website http://jolinsdell.tripod.com. For those of you that haven't, take a minute to visit http://museitupclub.tripod.com/themusepeerawards/ and vote for http://astheromansdo.blogspot.com under best blog and http://jolinsdell.tripod.com under best website. Thank you for the support.

8:31 PM Share:

Weddings in Italy

In Italy it is possible to have a valid civil wedding, religious wedding, symbolic ceremony or a simple blessing.The Civil Ceremony takes place inside the town hall or in specific locations.

The Catholic wedding ceremony is always performed in a church.

In the Protestant and Anglican ceremonies the wedding rite can be performed in a church as well as in a Palace, Castle, Villa, or Garden.

The Symbolic Ceremony can take place in a Palace, Castle, Villa, or Garden.
A Blessing takes place in a church or in a Palace, Castle, Villa, or Garden.

In the case of legal weddings, it is necessary to present documents to the local authorities, the documentation necessary varies according to the nationality of the bride and groom and the type of ceremony requested.

Italy has long been a popular and romantic destination for foreign couples and this trend continues to grow. Italy is a little trickier for weddings in terms of regulations that some other destinations, though, so it’s good to start planning early. Rome is a popular destination for Church marriages abroad. People go away for many reasons, perhaps to keep everything small and simple, or because of a recent wedding in the family, or possibly because this is what the bride and groom really want. Rome is a great city for a wedding...you’ll have wonderful wedding photos!

To find out more about weddings in Italy check out A GUIDE TO WEDDINGS IN ITALY, which is available to buy now from http://www.lulu.com/jolinsdell

8:15 PM Share:

Tips for tourists

Here is just a few tips for when in Rome:

1) Italian food is great. Make sure you keep clear of tourist menus though and find a nice restaurant that the locals go to. Tourist menus are designed for tourists. Restaurants that the locals go to want their customers to come back therefore the quality of food and service will be much higher. Often the price is also better.

2) Watch out for pickpockets. Public transport in Rome is full of them. A large number of them are children and when the metro and buses are busy you won't even feel them do it. Make sure you always keep a close eye on your bag/wallet.

3) Seek out the little gems. Rome is full of things to see and art and history are everywhere you look. If you're staying for a couple of days, obviously try to fit in the bigger sites, but if you have a little more time seek out some of the less tourist spots e.g. A great Church is San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in chains) which is located close to the Coliseum. Inside is Michelangelo's 'Moses' (in my opinion, one of his best works).

8:03 PM Share:

The chats are back!

Starting from Saturday 20th January, my chatroom will be back in action. To help lessen confusion over times, all chat's will now be held at 6pm CET. The time converter is on the site if anyone needs it. I've got some great chat's lined up too. I'm kicking off the new year with Tammy Powley who will be joining us in the chatroom at 6pm CET, Saturday 20th January to discuss 'Professional blogging'. She was the one who got me into blogging and is therefore to thank, in part, for this blog.

Tammy Powley is a writer and designer. She is the author of numerous jewelry making books, most recently Making Designer Mixed Media and Memory Jewelry, published by Rockport, and has been published in various print publications, including Jewelry Crafts Magazine, Bead Step-by-Step, and Art Jewelry. Since 1998, Tammy has been About.com’s Guide to Jewelry Making (http://jewelrymaking.about.com/), and she also blogs professionally for b5media.com and Creative-Weblogging, writing about jewelry, beads, and wine. See her web site at http://www.tammypowley.com/ for more information as well as links to her various web writing work.
A free handout full of useful information about making money from blogging will be given to all who attend. Don't miss out, join the chat!

http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/

9:58 AM Share:

The legend of Romulus and Remus

The myth of Rome's birth was recorded by Titus Livius (59 BC- AD17) and begins in the old latin capital Alba Longa with the King Numitor, whose throne was stoeln from his brother Amulius. Amulius forced Numitors daughter, Rhea to become a vestal virgin to prevent rival claims. The god Mars then appeared to Rhea and left her pregnant with Romulus and Remus. The twins were born and thrown in the river by Amulius, but were guided by the gods to the Velabrum, the old marshes under the Palentine Hill. Here they were raised by a she-wolf and eventually adopted by a shepherd. When they became adults they founded Rome in 753 BC, fulfilling the phophecy made by Mars. Both wished to rule and neither could agree on a name for the new city. Romulus preferred Roma, while Remus preferred Rema. Romulus settled the argument by murdering his brother and built the city walls.

