What is the Park of Monsters of Bomarzo, then? It was constructed in the 16th century at the order of a prince of the noble and famous Orsini family, by Pirro Ligorio, the very same architect who finished off Saint Peter’s Cathedral after Michelangelo’s death. The prince had lost his beloved wife and felt the need to express his pain and loss: and you could say he did in quite a grandieuse way, by having the Park built in her honour! When it was first built, the park was named “Villa of Wonders�.

The park contains more than 20 monuments and statues, most of them representing mythological creatures, most of which are very well preserved. Among them, you have the winged horse Pegasus; the goddess Venus; a “hanging house�, very unstable-looking as built on an inclined rock; an armed elephant like those with which the barbarian king Hannibal threatened the ancient Romans; a dragon engaged in a battle against some real animals; Cerberos, the three-headed quardian dog of the hell; the greatest Roman god Jupiter. Not only are the statues end building interesting to look at and fascinating with the stories behind them, but the place in itself is beautiful.

If you have the time, after seeing the Park and the town of Bomarzo, you should hop back on the train and go a little further to Viterbo: it’s just another half hour away. The town dates back to more than 2500 years ago; in origin it was an Etruscan town named Surrena, which started to grow and develop in the middle ages and gained importance especially in the period when it offered a refuge to the Pope against the Emperor. Viterbo has preserved a variety of medieval monuments and museum tfor a visitor to see, and the town itself is a wonderful place to feel the touch of the history.

Italy, is the located in the Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km It has a 301,230 sq km and slightly larger than Arizona.

The climate you meet here is predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. The landscape is various, mountains, plane and coastal lowlands.
Natural resources: coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorospar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land.
Agriculture products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish.
The capital of Italy is Rome. This beautiful city has over 2.700 years old and has become one of the most “ wanted� city in the world. Rome is a full of history, is at the same a “ busy� and relaxing town. Rome is the perfect destination either for business, or for leasure.
Well, after all this useful information I can start making a turistic program for three days in Rome.
Before that , you should know that the best period for visiting Rome is in spring, autumn and winter. In winter you can have better rates for accommodation: Have a look at the winter special rates of the popular Hotel Des Artistes …. And in the autumn you can visit without any kind of temperatures problems because here , in summer is hot, and for those you can t get through the temperature of 35 C is harder. At the same time, you have to find a better place to stay in Rome. I advice you that the hotel should be near centre (Try the Nice Hotel near the Termini Station) …. you can be near the historic places and “ take part of it�.
Ok. Let s begin.
DAY ONE:
09.00 am Breakfast. Take a breath, cause I have a full day . Click here and book a guided city tour. At lunch you can taste one the best and oldest coffee in the world…Tazza d oro….. After one day in Rome you can have a good dinner at a typical restaurant near the Hotel … Then come back to have a sleep because you have to be prepared for the next day.
DAY TWO:
08.30 AM Breakfast. Our trip continues with the museum tours. I recommend you the Vatican Museum. A tip: to avoid queuing, book a tour! Ok, you are back for exploring Rome. Take the tour Illuminated Rome by Night. It was very attractive, not to forget.
DAY THREE: Last day… 10.00 am Breakfast. Four hours of shopping in Rome. I had plenty of time for buying souvenirs and some things for me.
I can wait back to come back as soon as possible.

Before the growth of the Roman Republic and then Empire, the area around Rome was inhabited by the Etruscans, who have left behind many signs of their highly evolved culture and society. Some of their heritage can be admired in Cerveteri, a small town that hosts a huge Etruscan necropolis with more than 400 tombs of the 8th-2nd century BC., disposed in the form of a “city of the dead�. The most interesting objects found in the tombs are now hosted in the Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, but the necropolis is definitely worth seeing, being a beautiful enchanted place. To get there, take a bus from the metro-A station of Lepanto and then walk form the center of Cerveteri, which, by the way, is also worth visiting.

Another town of Etruscan origin, Viterbo, has a beautiful medieval old-town, mostly of 12th-14th century, and is known as the “City of Popes�, having offered refuge to many a medieval pope during the frequent political conflicts. Some of the main attractions are the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, tha Palazoo dei Papi, the Villa Lante di Bagniaia with its marvellous garden and of course the city center itself with its narrow streets and the atmosphere of times long gone. From Rome you can get to Viterbo by train: from Rome Termini or Ostiense stations it’ll take about an hour and a half.
Tivoli is yet another beautiful smalltown about 1 hour drive from Rome, with a COTRAL bus leaving from the metro-B Ponte Mammolo station. The ancient town, located on the Aniene river, was under the influence of Rome as early as 4th century BC, and flourished again in the Middle Ages, under Frederik Barbarossa. The main attraction today are the 16th century Villa d’Este of the cardinal d’Este, the Roman amphitheatre, the beautiful Villa Gregoriana with it’s waterfall, and the ruins of the ancient Villa Adriana, the palace of the emperor Hadrian, outside the city center.
If you want nothing too complicated and not too far away, you can always go to the sea: in the summer the whole city seems to move over to the beaches of Ostia, and in the winter time you can enjoy in peace and quiet the storming sea… And of course, the whole “Lungomare�, that is the road coasting the sea, is crowded with restaurants specialised in seafood! Going to Ostia couldn’t be easier: first take the metro line B to Piramide and then just switch for the train for “Lido di Ostia�. Get off at Ostia centro or Stella Polare and it’s just a few steps to the sea!

