When in Rome do what the romans do - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**TheWills** · 02-03-2004, 03:30 PM

Hey all

When I was in Rome 2 years ago I did the mistake of taking a tour. Now tours are a fair chunk of change that I for one would rather have. What I noticed and then realized earlier is that even though Rome was once thee city on earth, it at the time was really not that big. Rome wasonly a few kilometers at best in size, instead of buying a tour buy a map and you can easily walk to almost any of the main attractions except for the Vatican which is a bit farther away. I belive that this goes for most ancient cities like athens for example as well becuse the city center in that time really wasnt very big compared to today, so get a map and save money.
heres a quick guide,
the best p[lace too start is the Plaza Venicia check that out, if you wannna see the colliseum walk right past it and its about 1km behind the main monument at the PV. The Spanish Steps is in the oposite direction from where one would go to see the collesium, if you are looking at the PV do a 180 and walk straight away from it down the buisiest road you can find and you shold pass this cool pillar and walk right into the steps pretty much its only about 20 minute walk. The Trefi fountain and Pathenon are very close as well one can easily see those 5 attractions in a day with lots of time left over

phlipfudge23 · 02-03-2004, 05:47 PM

Any other hints for Italy? Hopefully I will be headed off there sometime in the near future and am plumbing everyone I meet/ read for info. Comon, I'll be your best friend!

**Mocassin** · 02-03-2004, 05:57 PM

I agree with Newbie, although Athens is a very big city, the main attractions (museums, agora, parthenon...) are all close to one another...Thanks for the tip about Rome!!!

**TheWills** · 02-03-2004, 07:21 PM

Sorry mate, I only did a quick fly into Rome for a few days, it was a place I had always wanted to go too, as for the rest of Italy all i can help you with is good eats in the north, and the mafia in the south hehe well not so much anymore
newbie

**Ozpacka** · 02-04-2004, 12:41 AM

Ha, the only tour that i want to do the next time im in rome is the pub crawl that apparently happens every night starting at the spannish steps? Can anyone give me any more info on this. Starting times, where you go, etc...

Last time i was in rome, was with a contiki, but after the vatican, and a wednesday mass (with the pope, wow!) at st peters, myself and a couple of mates grabed a map, a gelatti, and headed off for the colosseum. Plus there was another huge place that was pretty cool, cant remember what it was called though. Basically, it was white, had a bloody huge staircase, and a statue of a horse somewhere. Ahhwell, i guess we were still too hungover to take in much of the beauty that was rome. But, thats contiki for you.

A good time indeed.
leeroy

**worldwidemike** · 02-04-2004, 11:03 AM

I agree that Rome and many "Old Towns" are very walkable. However, after the first day (when you want to SEE everything), don't be afraid to use the subway in Rome. II've used it and had no problem. It is a bit of a hike from the Forum (which is right next to the Colisseum) to the Vatican. Many of the subway stops are at a particular site. The Colisseum has its own subway stop (Colesseo).

Sorry, can't help with the pub crawl, but the Spanish Steps themselves are a big hang out spot in the evening. Plus, it is a very Italian thing to just kind of walk around the main drags, doing the "passegiatta," as they say. Here, we'd do it in cars and call it "cruising." You know, checking everybody out, what they're wearing, looking where all the hotties are. Just about every Italian town has its own passegiatta street.

Oh, and I also definitely agree to NOT do those "city tours." Unless you are absolutely hopeless with a map or sense of direction, you can usually find your way around. Plus, sometimes when you take a wrong turn you find something interesting that you may want to go back to...

Italy is one of my favorite countries -- I've been there three times and plan on going back again (and again...), so feel free to ask any questions.

worldwidemike

phlipfudge23 · 02-04-2004, 12:51 PM

wwm, wanna help me out? All of my questions are in the "Tips for Italy" topic in the forum for New travellers. Pretty pretty please, I really need help! I'll love you forever!

**worldwidemike** · 02-05-2004, 06:59 AM

Hey Fudge!

I replied to your message over on the other page. You know, I never even looked at that section. What a slacker I've been! Of course I'll help -- that's what Tpunk is all about...

worldwidemike