Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Rome

Hunting for Italian cosmetics: How to be bella in Italia?

purpleclover — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:52:20 -0800

I love cosmetics, and I'm in Rome. What should I buy here that I can't get in the United States? Things I'd love to find here: the best eyeliner, delicious blushes, fabulous mascaras, luxurious lotions, wrinkle creams that aren't FDA-approved, the eye cream that changed your life, the bronzer that makes you seem like you just got back from Cozumel, hand creams that make you weep, etc.

Has globalization eliminated this kind of shopping? Should I use all my liquid allocation for olive oil, or are there still Italian cosmetics and beauty elixirs worth seeking out?

A day or two in Sicily? Worth the trouble of getting there?

purpleclover — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:04:16 -0800

Is a quick trip to Sicily worth it? I've got a ticket to fly to Rome 4-11 December, and am considering a quick trip to Sicily (max 3 days, min 1 day) via a low-cost air carrier. I spent three days in Rome 10 years ago, but I'll want to do the big sight-seeing (Vatican, Colosseum, Capitoline Museums) again.

I'm drawn to Sicily, because my family is from Termine Imerese, but I don't know anyone there, so it's not like I'm going to literally see any family members.

A couple of additional factors: First, 8 Dec. is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday, so everything in Rome (and I'm sure in Sicily?) seems like it will be closed. (Strolling around the streets of Rome and gawking at ruins is always open, though, thankfully.) Second, we won't have a car in Rome, of course, but it seems like we would definitely have to rent one in Sicily. Is this going to be a hassle?

Also, Mr. Clover and I are prone to overscheduling when we're on vacation, so I'm trying to balance the feeling of "I'm not going to be so close to Sicily in the foreseeable future" with the fear that we'll spend our whole trip transporting ourselves with no time to see anything of interest.

We are coming from Europe, so jet lag is not a factor.

Can we have any kind of meaningful vacation experience in Sicily in such a short time? Or should we stick around Rome?

Buon Natale a Roma?

i less than three nsima — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:08:53 -0800

Rome and Italy for X-Mas: bad idea or not? My wife and I are considering taking a long overdue vacation and honeymoon to Rome, Florence (and other Italian sites as time permits) this Christmas. I don't expect the weather to be the nostalgic Mediterranean April of my memories from my last visit to the boot, but what will it be like, exactly? While I am perfectly happy strolling through the open-air piazzas in a jacket, 10 days of rain would be a little less romantic.

I've read some of the previous questions about Rome and Italy at Christmas time, but they don't seem to address the crowdedness factor. Is it really crowded in Rome or the other popular sites in Italy over the Christmas and New Years holidays? I would be naive to think a place like these would ever be without tourists, but the summertime throngs have to die down at some point, right?

Finally, what's the exchange rate (a whopping $1.47 to 1€ !!!) like for US travelers these days?

Collen McCullough's Masters of Rome

stargell — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:00:04 -0800

Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series: suitable for young readers? My 12-year-old has gotten into Roman history and wants to read these books. I haven't read them but have been through through I, Claudius and watched the Rome HBO Series, and am concerned about the levels of sex and violence. He's a sophisticated reader for age 12 and isn't daunted by length. Suggestions on appropriateness, or on other historical fiction about Rome for a smart pre-teen?

What books should I read about historical Rome and Venice?

garlic — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:27:54 -0800

I'm looking for books about Italy, specifically Rome and Venice, and also books set in Rome and/or Venice. What would you recommend? When I was in Paris in 2007, I was reading The Three Musketeers by Dumas at the same time. It was pretty cool to be reading about the musketeers playing tennis 4 blocks from where my hotel was, and it made the experience much richer. So now that I'm going to Rome and Venice, I'd like to do the same while there -- reading something during downtimes set in the city I'm visiting, set in the cities heyday. Since this is a downtime sort of read, I'd like it to focus on the entertainment aspect over the educational aspect.

And when I was thinking about how to find that sort of book, I realized that I have more general french cultural knowledge through studies and Dumas and Hugo so I'd be a good idea to get a more historical educational book about the realities of Rome while the empire was there, and history after that probably up to the Rennaisance, so a book or two about Roman and Venetian history that I can finish before my trip (Sep 18) would be helpful too.

