Date: Saturday, June 05, 2010 At 09:00
Duration: 1 Hour
Contact Info:
Piazza Giovanni Agnelli, 10. Information: 060608. Reservation advised. Tickets: €6.50, reduced €4.50

Email:
URL: http://www.planetarioroma.it

Astronomical show for children between the ages 0 and 90
Voyage Through the Constellations: an invitation to observe the sky, discover the stars, the constellations and their history.
A Circle Around the World: jumping up and down, discovering how the sky and stars change from all parts of the world!
Dr. Stellarium on the Moon: Dr. Stellarium will tell of our natural satellite, its characteristics, its history and in the end there will be a walk on the moon.
Guess the Star: discovering comets, planets, falling stars…
In Flight among the Planets: an enthusiastic special exploration, flying close to the planets of the solar system.
The Life of a Star – with Dr. Stellarium: how are stars born? Dr. Stellarium guides us through the discovery of the amazing life of stars.

Casina di Raffaello

Saturday, June 05, 2010 At 09:00
Duration: 1 Hour
Contact Info:
Piazza di Siena (Villa Borghese). Information and reservations: 060608 Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

A green play area in the middle of Rome.

The World of Quentin Blake
Until 6 June
For the first time an exhibition dedicated entirely to the works of Quentin Blake, the leading contemporary English illustrator.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m., 12 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Explora ” A museum for children”

Saturday, June 05, 2010 At 10:00
Contact Info:
Via Flaminia, 82. www.mdbr.it. Reservations and information: 063613776. Opening hours: 10 a.m., 12 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., from Tuesday to Sunday. Visits last 1 hour and 45 min. Admission: children €7, adults €7; Thursday afternoon €6 for everyone.

Email:
URL: http://www.mdbr.it

A museum designed with children in mind.

Slightly older children will appreciate the Technotown toy library with its special effects and interactive floors.

On a sunny day, it is worth taking a walk through the Bioparco, remembering also to visit the nearby Civic Zoology Museum.
Children can also be entertained with a puppet or theatre show at the Teatro Verde or the “San Carlino” theatre.

Viale dei Bambini Villa Borghese, Pincio (Orologio ad acqua) – Roma. +39.06.699.22.117

http://www.sancarlino.it/

Il Canestro:
it is located on Via Luca della Robbia, very near the corner of Via Galvani.

Non-stop from 09:00 alle 19:30. Via Luca della Robbia, 12
(Testaccio area) Telefono 0039-06-5746287

www.ilcanestro.com/dove.html

La Città dell’Altra Economia:
It is located on Largo Dino Frisullo in the Mattatoio complex, (former abbatoir in Testaccio)

Non-stop Tue to Sat from 10.00 until 20.00.
Sunday from 10.00 until 19.00.

www.cittadellaltraeconomia.org

Directions:
At the end of via Galvani (the street that begins with the fireman station on Via Marmorata) you will see a Museum, follow the walls of the building to the left, you will see an entrance into a big courtyard/square (hopefully there are also signs) there is a suppermarket with organic and locally produced chesses, wines ect. There is a cafe with all fairtrade products, a shop with clothes and a restaurant.

1 shops in Trastevere:

Il Canestro

it is located in Via San Francesco Ripa, 105/b (0039-06-5746287). Organic produce.

1 shop in the Navona area:

Albero del Pane: Health food shop: organic food, vitamins, herbs, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, dried and fresh foods, including cereals, pasta, seasonal veg and fruits, and also a has a deli counter.. Open 09:00-19:30 everyday except Sunday. At Via Santa Maria del Pianto 19/20 (0039-06 6865016).

1 shop in the Spanish Steps area:

Centro Macrobiotico Italiano Naturist Club: Shop selling macrobiotic food, also a restaurant. Open 12:30-15:30 and 19:30-23:00 everyday except Sunday. English and French spoken. At Via delle Vite 14 (0039-06 6792509).

1 supermarket close to Piazzale della Radio:

NaturaSi: Part of chain of organic health food stores in Italy.

Via Oderisi da Gubbio, 66 (0039-06-5578692‎).

The six nations is back to bring passion and sport to thousands of rugby fans.

For so long the 15-man sport in Italy has lived in the shadow of football but there is increasing evidence that rugby is getting more and more popular.

WHERE:
Stadio Flaminio

DATES IN ROME:
14 Feb: Italia vs. England
27 Feb: Italia vs. Scotland

For more information: +39 060608.

To buy tickets on-line: http://www.ticketbooth.org.uk/

To book an accommodation close to the Stadio Flaminio where rugby matches will be held: http://www.feelhomeinrome.com

(Avanti): Aguero, Bergamasco Ma., Bortolami, Castrogiovanni, Cittadini, Del Fava, Favaro, Geldenhuys, Ghiraldini, Minto, Ongaro, Pavanello A., Perugini, Sole, Vosawai, Zanni

(Trequarti): Bergamasco Mi., Bocchino, Canale, Garcia, Gower, Marcato, Masi, McLean, Picone, Pratichetti, Robertson, Sepe M., Sgarbi, Tebaldi.

The Formula 1 racing in Rome seems to become a reality! Last May the Rome Formula 1 circuit was presented by Mr. Herman Tilke, the architect of Bernie Ecclestone. Last December the 20th Maurizio Flammini confirmed the agreement with patron Ecclestone.

Gianni Alemanno, the mayor of Rome welcome the possible racing as an event of great importance but he pointed out that “It would’nt be a Monza alternative but simply an integration to the race in Monza”. “We foresee an induct of 1 billion euro per year and the city of Rome has to take important measures to widen its touristic offer addressed to both families and young people” the Mayor added.

69% of Romans are favorable at Formula 1 racing in Rome: the increase of tourism, the possibility to watch live the race, the promotion of Rome in the world… they are however very worried about the traffic even if the circuit will be located in the EUR area, far from the archeological sites.

It is likely that the Formula 1 racing will be held in Rome starting from 2013 even if other sources state even earlier, talking about 2012.

The date of 2012 would be consistent with Formula One’s growth that has scored at least one new racing added per year: Valencia and Singapore in 2008, Abu Dhabi in 2009, South Korea this year and India in 2011.

Have a look at the circuit in the picture below. More precise info regarding number of laps, circuit lenght and race distance published soon.

The cities prepare themselves for this occasion and Rome is adorned with lights, decorations and ornaments.

Sometimes foreigners travelling to Italy during the Christmas season, complain that Italy is not very “Christmasy”.

Is true in Italy Christmas is still more about religion than commerce. The atmosphere is more subtle than in the US. Nevertless the streets are swarmed with people in search of traditional gifts, and the air echoes from the sound of pipers (zampognari), who every year come down from the mountains in Abruzzo and Ciociaria.

Santa Clauses, lights, Christmas trees, red carpets along the sidewalk, zampognari, but especially nativity scenes and … of course, it being Italy, food…

In Italy be ready to taste the traditional seven-fish Christmas Eve dinner. Traditional variety of eel, the symbol of fraternity and friendship, but also marinated eel, mollusk and crustacean are served. Talking about sweets, the specialty of the season is the ‘Panettone‘ and its million varieties. 

A tradition from Milan, which along with the ‘Pandoro‘ has been “adopted” by all other regions. And then… almond cookies, nougat, various pastries combined with citrus fruits, dried fruits and lots more…

Nativity scenes (Presepi) can be found in almost every corner, churches and in many piazzas. In Piazza del Popolo for instance there will be quite a lot amount of nativity scenes (visit the official site http://www.presepi.it/). For sure not to be missed the nativity scene in Piazza San Pietro.

If you are in the “creche spirit” and you don’t have the chance to visit the Naple’s Via San Gregorio Armeno, then go with your children in Rome’s Piazza Navona. Undoubtedly the symbol of the Christmas season in Rome!

During the Christmas holidays the Piazza gets decorated with lights, carousel for the kids and its outlines are surrounded by stalls selling Christmas goods, puppets, cork-tree and velvet strings, ornaments for the Christmas tree, toys, candy and nativity scenes.

A triumph of figurines of Mary, Joseph, the child Christ, the angels, the mangers, animals, musicians, artisans and craftspeople of that time period, pieces that represent everyday life in Bethlehem…

Yo’ll be able to find bales of hay for the camels, sacks of fruit, bags of olives, pots made of real copper, sausage and onions tied with string… All the most beautiful pieces are either carved in wood or formed in terracotta and costumes are refined down to the smallest detail.

This is every child’s paradise, and sometimes there is the chance to meet a person dressed as Santa Claus or its female version called La Befana.

La Befana is an old woman who flies on a broom and brings presents (traditionally candy or a lump of coal if you’re bad) on January the 6th.

Happy Christmas, or Buon Natale, as we say in Italy.

Graffiti, ranging from primitive scribbles on walls to elaborate murals, has long been a part of Roman life. The word “graffiti” derives from the Italian, “graffiato“, which means scratched.

Some of the earliest examples of graffiti date back to the Roman Empire, when young men and soldiers would scratch messages onto walls, usually vulgar notes or boastful challenges to opponents.

The tradition lives on in modern Rome, where the messages differ little from those of their predecessors.

For the most part, Roman graffiti is fairly elementary, consisting mostly of tags on the sides of buildings, but there are a few examples of impressive and intricate graffiti that can be considered veritable street art. 

The tradition of street art in Rome owes a lot not only to the city’s high art culture, but also to the Roman spirit of dissent and rebellion. Throughout the city, particularly in working-class neighborhoods such as San Lorenzo, much of the graffiti carry either overt or implicit political messages. Ironically, in these areas, graffiti has been embraced by local businesses, with bar and store owners actively endorsing street artists and allowing them to decorate storefronts so that the graffiti is no longer an act of vandalism, but a recognized means of creative expression.

In Rome, as elsewhere, the government has not always looked kindly on graffiti artists. Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, has long expressed his distaste for the graffiti in Rome, vocally denouncing the practice. In an attempt to discourage graffiti as a form of defacement, the government has instituted a series of designated walls for graffiti where experienced artists can display their work. There have also been efforts in recent years to clean the graffiti off the Rome metro trains. However, graffiti lives on the eternal city, much to the chagrin of many tourists and residents. Regardless of whether you are a graffiti enthusiast or not, the presence of graffiti in Rome serves as a necessary reminder the city is not, and cannot be, a living museum, where everything is preserved to perfection. The city is alive with colorful characters, dissenting voices and would-be artists making their mark on the eternal city the way their ancestors did thousands of years before.

While searching for an apartment in Rome don’t be restrained by the presence of graffiti as graffiti are not at all synonymous of ill-famed, notorius or unsafe area.

It’s no surprise that Rome and its surrounding areas have long been popular destinations for wedding ceremonies. While the allure of the Vatican may beckon those seeking a Catholic ceremony, the beautiful ancient sights and city views are appealing to those opting for civil or symbolic wedding ceremonies. What better place to vow your eternal love than the eternal city? If you’re planning your wedding  from another country, the first step in the process is to visit Rome to choose the perfect location and get a feel for this romantic city. Secondly, you’ll need to gather all the necessary paperwork for your ceremony, whether it be religious or civil. While it may seem daunting – especially if you don’t have the language – there are numerous individuals and companies based in Rome who can help you with the planning. Below, you’ll find some practical advice and suggestions to help you get started.

Practical Information

Italy is known for its frustrating bureaucratic stumbling blocks and in the marriage process you’re more than likely to encounter a couple. However, if you’re well-prepared with all the documents you need in order to get married in Rome as a foreigner, it’s bound to go a lot smoother.

Requirements for a Civil Ceremony

According to Italian law, a civil ceremony must take place in a town hall (municipio) or other designated State-owned property. Luckily, Rome has a few particularly beautiful “town halls” to offer. If neither of the bride nor groom is conversant in Italian it will be necessary to have an Italian-speaking witness present as an interpreter. In order for two foreign nationals to get married in a civil ceremony in Rome the following will be required:

• Certificate of No Impediment in order to obtain a Nulla osta from your national embassy in Rome
• Two witnesses
• Both parties’ birth certificates
• Both parties’ passports
• Registry fee (dependent on the particular town hall)

Requirements for a Catholic Ceremony

As is the case in many countries, the preliminary work for a Catholic wedding ceremony in Rome will need to be carried out in conjunction with the couple’s local parish, which means that you’ll need to start the process in your home country at least six months before your planned wedding date. The original documents will all need to be forwarded to the priest in Italy at least 3 months prior to the ceremony. In Italy a Catholic ceremony is legally binding, which means that it is not necessary to have a separate civil ceremony. In order to be eligible for a Catholic ceremony at least one of the parties needs to be Catholic. All Catholic ceremonies must take place in a Catholic Church (of which, needless to say, there are plenty to choose from in Rome!). For your Catholic ceremony in Rome, you’ll need to gather the following:

• Certificate of baptism (obtained from the church of baptism)
• Certificate of confirmation
• Prenuptial investigation form containing relevant information about both parties
• Letters of freedom
• Church administration fee

Requirements for Protestant Ceremony

While Rome may be more famous for its Catholic churches, the city also has a number of breathtaking locations for Protestant ceremonies, which, unlike Catholic ceremonies can take place in villas, gardens or other private locations as well as churches. One of the benefits of having a Protestant wedding ceremony is that the ceremony style is flexible and can be customized according to your wishes. While many couples may opt for a Protestant wedding because it is easier and more accommodating, the setback is that the religious ceremony needs to be preceded by a civil ceremony for it to be legally valid. In order to be eligible for a Protestant ceremony at least one of the parties needs to be a baptized Christian.

Suggested Locations

Rome offers a variety of spectacular settings for weddings. Although Catholic ceremonies may only take places in churches and civil ceremonies in official state-owned buildings, for couples opting for a Protestant or symbolic ceremonies in Rome the options are limitless.

Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)

One of the official Roman town halls for civil wedding ceremonies, the Campidoglio is located on the Capitoline Hill in the city centre. The hill, with buidings and a staircase designed by Michelangelo, offers a breathtaking view of Rome, which makes for a perfect backdrop for wedding photos. The interior of the hall is opulently but tastefully decorated in Renaissance style. Due to the high demand fro this beautiful location, wedding ceremonies that take place in the Campidoglio are, by necessity, brief.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The perfect setting for your Catholic ceremony, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is the largest Christian church, replete with a breathtaking interior. While it does require a special application, getting married at St. Peter’s is much easier than you would think. The Capella del Coro, which can be reserved for wedding ceremonies, accommodates up to 200 guests with the option of an organist and/or singer for the ceremony. Weddings take place throughout the year, except on Wednesdays.

Baths of Caracalla

Just opposite the ruins of the Roman baths of Caracalla is the Caracalla Wedding Hall, ideal for a civil ceremony in a slightly more intimate location than the Campidoglio. Located in an old convent, the hall is surrounded by a park and has standing room for up to 50 guests (or 30 seated). This location has the added benefit of being just down the street from the Colosseum, where many couples choose to have there wedding photos taken.

Wedding Villa

A recent addition to the list of locations for civil ceremonies, the Wedding Villa is conveniently located minutes from the Roman forum. Weddings take place inside a 19th century chapel with frescoed walls. The villa would be ideal looking for a small-scale ceremony as it only accommodates 25 guests. Complete with a terrace and balconies that overlook the surrounding gardens, the Wedding Villa offers a unique Roman experience off the beaten tourist track.

Useful Addresses and Services

British Consulate: Via XX Settembre 80a or call +39 06 42200001

American Embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121 or rome.usembassy.gov

Irish Embassy: Piazza di Campitelli 3 or call +39 06 6979121

Irish College (for Catholic weddings): call +39 06 77263323

Rome-based wedding planners (which help with all aspects of planning): www.dolcevitaweddings.com; www.gettingmarriedinitaly.com; www.weddingsitaly.com/rome-wedding/; www.weddingsinrome.co.uk

Meier's Ara Pacis

Deredia at the Colosseum

Rome is a city obsessed with fetishizing its glorious past, where  every street corner bears monuments to its bygone art heroes. The art and architecture of the city are dominated by works from centuries and millennia ago. With the notable exceptions of the current Deridia a Roma exhibition dotted around the city and Richard Meier’s recent reimagining of the Ara Pacis, the influence of modern and contemporary art movements is all but invisible. However, that is not to say that Rome is a city devoid of modern art, but rather that the contemporary art scene has hitherto been marginalized. The location of the city’s two biggest paeans to contemporary art, MACRo and MAXXI, outside of the city centre is emblematic of this marginalization. The art scene seems to be flourishing, albeit in small pockets of artistic communities. The arrival of the Gagosian gallery and emergence of independent establishments signal a gradual shift.

Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna

The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is a State-owned museum near Villa Borghese housing predominantly Italian art from 19th and 20th centuries. The building itself is huge and the rooms of the ground floor are crowded with paintings from the 19th century. In fact, this part of the museum doesn’t feel like  a modern or contemporary space, divided as it is into smaller rooms with pink walls and elaborately framed paintings. Upstairs, where most of the 20th century art is displayed, however, is  spacious with white walls and generally a more modern aesthetic. The current exhibition on display is dedicated to Palma Bucarelli, one of the gallery’s first directors, and so in a sense the exhibition is dedicated to the history of the gallery itself. The exhibition includes painting and sculpture as well as a sampling of Bucarelli’s incredible collection of evening gowns. While the emphasis is on Italian art, there is a Monet, a Mondrian and a Cezanne among the permanent collection. The temporary exhibitions are varied, recent exhibitions include a spectacular Cy Twombly  show and drawings by Sol le Witt. Entry is 10 euros for adults and 7.50 for students (under 25s).
Viale delle Belle Arti 131

Hours: Tue – Sun 8.30 – 19.30

MACRo

Probably the closest Rome has to offer as a counterpart to the MOMA, albeit on a smaller scale, the Museo dell’Arte Contemporaneo a Roma has a varied permanent collection, including photography, paintings and installations. The bulk of the permanent collection is dedicated to Italian artists from the 1960s onward. Although the layout is a little confusing (the museum takes up two buildings and a few stories so you have to cross back and forth between the buildings to take in everything), it’s an impressive space with a relaxed atmosphere. The current installation, Where the bees suck, there I suck, a fiberglass and metal construction by Indian artist Hema Upadhayay was designed especially for MACRo. (Free entry)

Via Reggio Emilia 54

Hours: Tue – Sun 9.00 – 19.00

Gagosian Gallery

The opening of the latest outpost of Larry Gagosian’s galleries in Rome in 2007 put the city on the map for modern art enthusiasts. The gallery, just a few minutes from the Trevi fountain, is housed in an airy spacious building.  The current exhibition by Cindy Sherman, a New York-based artist best known for her self-portraits, including the series Untitled Film Stills features her latest collection of portraits. Styled as wealthy middle-aged American women, the photographs mark her switch to digital photography. Entry is free.
Via Francesco Crispi 48
Hours: Tue – Sat 10.30-19.00

Palazzo delle Esposizioni

The largest exhibition space in the centre of Rome, the Palazzo hosts a range of exhibitions, usually of modern and contemporary art. Bulgari and photography exhibitions.  Space is ample and the exhibitions are arranged on different floors, with a couple of exhibitions on display at a time. Currently on display is a Bulgari (jewellery) retrospective that traces the history of the ornate Italian jewellery house favoured by royalty and film stars from the late 1800s to 2005. The second floor of the Palazzo is currently occupied by an exhibition of Gina Lollobrigida’s photography. The building also includes a cinema, an auditorium, a restaurant and an excellent bookstore specializing in art books. Entry is 10 euros for adults, 7.50 for students.

Via Nazionale 194

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 20.00

MAXXI

Museo dell’Arte del XXI Secolo, the Contemporary Art and Architecture Centre, the first national gallery in Rome dedicated solely to contemporary art, was designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid. The building itself is a rare example of contemporary design in this ancient city, thus provoking mixed reviews (this ambiguous reaction is exemplary of the city’s difficult relationship with modern architecture). Located in the Flaminia disctrict in the north of Rome, the building is designed to house temporary and permanent collections as well as a library, architecture centre and conference rooms. The museum will open to the public in 2010
Via Guido Reni 2f

Rialto Sant’Ambrogio

The most centrally located of Rome’s many associazioni culturali, the Rialto was conceived in 1999 in an abandoned cinema, and with it was born a space (and a community) dedicated to the alliance of art, politics, culture and activism. Currently located in the old Jewish quarter of Rome, just across the river from Trastevere, the Rialto S.Ambrogio has become a non state-owned public space designed for social interaction and art, including theatre and music performances as well as visual art exhibitions and installations. At the heart of the Rialto community’s ethos are the exclusion of economic obstacles and the acceptance of artistic expression in its many forms, independent of traditional models of what is considered ‘proper art’, the primacy of collaboration and interaction, and the destruction of creative boundaries.  The phenomenon is exciting in a city where the establishment is considered eminent as far as art goes. It portends the birth of a new multifaceted art culture in Rome.

