Train Italia

Since Carol is getting so good at Italian, here is the link to the Italian train site. Also, there was a post here with info and a link to a discussion of the trains on Cruise Critic, here.

Rome Explored

Here is some more detail of the different areas of Rome to help us decide on which hotel to choose. Below is a Google map I have created that includes the various points of interest that I talk about. If you zoom in (click on the +) you can actually see the buildings and if you click on the rounded arrow on the map it will tell you what it is.


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In the Centro Storico (historic center) of Rome, Piazza Navona (red arrow) is a “square” that started in the 1st century as Roman circus where they held games, sort of like a sports stadium or track field. It is not square, but an oblong area now surrounded by houses, shops and hotels which shelter several well-known fountains as well as outdoor cafes. At one time the piazza was the home of the city open-air marketplace which has been moved to the Campo di’Fiori (blue arrow) a few blocks to the south. A few blocks to the east is the Pantheon (green arrow) - one of the oldest buildings in the world. Many blocks northeast are the Spanish Steps (purple arrow), the upscale shopping, the Trevi Fountain (turquoise arrow). To the west is the Castel Sant’Angelo (a blue arrow), St. Peter’s and the Vatican (another blue arrow). All of these areas are within walking distance. Right outside the piazza is the Hotel Raphael. Another link to the hotel, here.

The Pantheon (green arrow) was originally built in 27 BC, but the current construction dates to 125 AD. It is the most amazing giant dome building with a central opening (oculus) that is open to the sky. The height of the dome is equal to its diameter, and the entire structure will take your breath away. It is still used as a church. The square outside the Pantheon is a lively meeting place full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. It is close to the same sights as the Piazza Navona above, somewhat closer to the Via Veneto (yellow arrow). The Hotel (or Albergo) del Senato entrance is on the square.

The Via Veneto (yellow arrow) is a mile or so east of the Centro Storico. The neighborhood was developed in the 1700s with elaborate villas and vacation homes of the rich Romans, which during the 1800s were converted to hotels, restaurants and bars. It is a street that was made famous as the fashionable place to live and gather by the movie La Dolce Vita. At one end of the street is Piazza Barberini with several famous fountains. Most guidebooks point out that the rich and famous are no longer found at the charming sidewalk cafes (although it still sounds charming). The Ambasciatore Palace Hotel is located at 62 Via Veneto. This hotel is a taxi ride from most of the sights, although we maybe could walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.

None of these neighborhoods are particularly close (a couple of miles) to the ancient Roman ruins of the Colosseum (a blue arrow), the Forum and those historical sites.