Rome
ODE TO MY PARTNER: I love Rome, it's my home. I am an Italian man, influenced by the Vatican. It's doctor instead of sir, in the city of the Roman Empire.
Man cannot live on history alone, but it is for sure an inspiration. Rome is known as the Eternal City because so much of its antiquity still exists today. Even among the bustling traffic and avant guard beauty, one can never escape the opportunity to sink back into ancient history. The Blue Guide was the guide of choice in my university Art in Rome class and I am sure it is still the most descriptive and informative guide to tour the city. Off the top of my head, here are some of the most interesting neighborhoods to explore and some surrounding towns as well. Others not covered here are Via Nomentana and Via Appia where you can visit the catacombs.
NEIGHBORHOODS OF ROME
Aventino is one of the best neighborhoods to live given its central yet secluded location on one of the original seven hills of Rome. There is an orange park which you enter from an old wooden gate. If the gate is closed you can look through the key hole and see a perfect view of Saint Peter's dome.
Centro is the historical center and you can find the major ruins and monuments there including: Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Aras Pacis, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Vittorio Emanuele, Colosseum, Cicero's Senate, Circus Massimus and Terme de Caracalle. There are several antique shops around Piazza Navona, art shops near the Spanish Steps, and great shopping everywhere.
Cassia is another attractive residential neighborhood built along the famed Via Cassia antique road. There are some excellent neighborhood restaurants like La Francescana and Primo Piano for pizza.
EUR is the new Rome built by Mussolini before World War II. The streets are wide and the offices are mostly government and corporations. It also has a major auditorium, large hotels and upscale housing. The place to shop in EUR is Via Europa.
Flaminia is an older but still charming area of Rome. Again, it is hilly and the streets are lined with big birch trees. There are some beautiful churches to visit but the best attraction is the street market across from the Ponte Milvio and the Olympic stadium also built by Mussolini. This is where you can attend the local soccer matches by Lazio or Roma or see the tennis championships. It is worth stopping by any time for a drink at the friendly coffee shop inside. There is also an international youth hostel next door.
Monte Mario is the largest neighborhood overlooking Rome. It is a nice neighborhoods set on a mountain just west of the historical center. You will find an abudance of shops and restaurants but the highlight is the Zodiaco restaurant and icecream palor with seats overlooking Rome. The Hilton Hotel is up there too.
Parioli is the most avant guard neighborhood with upscale discos and fine restaurants.
Prati was a popular neighborhood in the 1940s and 1950s where you can see some fantastic architecture.
Trastevere is the artistic neighborhood with fun night life.
Vatican City is a small area closed in by a 20 foot wall. Visitors can enter through the Sistine Chapel or Saint Peter's Basilica. Inside are beautiful gardens and a lot of secrets.
TOWNS NEAR ROME TO VISIT
Bracciano
Castelli Romani
Civitavechhia
Frascati
Santa Marinella
Tivoli
Viterbo
Here is a link to an English university with people who really know their way around Rome.
www.johncabot.edu