Holy juxtaposition

acidic — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:41:50 -0800

What's the story behind the (contemporary) sculptures scattered in and around the Forum in Rome? When I was in Rome earlier this month, I was surprised and delighted to see almost a hundred white sculptures (many of very abstract, spherical human bodies) scattered around the ruins of the Forum and surrounding areas. Google failed me. What are they? Did the artist win an amazing competition of public art, and was there ensuing art-world controversy? Do the installations rotate? Etc etc.

Easter Monday in Italy

thinkingwoman — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:33:14 -0800

Italy the week after Easter: deserted or still a mob scene? Help us save our honeymoon from the herds of the faithful. The fella and I are planning our wedding for next spring, and for various reasons, the only time we will have for our honeymoon happens to be the two weeks following Easter.

We really, really want to go to Italy. We want to take two full weeks and visit Florence, Venice, and Rome. Or maybe we'll just park in Rome for two weeks, using it as a base camp for shorter excursions. (Both have their merits, and if anyone has an opinion on that, speak up.)

But the main question is this: are we insane to even try the week after Easter? We really want to avoid the religious zoo, and are hoping that the week after in Rome will be as dead as the week after Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Yes? No?

Or should we just go somewhere else? I totally love the idea of Croatia, too, and perhaps it will be a bit lower-key.

Restaurants in Venice & Rome

tangyraspberry — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:20:05 -0800

Can anyone recommend some great restaurants in Venice or Rome? I'm traveling to Italy soon and was wondering if anyone had some restaurant suggestions in either Venice or Rome?

Help me find a creative venue in Rome, Italy

eurandom — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:02:11 -0800

I am organising an internal training on innovation in Rome for about 20-25 employees. What creative / innovative venues do you recommend in or by Rome, Italy? I plan, together with a colleague, to run a one day training session on innovation at the end of April. We have set the date (end of April) and the location (by Rome), but have not yet found a suitable venue to do the training.

An important factor for training people on innovation and creativity is the environment in which the training takes place. In order to get the creative juices to flow, the best environment is a relaxing, but inspiring, venue that pulls people out of their normal day-to-day job. Instead of a traditional meeting room with tables and chairs, a good venue should have couches or beanbags and provide a relaxing environment. Ideally, there should also be at least two different rooms, so you can move the group between locations to continuosly provide new perspectives. There should also be a lot of natural light.

Some example venues that work well for such a training include a comfortable cabin in the woods, a loft with a lot of natural light, a relaxing meeting room in a zoo or museum, a historical tower or castle, etc.

Although I am certain such places exist in Rome, Italy, I have no idea where to look for such a venue. I couldn't find anything on google, but this may partially be because I am searching in English instead of Italian.

The venue should not cost more than 1,200 Euro for the day.

Any suggestions on where to look for such a venue or venues you have used in the past for a similar purpose? Unconventional ideas are welcome and are sometimes the best ones ...

Da Palermo a Roma!

verevi — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:28:01 -0800

For vacation, I was thinking of starting in Palermo and making my way to Rome. I know next to nothing about this part of the world, so I don't know how good or bad of an idea this is. Any thoughts from those familiar with the area would be greatly appreciated! Some specifics of areas I'd love to have addressed:

* Are 6-7 days enough for the one-way trip?
* Does a rental car make sense, or would trains / buses be better for all or part of the journey.
* What are must-see cities / places? Where should we avoid?
* How are the highway / road conditions?
* How are accommodations?

If we don't do this, we may instead check out the Czech Republic instead. The Italian idea is sort of a pilgrimage to see the area where my family's ancestors came from.

I did start by reading these three posts which were helpful. So anything in addition to those recommendations as well as the practical concerns of getting from Palermo to Rome would be greatly appreciated!

Primary texts describing ancient Roman housing

sarahalisonmiller — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:06:32 -0800

I will soon be teaching a course on ancient Roman domestic spaces, and I am looking for primary source material to supplement readings in scholarship. Any suggestions of Roman texts (poetry, fiction, history, law, biography) that describe a Roman domestic space (domus, villa, insula, palace) would be much appreciated. Textual exempla of Roman domestic practices are also welcome (e.g., the account of Trimalchio's banquet in Petronius' Satyricon).

new years in rome

theflash — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:02:40 -0800

what should i do for new year's in rome? i'm female, late 20s, traveling alone, and on a budget. recommendations?

more bang for my meager buck

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:35:50 -0800

I'm going to Rome for one week in February. How can I cheap out on lodging while there? I'm traveling with my boyfriend. The trip itself is only affordable to begin with because of the awesomeness of EasyJet. We're planning on trying to couchsurf but, if that doesn't work out, do you know of any hostels/hotels/monasteries where we can stay for less than 30euros/night total cost? (if you have any other advice on enjoying oneself in Rome while not spending much money, that's welcome too!)

