Central Italy (Sep '10) - Overview

Went to Rome (罗马) with my colleagues over the weekend from 18 Sep (Sat) to 21 Sep (Tue).

Rome, or Roma in Italian, is a popular tourist destination in Italian Republic (意大利共和国). As the blockbuster movie, Angles & Demons, just aired in 2009, our itinerates in Rome therefore included most of the attractions filmed in the movie. On top of this, we took a day trip to explore Naples (那不勒斯) on our second day, and visited the World's smallest country Vatican City State (梵蒂冈城国) on our third day. Besides these UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we also explored many famous museums and landmarks.


Leisure trip at a glance

Country: Italian Republic
Period: 18 Sep to 21 Sep 2010
Flight timings:
18 Sep: F7 1121, GVA–FCO, ETD 1130 ETA 1255
21 Sep: F7 0110, FCO–GVA, ETD 1945 ETA 2115
Air tickets: Return tickets at CHF 267.85 per person (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodation:
B&B Home Sant'Agata al Colosseo (18 to 21 Sep)
Currency exchange rate: EUR 1.00 = SGD 1.72 (Sep '10 period)

There is no time difference between Switzerland and Italy; both countries are in Central Europe time zone. Total damage was about SGD 500 including flight tickets, airport taxes, transport, food and hotel, excluding personal expenses.

Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:

Day 1 – Morning flight F7 1121 from Geneva Airport (Switzerland) to Rome-Fiumicino Airport (Italy). Took Airport Shuttle Express to hotel. Explored Rome landmarks: Quattro Fontane, Trevi Fountain, Temple of Hadrian, the Pantheon, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Largo di Torre Argentina, Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona and Fontana del Tritone.

Day 2 – Took train to Naples. Explored Castel Nuovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Galleria Umberto I, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Piazza del Gesù Nuovo and Piazza Gaetano. Took train back to Rome and shopped at Hard Rock Café.

Day 3 – Visited Vatican City (including Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica), followed by Castel Sant'Angelo, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Campidoglio and Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Day 4 – Took a brief look at Arch of Constantine. Took a guided tour at Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Explored Roman Forum and Victor Emmanuel II National Monument. Back to hotel and took Metro to Piazza della Repubblica, then Leonardo Express to Rome-Fiumicino Airport. Boarded evening flight F7 0110 to Geneva Airport.

Rome–Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci"

Rome–Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci", or Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" in Italian, is an international airport in Fiumicino serving Rome, and it is the eleventh busiest airport in Europe. The name "Leonardo da Vinci" recalls a unique Renaissance artist whose 'man connecting to nature' representation is perhaps the airport's official symbol. The IATA code for this airport is FCO.

Rome–Fiumicino Airport has a modern design of check-in rows (left photo below). Boarding Pass was issued to each passenger during our flight back to Geneva (right photo below).


Transportation

Getting in/out from the Airport

There is no direct connection of Rome-Fiumicino Airport with Rome Metro system. The airport is about 35-km by car from the historic city center in Rome. However, there are several ways to get to Rome city center. During our trip, we took two different ways to get in/out from the airport.

Airport Shuttle Express

Booked this shuttle service from a "Tourist Information" counter at the Airport (left photo below). A mini-bus was allocated to shuttle us from the airport to our B&B directly (right photo below). Cost of the shuttle was EUR 50 for 4 persons, which was slightly cheaper than taking the express train.

Airport Express Train

Leonardo Express is the train that connects between Rome-Fiumicino Airport and Roma Termini (Rome's Central Train station). The train leaves every 30-mins and runs from 0630 hours till 2330 hours. The whole duration takes about 35-mins.

Fiumicino Aeroporto railway station, or Stazione di Fiumicino Aeroporto in Italian, is sited within the Rome-Fiumicino Airport (left photo below). Seats are comfortable in this Leonardo Express (only first-class service) train (right photo below).
Train tickets can be purchased from the station machine, travel agencies or authorized sales point. Each trip cost EUR 14 per passenger (photo below).

Rome Metro System

Rome Metro, simply called 'Metropolitana' by Italians, runs approximately every 7-10 minutes, from 0530 hours until 2330 hours every day or until 0030 hours on Saturdays. In Rome, the underground metro lines are the quickest way of moving around where travel time being considerably reduced especially for lengthy journeys. There are 2 Metro Lines (A and B), and both lines intersected at 'Termini' station (photo below).

Station name is clearly shown at its entrance, and even its respective Metro Line is indicated to help visitors to confirm on the Metro map (left photo below). Ordinary tickets (right photo below) can be bought throughout the metro stations from vending machines, booths, news-stands (edicole) or tobacco shops (tabacchi). Cost of single trip ticket was EUR 1.00 (valid within 75-minutes) while a one-day ticket was EUR 4.00.


Its trains do look similar with Singapore's MRT trains (left photo below). Even the train's interior has a contemporary design (right photo below).


Trenitalia regional train

Roma Termini (left photo below) is Rome's biggest railway train station with 33 platforms serving as the main hub for Rome. It is also intersected with Rome Metro Lines A and B.

Napoli Centrale (right photo below) is the main railway station in Naples with 25 tracks.
We took Treno train (left photo below) that interestingly had its own private cabin of 6-seaters (right photo below).
The train ticket from Rome to Naples, and back cost EUR 41 per person (photo below).

Accommodation

B&B Home Sant'Agata al Colosseo

B&B Home Sant'Agata al Colosseo is located at 'Via Santa Agata dei Goti' and is about 10-mins walk from the 'Colosseo' station of Metro Line B. The apartment is well-hidden among the neighborhood and can be dark during the night (photos below).


Being a B&B apartment, it had furnishings of a typical Italian home (photos below).
It's pity that we didn't get to use the kitchen (left photo below) which seemed to be well-equipped. The spiral iron staircase (right photo below) was more of an ornamental object in the house as its access was blocked.


We booked this B&B online which cost EUR 550 for 3 nights, so each person paid EUR 137.50 for the apartment.

Interesting Observations

• It can be complicated to communicate in different languages; what the Italians did is to display a notice where major languages can be found (photos below).
  
  


• Besides looking around and up on the ceiling, beautiful air vents for the crypt can be spotted on the floors of St. Peter's Basilica (left photo below).


• Many male statues in Vatican Museum had their genital covered with fig leaf (right photo below). This was the work of 400 – 500 years of Middle-Ages repression by various Popes, where it is believed that only the "damned" were naked while the "saved" were clothed.
  

Suggested Souvenirs

For souvenir coins collectors, there are coin machines located in almost all major tourist attractions, including those in front of the 'Colosseo' station entrance (photos below).


Travel Tips:

If you're staying in Rome for more than 3 days and a museum-lover, then it is worth the money to get a Roma Pass (left photo).

This Roma Pass, in 48-hours or 72-hours, provides free entry to 1 or 2 museum(s)/archaeological sites, unlimited use of public transports and many exclusive deals. For a 48-hours Pass, it costs EUR 32, while a 72-hours Pass cost EUR 52. Do check out the website to find out more to take the advantage of the discount.


Useful Links:

Visit Rome Italy - Tips & Travel Guide Rome:
https://romesite.com/

Rome - Wikitravel:
https://wikitravel.org/en/Rome

Naples - Wikitravel:
https://wikitravel.org/en/Naples

Vatican City State - Wikitravel:
https://wikitravel.org/en/Vatican_City_State