Rome
Overview
On your first visit to Rome you'll be awed by the sheer volume of monuments, museums and history. Take a deep breath and dive into the Roman Forum and Colosseum, St Peter's Basilica and the Centro Storico (historic centre). You'll soon want to return to Rome to delve deeper into the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and enjoy the simple pleasure of people-watching at a cafe on floodlit Piazza Navona square or nostalgia-tripping on the Via Veneto.
Background
The River Tiber snakes its way through the heart of Rome, criss-crossed by many bridges. Ponte Sant'Angelo, lined with Bernini's voluptuously windswept baroque angels, leads to St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the restaurant hub of Trastevere further south. Scores of Rome's famous sights are crammed into the bend of the river opposite St Peter's Basilica - Rome's Centro Storico (historic centre). It's all here, from the antique Roman past of the Forums and Colosseum to Renaissance palaces. Not forgetting Piazza Navona square and shopping havens Via del Corso and Via dei Condotti leading away from the Spanish Steps.
First-time visit
First off, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome, then follow the maze of streets leading to the Pantheon ancient temple. Cross the River Tiber to visit St Peter's Basilica and wander over to the Roman Forum and Colosseum, popping into churches on pretty piazzas and stopping to photograph Baroque fountains as you wend your way down the centuries from Renaissance to Imperial Rome.
Return visit
Return to St Peter's Basilica to explore the nearby Vatican Museums and be amazed by the brilliance of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Take a trip into the ancient past along Via Appia and tour the network of underground burial chambers at the Catacombs. Wander through the former Jewish Ghetto and stop for lunch in a traditional Roman-Jewish restaurant. Then climb the Spanish Steps and amble through the Borghese Gardens and galleries before picking your way down the Pincio Hill to relax in a cafe on the Piazza del Popolo square.
airports
Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport
Essentials
Italy's largest airport, Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport flies over 32 million passengers a year from its three terminals. Twenty miles (32 km) from central Rome, the Leonardo Express train takes you to Termini Station in 35 minutes.
Airport Facts
- Airport code
- FCO
- Airport website
- Rome Airports (for Fiumicino) website
- Airport tel
- + 39 06 65951
- No. of terminals
- Three.
- Distance from city centre
- 20 miles (32 km) from the centre of Rome.
- Transport between terminals
- A courtesy shuttle links Terminals A, B and C, and runs every 20 minutes.
- Airport parking
- There are five car parks accessible to all three terminals via elevated walkways, including short-stay, long-stay, valet parking and disabled parking. There is also a dedicated park for motorbikes. Online pre-booking is cheaper than standard fares.
- Time zone
- GMT +1 (+2 in summer).
- Useful tips
- There are touch-screen passenger information points at the entrances to all three terminals and on levels one and four of the multi-storey car park.
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