The statue of the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus can be found at Palazzo dei Conservatori.

1:02 AM Share:

Greetings and introducing yourself

Good morning buon giorno
Good evening buona sera
Good night buona notte
Good-bye arrivederci
Hi/ bye ciao

My name is…. Mi chiamo...
Pleased to meet you. Piacere.
What’s your name? Come si chiama?
How are you? Come sta?
Very well, thanks. And you? Molto bene, grazie. E lei?
I’m not Italian non sono italiano
Where do you come from? Da dove viene?
I’m from…. Sono di….
I’m… sono….
English inglese
American americano/a
Canadian canadese
Australian australiano/a
Irish irlandese
Welsh gallese
Scottish scozzese
How old are you? Quanti anni hai?
I’m….years old ho.....anni
I was born in...... sono nato/a a.....

For more information on the Italian language visit my storefront at www.lulu.com/jolinsdell and check out my book Italian for tourists.

12:54 PM Share:

Public transport in Rome

Transport in Rome is easy to use if you know the rules. There are different types of tickets, all of which you can buy from the ticket machines in stations, tabaccherie, bars and paper shops.
In order for the ticket to be valid, it must always be stamped at the begining of the journey or when entering the metro or on buses and trams. The ticket expires after 75 minutes.
The B.I.T. ticket must be preserved and shown on request to the control personnel on all means of transport.
If the validation machine is out of order the passenger must advise the driver and write on the ticket in pen; the time and date. If this happens when on the metro the ticket should be validated by the station personnel.
A €1,00 ticket is valid for 75 minutes for travel within the territory of the Rome municipality on buses, trams and one time only on the metro.
A €5,00 multibit (5 B.I.T.) ticket can be used 5 times even on different days (like 5 seperate B.I.T. tickets). It is valid for 75 minutes after each validation. It must be used only by one person.
A €4,00 B.I.G. (Integrated Daily ticket) is valid up to 12 midnight on the day on whichh the ticket is validated and gives unlimited rides on all transport within the Rome municipality. As with the other tickets, this must be stamped at the begining of the first journey.
A €11,00 B.T.I ticekt (intergrated tourist ticket) is valid up to midnight of the third day inclusive of that on which it was first stamped and for an unlimited number of jurneys within the Rome municipality.
A €16,00 C.I.S ticket (Integrated weekly ticket) is valid up to midnight of the 7th day inclusive from the date indicated by the customer as it's first day of validity for an unlimited number of journeys within the Rome municipality.
Obviously the type of ticket you choose to buy will depend on the length of your stay and the amount you plan to use the public transport system.
You will be fined up to €100,00 if caught without a valid ticket so remember to always stamp the ticket.

When on public transport always keep a close eye on your bag/wallet as pickpockets are very common. They are mostly small children and sometimes even pregnant women.

12:27 PM Share:

Blog Contest

Everyone who leaves a comment on my blog between January 10th and February 10th will be entered into the prize draw. To increase your chances of winning leave a comment on more than one post. Your name will go in the hat for each comment you leave *up to 3*.

The winner will receive a free copy of my new ebook 'The Patron Saint of Lovers'.

Ever wondered who Saint Valentine was? or how the Italians celebrate Valentine's Day? You'll find the answers to these questions and much more in 'The Patron Saint of Lovers'. More original than chocolates or flowers, 'The patron Saint of Lovers' makes a great valentines gift.

12:35 PM Share: