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Flying into Rome

There are two airports, the Fiumicino international airport and the Ciampino airport.  The Flumicino airport is 30km south of Rome and takes 30 – 40 minutes by train to the Termini train station.  The Ciampino airport is slightly closer, just 15km from Rome but chartered and budget airlines such as Ryanair mainly fly into this airport.

Free Open Air Museums

With the weather turning warmer, it is pleasant to spend an afternoon outside admiring the sights, one of the most important being the Rome Forum set against the backdrop of the Palantine Hill.  The Pantheon is also free.  It was a pagan temple built in the 2nd century and then was converted into a church in 608.

Tourist Pass

There is a lot to see in Rome and therefore to avoid paying for all the attractions, it is best to get a 5 day combination pass (if you are of course staying for 5 days).  This gives you entry to some of the most well known attractions including   the Colosseum, Baths of Caracalla, Palatine, Cypta Balbi, Diocletian Baths, Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.

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Travelling within Italy

Visiting Italy in the spring time means there will be less people in the cities and in the countryside.  Why not take the opportunity and see more of Italy. The Eurorail pass stops in many cities in Italy, Milan, Venice, Florence and Pisa in the north and Naples in the south.

Eating Italian style

Rome has an abundance of restaurants to choose from.  Italy is the home to pasta and pizza, so where better place to sample the local cuisine than in Rome? There are many pizza places but Life Pizzeria which is opened in the northern part of Rome is well worth a visit.  It is Rome’s first organic pizzeria and has a variety of vegan foods which previously have been unheard of on Roman menus such as courgettes with onions and plain pizza with mozzarella.

Staying in Rome

There are a number of hotels and hostels to stay in Rome.  However if there is a big group of you, you may want to check out some of the Rome apartments for rent.  It can end up cheaper as you will be splitting the cost among you and you can have the option of eating in which can also save money.

There are many different places to stay when travelling round Europe.  A lot of companies offer short term accommodation rentals in Berlin, Rome, London and you can even rent apartments in Paris.

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Bologna, Italy by Roberto Taddeo

The area where Bologna sits today has been inhabited since the 9th century B.C. In the 19th century, a number of archeological digs were undergone which uncovered evidence of settlements in the area. In these earliest days, the city of Bologna was known by the name of Villanova. With the rise of the Etruscan Empire, the city’s name would be changed to Felsina and then finally Bona during the reign of the Celts.

During the middle ages, the city of Bologna was considered to be the fifth largest city in the whole of Europe. It is also the home to the University of Bologna which is considered to be the oldest university in the entire world; having been founded back in 1088.

There are many towers located throughout the city and the historical center of town is one of the largest and most well-preserved in the country. As a result of the damaged caused by numerous wars, a huge movement in the 1970s led to the slow but meticulous restoration of the town’s oldest monuments.

Two towers of Bologna, Italy by Luca Volpi

There are many beautiful monuments, structures and churches which can be found throughout the city of Bologna. Many of these can be dated back to well before the 10th and 11th centuries. Every year, millions of visitors make their way to Bologna to see the amazing culture and heritage that this ancient city has to offer.

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Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by Chris Yunker

The castle is surrounded by a moat that is filled with water fed from the Po River. The castle dates back to the 14th century and features a number of towers, medieval walls and of course a draw bridge. In the basement of the Castle there is an old prison which is open to the public. While many parts of the castle today are open to the public, since the building still serves as the political seat of the city, there are parts that are non-accessible.

Not too far away from the fort is the city’s cathedral. It is here that you will find the Museo della Cattedrale which houses many beautiful tapestries, various manuscripts as well as the 1408 sculpture of Madonna. Since the city has been the home for many famous artists, there are many fine collections to view in the museum.

In 1492, the Duke of Ferrara planned an extension to the city which can be found along the northern edges of the town. The initial goal of the Duke was to create a very tasteful district in the city dedicated to the Renaissance. In this extension, you will find a number of fine attractions as well as the Palazzo dei Diamanti which is a museum today that houses many works from local artists.

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