Please help me reach out to the person who found our memory card!

lioness — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:13:18 -0800

What would you do if you found a memory card? Have you found our memory card in Rome, Italy? We've lost our Sony memory card in Rome, Italy, during our vacation at the end of July. It probably fell out of our bag while sitting on the benches on Piazzale Ugo La Malfa, near Circo Massimo. It was in its plastic encasing, so it's fairly protected and a bit easier to spot than 'just' a memory card. We probably lost it on the 25th of July.*
I know the odds of the card being found are slim and the odds of retrieving it are even slimmer, but I really have to try for my own piece of mind.

So, if you're a Roman/Italian and found a memory card, what would you do?
Or, if you're a tourist in Rome and found a memory card, what would you do?

On which Italian or English websites/forums/boards would you post? Which site with advertisements do I have to keep an eye on? Where could I place advertisements myself? Would you bring it to the police (and how can I contact them if that's the case)? What is the Italian equivalent to Craigslist?

I want to maximize the odds that if there is indeed someone trying to find the owner of our memory card, he will be able to find us.
I'm already keeping an eye on Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures and I've posted an ad on The Found Bin and Lost and found now.

Last part of my question:
Can you help me write a short Italian version of this question I could post on the Roman Craigslist? The contact information you should mention is lostandfoundinrome at hotmail dot com.

Of course, I will gladly offer a reward to the person who finds the memory card!

Grazie mille!

*If any Roman living in the neighbourhood happens to feel very warm-hearted and compassionate and would be willing to go look on the Piazzale, he/she would earn my eternal gratitude and some great Belgian sweets!

How best to swap apartments?

progosk — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:52:53 -0800

Apartment-swap-filter. We're thinking of swapping our place in the center of Rome with a place in Manhattan for a long week around Easter 2009. Any information and/or recommendations on reputable house-swapping sites would be much appreciated. (Also: any stories on the sort of things swapping entails, and what's important to think about and get right in preparation.)

What is the best way to travel throughout Italy?

petah — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:20:43 -0800

What is the best way to travel throughout Italy? So far we're looking at Venice, Florence, Pisa, Milan, etc. People have been recommending the Italy Rail Passes from here. Is it better to get one of these? Or would it be better to get a ticket at the train station for city to city? Or are there other options that I should know of? The biggest issue we have with these Rail Passes is that we have to get them while we're in the States, because each "day" comes out to 62 dollars in cost, but on some days, like the days where we might be traveling between Venice and Milan, or a trip that is shorter than Rome to Milan, it might not be worth it. Also, I'm not even sure how the Rail system works in Italy, it seems like Trenitalia is the big line, but then there are a lot of online vendors that sell the same "EuroRail" pass at similar costs.

Also, if you guys have any random general tips regarding Rome/Italy, feel free to post them. They'd be much appreciated. Thanks!

Discovering new works from ancient Greece or Rome?

mediareport — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:20:09 -0800

When was the last time scholars discovered a previously unknown piece of literature from ancient Greece or Rome? Has it happened at all in modern times? If you were to speculate on the chances we'll ever rediscover another play from Euripides, Sophocles, et al, are there any relatively recent discoveries of new works from ancient Greek and Roman authors you could use as examples?

When in Rome...

disillusioned — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:54:26 -0800

What area of Rome should we stay in? And what should we do there in three days? My friends and I are taking a transatlantic cruise that gets into Civitavecchia on May 10th. We're planning on staying in Rome that night until May 13th.

I've found Venere.com to be wonderful and useful thanks to AskMefi, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. What area of Rome puts us in a good place to see the best to see of Rome?

We have all of Saturday, Sunday and Monday there so maybe a day for touristy stuff and a day for traveller/milling around stuff.

Which of Venere's "areas of Rome" would be best to stay at? Specific hotels are good too, we're looking at someplace safe, clean and decent. There are three of us, and we're looking to pay roughly $225 each, total.

Any suggestions on off-the-beaten path things and absolute don't-miss restaurants, entertainment, bars and anything else you can think of, please send my way in addition to a good recommendation of where best to stay.

We have no car so will rely on public trans/cabs or whatever's available to get around town. Is there another city/village worth traveling to for a day that's amazing as well?

Many thanks!

Need Books/Movies for Kids Going to Rome

bjennings — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:55:33 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for books, movies and even music that might be relevant for a group of middle school (7th & 8th grade, ages 12-14) kids who are going to Rome over spring break. I'm a teacher, and I'm leading a group of 20 middle school kids as well as three other faculty members. I'd like to be able to recommend novels, movies and music for them.

They've all read Caroline Lawrence's "The Roman Mysteries" series. I'm very familiar with the range of children's and young adult historical fiction, especially that set in ancient times. I'd love to have any recommendations for novels set in modern Italy. Some of the students have read Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons", but teen and young adult books would be great, too.

I suggested "Roman Holiday"; all of the parents said "Oooh, I love that movie", and all of the kids were bored out of their skull. Fluff like the Mary Kate and Ashley "When In Rome" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" is right up their alley.

I figure music is a long-shot, but maybe there are some recommendations there as well. Thanks!

Getting from Fiumicino to Ciampino

sanitycheck — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:31:52 -0800

Rome airport transfer: Fiumicino->Ciampino with a five and a half hour window between flights. Is this doable? And if so, what's the most cost efficient way to do it? I'm flying into Rome Fiumicino Airport on March 30th (on an Air Canada flight scheduled to land at 11am). I'd like to book a RyanAir flight that leaves from Ciampino at 4:45pm the same day.

Am I tempting fate? Is it easy to get from one airport to the other? The limited web info I have found suggests there was a bus service at one point but that it is not offered anymore.

My other options are to book a later flight (more expensive, leaves around 8pm) or spend the night at a hostel near the Termini and leave the next day (which I'd prefer not to do).

i'll have the same as caesar

steinwald — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:18:50 -0800

Is it possible to find wines similar in style to what the ancient Romans would have been drinking? Or were their vinification methods so crude that no one bothers trying?

Oddly enough, I didn't come to Italy for the churches.

twins named Lugubrious and Salubrious — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:23:59 -0800

I just landed in Italy. Help me find the Florence and Rome that no one writes about. My family and I will be staying in Florence and Rome for Christmas and New Year's. History, museums, and churches are great, but more their thing than mine. Where can I find what I'm looking for? I want to see the local street scene: where are Florence and Rome's skate shops, the parks where the people are loitering, the secret places to stumble on tags? Where are the best streetwear stores, and the "best kept secret" boutiques? TIA.

And for those of you who celebrate it: Merry Christmas!

Chi è questo?

wfc123 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:57:52 -0800

Hi. Who is this actor? I took this shot on the Via Veneto in Rome, so he's probably Italian. They were shooting a film or a TV show.

And who is this director? Photo taken at the same location.

Your ideas for nontraditional, off the beaten path, interesting, insightful things to do or see in or close to Venice, Florence, and Rome, Italy?

Askr — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:13:54 -0800

What are your favorite nontraditional, nontouristy, alternative, culturally-insightful things to do in or near Venice, Florence, and Rome? I mean the deeper anthropological kind of culture, not museums, opera, etc. I'm not looking for the usual must-see tourist destinations or the things that epitomize a city. I want the fascinating little finds you accidentally stumbled on and loved, but which few or no tours would have found because they aren't "sights". If it can give me a glimpse of how contemporary Italians see the world, to appreciate a bit more what it's like to be them, that's a turbo bonus. No points off for plain old fun activities either. I've read every Italy thread on here and haven't quite found what I'm after. My parents invited me on a guided package tour of Venice, Florence, and Rome next week and the following week. Italy's not high on my list of travel destinations and I'm not a package tour kind of guy at all, but it's free, foreign, and family, so I'm going and am sure I'll have a good time. I'd like your help in reducing that touristy malaise feeling and replacing some of it with interesting insights and experiences.

There is a lot of the usual museum/monument time on the itinerary. I'm not a museum/monument kind of guy. Paintings paintings paintings, churches, aaagh! Don't care! Don't wanna take all the same obligatory pictures everyone has taken for a century or follow a guide around the whole time as they tell me about this or that set of ruins. For me, travel is about learning about how the world looks through other cultures' eyes. I know some of this can be informed by their history or past cultural products such as art or architecture, but what I want is to get glimpses of what life is like for ordinary people there right now to the degree I can in a very short time - what their big issues are, what their worldview is and how it differs from mine. Optimism, cynicism, assumptions, prejudices, filters, priorities, norms, oddities. A guided package tour of sights is not a great way to do this but it's what I have to work with.

So I want to break away from the tour group at least once per city and go do my own thing - - interesting, educational, insightful, off the beaten path kinds of things, especially any that help me understand what life is like for normal contemporary Italians. I don't want to see sights (I'll already see plenty, e.g. David, Sistine, etc.); What I want is some hint of contemporary cultural anthropology. It could be anything - some interesting local custom, some political event, some unique civic activity, some un-famous piece of history that influences the present in a fascinating way, some cultural fixture (e.g., I wish there were some soccer games during my stay). What have you found in or near these three places that was your special find that people wouldn't normally find on a tour, and which enriched your experience and understanding of Italy and Italians?

One hurdle is that I speak almost no Italian, not having planned to go there. So it would need to be something observable absent language or there would need to be English speakers or literature, a tall order. Below is the itinerary, including what I'm considering skipping. There are a fair number of free afternoons and evenings built in. What is nearby that's not on this list, that you loved, that isn't a "sight" but was a great find? Not looking for restaurant/bar recommendations unless they happen to deliver what I'm looking for. If you don't have anything in the sort of cultural anthro insight category, yeah, just list anything fun or interesting or unusual that's not a major tourist sight. For example I keep seeing recommendations to go to Siena near Florence. But why? What do people like about it?

No need to focus on these knowns in your reply:
-This is a very short time to develop any real cultural insight
-Art and architecture and ruins and history are important
-Don't discount what you can learn from quality guides
-Not speaking Italian limits your options

Grazie!

Itinerary:

Nov 12-14: Venice
-backstreets walking tour (also planning on "getting lost")
-St. Mark's Basilica & Doges' Palace
-Accademia art museum. SKIP THIS
-a free afternoon
-2 free evenings and 1 planned dinner

Nov 15-17: Florence
-Accademia Gallery w/ David
-"Renaissance walk" - Duomo, Baptistery, etc. SKIP ONE OF THESE TWO
-Oltrarno area - walk/talk re Roman, medieval and 19th century Florence. SKIP ONE OF THESE TWO
-Uffizi art museum. MAYBE POP IN FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. (I know it's huge)
-2 free afternoons
-2 free evenings and 1 planned dinner

Nov 18-20: Rome
-Vatican Museum, Sistine, St. Peter's.
-Some free time in Vatican area for crypt, dome, whatever.
-Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon
-Free afternoon near area of Palatine ruins, Mamertine prison, etc.
-A few free hours in heart of city
-Evening stroll through historic heart of city.
-2 planned dinners and 1 free evening
.

Help me be romantic in Rome

edjusted — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:49:24 -0800

My wife and I are going to Italy with a tour group late November, and it also happens to be our anniversary. We'll be in Rome the day/night of our anniversary. We're staying at the Holiday Inn Parco Dei Medici. Likes/dislikes: Foodwise, we're not really info "fancy/expensive/formal" dining, plus my wife isn't really into Italian food. And no wine. Cafe/diner type places are good, and any place with good bread is a plus. (Yes, we're a really exciting couple) Sights/shopping-wise: "cutesy," "unusual," or modern beats out historical. Any place that's on a hill and/or has a nice view of the city is always nice. As an example of the things we like, when we went to Paris once, one night when the rest of our tour group went to a lavish expensive dinner at fancy French restaurant, we ended up walking around the city, buying some bread at Fauchon, and finding a nice little sidewalk eatery to eat at.

My wife is really down to earth, so she's actually not into grand romantic gestures. But I do want to make the day/night special for her.

Oh, and this is the first time we've ever been to Italy, and we don't speak a word of Italian.

Can anyone give me suggestions on how to make our anniversary special, either near our hotel or at least somewhere accessible by us tourists?