To do some exploring it’s good to stay in a centrally located hotel, such as the brand new Yes Hotel near the Termini station, or the already well-known Hotel or Hostel Des Artistes, both close to the station as well.

If you’re on a really tight time schedule, I suggest you skip the Vatican Museums and just go and see the Saint Peter’s Church and the famous round Piazza in front of it. Also, while you’re in the area, walk to the river and see the round fortress Castel Sant’Angelo, constructed as the tomb of the emperor Hadrian but ended up as a hiding place of the popes in the tumultuous middle ages. From there it’s just a stones throw to the Navona Square, famous for it’s huge fountains and street artists that’ll paint your portrait in an instant.

By now, you’ll probably be tired and starving, and that’s just as well, as the surroundings of the Navona Square are a perfect spot for a nice little lunch. Better to stay a bit out of the actual square, since the prices of the restaurant go by address in the city center, and if you have the good sense to go even just around the corner from the tourist attractions, you can save a lot of money! After lunch, don’t forget that some of Rome’s more famous ice-cream bars, such as the Giolitti, are in the area, and you simply must have a go!

Now a quick look at the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, both located at a short walking distance from Navona Square. And don’t forget to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to make sure you’ll get to come back one day! Then to the hotel to have a rest and change into something nice for dinner!

If you only have a couple of days, for dinner you simply must go to Trastevere, one of the oldest, and most Roman, neighbourhoods. Trastevere comes from the Latin words meaning ’on the other side of the Tiber’, and that is exactly where it is. This is where the locals go out for dinner: as a matter of fact the area is crowded with small and cosy tipical Roman restaurant, trattorias and pizzerias, just take your pick. And after dinner the custom is to have a drink in one of the small and crowded bars, so go with the flow…

Better get home early though, since the second morning you need to get up early for your Roman shopping experience: try the markets. If it happens to be a Sunday, head for the famous Porta Portese flea market, and on any other day the best address is the Via Sannio market at Porta San Giovanni, so that after shopping you can also take a look at the Rome second most famous Church, after Saint Peters that is.

Then for lunch to the Campo de’ Fiori in the heart of the historical center. After that, if you have the time and the nerves, take a walk on the Roman Forum before jumping on a bus on the Venice Square to make your way to the Gianicolo hill, where you ’can admire the entire city’, quoting an ancient epigram… The view is from the hill top awesome, and the place itself is beautiful, perfect for a romantic walk hand-in-hand. In the neighbourhood there’s also the huge and wonderful Doria Pamfili park.

By now there’s not much left of your two days, so just some suggestions for the last few hours you might have: there’s the beautiful Santa Maria in Trastevere Church at the foot of the Gianicolo hill, and just over the river the ancient church of Santa Sabina, next to the piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, where you can see Saint Peter’s through a famous key-hole… And on your way back to your hotel, don’t forget to stop at the Colosseum, which is located conveniently on the line B of the underground.

The important thing, of course, when you have little time at your disposal, is to choose a centrally located hotel with good connections, such as the new, classy Yes Hotel at the Termini station, or the budget options Carlito’s Way or Nice Hotel. Both are located close to the Termini station, which is the main station of the city, and has a huge number of bus and metro lines crossing there, so the location is perfect to take the most out of your stay in the eternal city!

Rome is perfectly situated in Italy for alternative activities besides site seeing. The most common outside sports are climbing, trekking, snowboarding and skiing. There are lots of locations near Rome to visit and get out into the open.

If you are a climbing enthusiast you will be spoiled for choice. There are plenty of places to go that are between an hour and an hour and a half away. Although bouldering and sport climbing are really popular in Italy, there are places to go traditional climbing. Although usually a summer sport, you can still climb outdoors during the winter months on a sunny day. Be prepared and dress warmly because it will be cold.

If you need to get your climbing fix for the duration of your stay and it isn’t possible to leave the city, then you can always visit a few climbing gyms. There are two that are located in the city. Club Lanciani and Ecole Verticale The gyms are bouldering only but the facilities are great with lots of interesting routes. There are also showers, lockers and even saunas available at Lanciani.

During winter, snowboarding and skiing is possible in several locations close to Rome Campo Felice, Campo Imperatore, Ovindoli, Roccaraso. Particularly in the Abruzzo National Park.The park consists of 150,000 acres of protected forests which cover two thirds of it. There are also plenty of trails to hike along and lots of wildlife to see during the summer months. The park is also only a 2 hour drive from the city. This makes it a very convenient stop for a day trip that will be unforgettable.

