Vatican apartment, Rome: Borgo Pio - Tips and Area

Charming 1BR / 1BA serviced apartment few steps away from the Vatican

Tips and Area

Vatican Museums:
One of the most important museum complexes in the world, the Vatican Museums are divided into numerous splendidly arranged sections containing masterpieces by the greatest artists, which were collected or commissioned by Popes down through the centuries. At the end of the itinerary is the Sistine Chapel, where the recent restoration has brought to light the original colours of the vault and Michelangelo’s Last Judgement, which time had darkened.
Viale Vaticano – Tel. +39-06-69883332 www.vatican.va –Entrance 12 €, reduced 8 € free of charge on the last Sunday of each month 8.45 – 13.45
From January 7^th to March 6^th and from November 2^nd to December 24^th 8.45 – 13.45 (entrance till 12.20)
From March 8^th to October 29^th and from December 27^th to January 6^th 8.45 – 16.45 (entrance till 15.20) – Saturday 8.45 – 13.45; Sunday closed

Closed January 1^st and 6^th, February 11^th, arch 19^th, Easter Monday, May 1^st and 20^th, June 10^th and 29^th, August 14^th and 15^th, November 1^st, December 8^th, 25^th and 26^th and other religious holidays.

Information and reservations for guided visits to the Vatican Museum and to the Vatican Gardens: +39-06-69884676 fax +39-06-69885100

National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo:
Built by emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his successors, Castel Sant’Angelo was later transformed into a fortress and then into a prison. Today it holds an important art and military museum.
Information and reservations: +39-06-39967600

The area of Prati (“Meadows”): takes its name from Prata Neronis, emperor Nero’s agricultural land, and from the gardens and fields which characterised the area, which was isolated from the city centre, up until the end of the 19^th century.

Shopping:

Via Cola di Rienzo: is one of the most popular Roman commercial streets set across the Tiber from Piazza del Popolo and just a stroll away from the Vatican. It has block after block of boutiques, shoe and department stores, as well as street stalls and gourmet food shops.

Stores and boutiques:

Walking in Via Cola di Rienzo, it is possible to find many well-known stores, including Miss Sixty (http://www.misssixty.com/), Gente, Max Mara, Luisa Spagnoli, Luijo, Diesel, La Cicogna, Benetton, Stefanel and Spatafora, Trussardi (http://www.trussardi.it/), Murphynye (http://www.murphynye.com).

Delicatessen and gourmet food shops:

Don’t miss Franchi (Via Cola di Rienzo, 200 - tel. +39-06-6864576), a famous shop specialised in cold cuts, gastronomy and takeaway foods. Also to be mentioned Castroni  (Via Cola di Rienzo, 196 - tel. +39-06-6874383), old coffee shop specialised in oriental and foreign products.

Ice-creams:

For ice-cream go to Gelateria dei Gracchi (Via dei Gracchi, 272 - tel. 0039-06-3216668).

Restaurants:

Da Cesare: Via Crescenzio, 13 (Tel. +39-06-06-6861227). An oldstyle spot in the residential area near the Vatican known as Prati. On offer are classic fish and meat dishes such as fresh marinated anchovies, homemade pasta with meat sauce or fish, and thick Florentine steaks with fries. Try the large selection of cured meats, especially the prosciutto (salt-cured deer) or lardo di Colonnata (bacon). Gnocchi are served on Thursday and pasta with chickpeas on Friday. Extensive wine list representing many Italian regions.

International newspapers and magazines:

The news-stand in Piazza Cola di Rienzo open 24 hours a day.