Via di Sant’Ambrogio 4

Pentecostal Sunday at the Pantheon

Every year on Pentecostal Sunday (which usually falls around the end of May), a special celebratory mass is held at Chiesa Santa Maria dei Martiri (the official Catholic church in the Pantheon). To attend the mass you have to be inside the Pantheon before 10am because security guards begin to circle at that time, telling visitors to leave before the Pantheon closes. (If they try to kick you out, explain that you’re staying for the mass – they can be quite brusque!) By closing time, the seating area in the front of the church will probably have filled up – the first few rows are reserved for international dignitaries and various clergypeople, and the rest first-come-first-serve. It’s a good idea to get a seat if possible because the mass doesn’t start until 10.30am, finishing around noon. When the mass is over, a few of the special security guards position themselves in the cordoned-off area beneath the oculus (the hole in the ceiling) as clouds of rose petals come billowing down from the ceiling so that the whole interior of the building is bathed in red for about five minutes. It’s a serene (and beautifully-scented), but also quite surreal experience. Far from an act of God, the fire department – perched atop the tall building – are actually responsible for this remarkable display, trucking in the petals and pouring them through the oculus.

Dinner and Drinks by the Tiber

From mid-June, the entire city moves outdoors. What this means is that around the city, restaurant and bars are almost entirely outside. Tables are crammed into every inch of open space on sidewalks and in piazzas. In Trastevere, local shop, bar and restaurant owners take the move even further outdoors, opening outposts along the Tiber river.  Despite the river’s unseemly appearance in daylight, by night it is transformed by lights and music, the rush of water making for a pleasant background sound. The entire stretch of the banks of the Tiber between Ponte Sisto and the island are filled with stalls, kiosks and seating areas. In addition to the variety of restaurants and bars, L’Isola del Cinema on the Tiber Island offers film screenings every night from 21.30 to 23.30. This year the entrance is decorated in homage to Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Outdoor Concerts and Cinemas

In addition to cinema in the Tiber Island, there are several other opportunities to enjoy films outdoors in Rome in summer. From June 19th to September 6th, the Le Arene di Roma series sponsors film showings at several locations, including Garbatella and Monteverde. Shows begin at 21.15 and there is a 5 euro fee for adults (3 euros for those with an Arena card). The programme comprises a wide range of films, including recent Oscar winners such as Milk and The Reader as well as Italian films. (It should be noted that foreign films are almost always dubbed in Italy so don’t go expecting original language.)  This year the second edition of the Senza Frontiere film festival will take place at the Casa del Cinema from July 1st to 3rd, with an emphasis on cinematic representations of women and teenagers. There are also several outdoor concert series held during the summer, including the Festival Musicale delle Nazioni held in the beautiful surroundings of Teatro Marcello (June 5 – September 27). Concerts begin at 20.30 and cover all types of music from jazz to Beethoven. A series of concerts with a similar range of musical offerings also takes place at Villa Pamphilli park from June 29th to July 27th.

Ballet and Opera at Terme di Caracalla

Every year in July the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome holds its summer opera and ballet season, with shows held in the breathtaking Caracalla baths near Circo Massimo. This year the program includes a ballet version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puccini’s Tosca and Carmen by George Bizet. The series begins July 1st with the ballet version of the Shakespearean classic, concluding  August 9th with Carmen. Ticket prices range from 25 to 110 euros, depending on the quality of the seats. All shows begin at 21.00. The quality of the productions may vary, but the experience of sitting under the stars in an historic site is worthwhile.

The Beach in Ostia

When the days get too hot for exploring the city centre, or if you’re just looking for a rest in the middle of a busy sightseeing holiday, Rome has the advantage of being adjacent to the sea. A train leaves from Porta San Paolo station (by Piramide) every fifteen minutes that, for the price of a metro ticket, will take you to the beach town of Ostia in 45 minutes. The town itself is not much to look at but if you get off the train at any stop after Lido Nord, it’s only a five minute walk to the beach. The majority of the beaches are privately owned and have an entrance fee, but there are also several free beaches, many of them with all the amenities of a paying beach, including bathrooms, a bar and sunbeds and umbrellas to rent. The beach is an essential part of summer in Rome and although some Romans prefer to travel further afield to Fregene or Sperlonga, Ostia really becomes the focal point of social activity, day and night. By day, the beaches are crowded with those looking to see and be seen as well as families, children and older people and by night the coastline is transformed into one big discotheque, as many of Testaccio’s clubs transfer to beachside locations for the summer.

Other Events

There are a number of other events during the summer in Rome, including the  Gay Pride celebrations in June, which include the traditional  parade through the city. The world famous jazz festival in Villa Celimontana is also not to be missed. For more information about summer events, check out http://www.estateromana.comune.roma.it/