Another activity that can be enjoyed during the summer in the park is mountain biking. Experienced guides will take you on several trails through this enormous park with its forests, rolling hills and mountains. Not far from the National Park, about 40 min. by car situated on the coast of the adriatic sea, a group of bikers from little town close to Pescara airport, organize, every spring and summer, lovely bike tours betwen beach-coast and mountain the will make your trip like an unforgetable experience, visit the web site My Bike Holiday and enjoy it. Alternatively for those who have only little time you will also be able to enjoy the Villa Borghese Park in the heart of Rome, which is a great place to bike.

The Ostia beach is also near Rome if you want to get some sun and it’s just one stop away from Ostia Antica.

Ostia Lido is the famous beach close to rome and many activities are possible there during the summer, beach volley, wind surf, kite surf. Visit Corallo beach web site to also get info about the wheather and wind. The beach is also easy to get to from Yes Hotel Rome, Hostel-Des-Artistes-Rome, Nice-Hotel-Rome and Carlito-Hostel-Rome, by taking the metro line B from Termini station in Rome to “piramide” then take a train from there to Ostia Lido. From there it’s 10 minute walk to the beach.

To start with, there is the Appia Antica Park, a protected area where you can enjoy beautiful sceneries created by nature or history, comfortably close to the city. The park offers a wide range of services to the visitors, such as guided tour, bicycle rental, horse back riding and restaurants.

Along the Via Appia Antica are also located most of the catacombs of Rome: those of Saint Calistus, Saint Sebastian and Saint Domitilla which all date to the second century. To see the opening hours and ticket prices or just to polish up your knowledge of the early phases of the Christian Church, have a look at the site of the Roman catacombs.

On Via Appia Antica you can admire the huge sepulchral monument of a remarkable lady, Cecilia Metella, daughter of an ancient Roman war hero and wife of the great general Crassus, Cesar’s ally. The tomb was constructed around the year 50 BC. Along the way, you can see many more modest family tombs with the portraits of the family members sculpted on the grave.

How to get there from your hotel? Well, if you’re feeling lazy, you can just jump on a tour bus – the Archeobus – which does a 2-hour tour starting fro the Termini station in the city center. But if you’re going on a nice sunny day, the best option is to take the bus from the center to the beginning of Via Appia and then rent a bicycle to explore the area! For example the bus number 218 from the S. Giovanni metro station (of the line A) will take you there.

While planning you stay in Rome, try also booking your accomodation in the brand new and sofisticated Yes Hotel in the Rome city center, or, if you’re looking for easy atmosphere and nice company, in the Hostel Des Artistes near the central Termini station.

These are absolutely everywhere in Rome. In every piazza and open space in Rome. They are all magnificent works of art. A good way to see the city is to plan your route along the locations of the main or most well known fountains. So lets begin the tour with the fountain located closest to the Yes hotel Rome. In Piazza della Repubblica you can find the Fountain of the Naiads. Naiads are nymphs who protect the ocean, lakes, rivers and he underground. This fountain was completed at the end of the 19th century. However, because the statues of the nymphs were considered too risqué, it was only switched on a year later in 1900.

The next fountain on the list, Fontana del Tritone, is located in Piazza Barberini, a couple of minutes away from our central Rome B&Bs This triton in this fountain is seated on two valves which are supported by four dolphins. This fountain was sculpted in honour of Urbanus the VIII by Bernini. The fountain was moved to its current position because of the enlargement of Via del Tritone. It used to be situated at the beginning of Via Due Macelli.

Now it is off to Piazza di Spagna and the beautiful Spanish Steps to the next fountain, from which accomodation Jonella is only a few steps away. Fontana della Barcaccia was sculpted by Bernini and his father, Pietro. They were inspired by the flooding of the Tevere in 1588. The flood was devastating and destroyed many homes. After the waters had subsided, a small flat bottomed boat was found in the mud used to rescue people. They took this boat and used it as the symbol of surviving the flood.

A stroll down Via dei Condotti for fashion lovers, and onto Via del Corso will take you to Piazza del Popolo. The main feature of this fountain is the obelisk that was brought back to Rome in 10 BC under the order of Augustus. A fountain was previously in the square until the addition of the four Egyptian style lions around the obelisk caused it to be removed to Piazza Nicosia.

A walk along the Tevere and across Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II will take you into Vatican City. You are then on your way to Piazza San Pietro. There are two huge 14 metre high fountains in this piazza. One was made in 1613 by Carlo Maderno and the other was constructed in 1677 by Carlo Fontana. Both of them are made of eastern granite.

Now saving one of the best and most well known fountains in Rome, if not the world, for last. Fontana di Trevi is built on the back of Palazzo Poli. It was built by Salvi in 1735. the basin of the fountain was built with money collected from the taxes on wine. This fountain is extremely detailed and beautiful. Don’t forget to throw a coin and drink the water to insure you return to Rome. This fountain is great to see during the day and at night when it is illuminated.

Of course there are hundreds of fountains dotted throughout the city and this is just an idea of a basic tour you can do by yourself and expand on it if you want to see more.