Jewel in Italy’s crown CAN’T SEE IT ALL IN A DAY: The view of St Peter’s across the Tiber is one Rome’s many attractions TURN TO NEXT PAGE B OLD, brash and bustling, Rome is just different enough to help you escape the pressures of life. Even a short break in the Eternal City is long on rewards. For architecture alone, the vibrant Italian capital is a treasure trove of more than 3,000 years of art and ‘must-see’ sights. With its abundance of cultural beauty and guaranteed warm welcome, Rome continues to be a favourite destination for holidaymakers. But that is hardly surprising when you consider its wondrous, if bloody, historical Walking the awesome streets of Rome TOM MARTIN finds the vibrant capital transports you into a different world past. It is one of the most beguiling cities in the world and dazzles visitors who wander around amazed at the architectural jewels on offer. But the city is far more than one of the most incredible cultural capitals. It can overwhelm many at first sight. The visitor is quickly in awe of its splendour. Hotels can be expensive but treat visitors like friends and a warm welcome is assured. It is a city that knows the value of tourists and caters for their 80 TRACING BACK THE CENTURIES Explore the black and white charm of the ancient city centre of Chester 81 HOLIDAYS FIT FOR FUN Shape up for summer with our guide to the best fitness breaks Travel Edited by JANE MEMMLER Picture: THE TRAVEL LIBRARY / REX FEATURE SUNDAY EXPRESS April 22, 2007 77 sc*/mgx
Transcript
TRAVEL
Jewel in Italy’s crown
CAN’T SEE IT ALL IN A DAY: The view of St Peter’s across the Tiber is one Rome’s many attractions
TURN TO NEXT PAGE
BOLD, brash and bustling,Rome is just different enoughto help you escape thepressures of life. Even a shortbreak in the Eternal City islong on rewards. For
architecture alone, the vibrant Italiancapital is a treasure trove of more than3,000 years of art and ‘must-see’ sights.
With its abundance of cultural beautyand guaranteed warm welcome, Romecontinues to be a favourite destination forholidaymakers.
But that is hardly surprising when youconsider its wondrous, if bloody, historical
Walking the awesome streets of Rome TOM MARTIN findsthe vibrant capital transports you into a different world
past. It is one of the most beguiling citiesin the world and dazzles visitors whowander around amazed at thearchitectural jewels on offer. But the cityis far more than one of the mostincredible cultural capitals.
It can overwhelm many at first sight.The visitor is quickly in awe of itssplendour.
Hotels can be expensive but treatvisitors like friends and a warm welcomeis assured. It is a city that knows thevalue of tourists and caters for their
80 TRACING BACKTHE CENTURIES
Explore the black andwhite charm of the ancientcity centre of Chester
81 HOLIDAYS FITFOR FUN
Shape up for summerwith our guide to thebest fitness breaksTravel
Edited by JANE MEMMLER
Picture: THE TRAVEL LIBRARY / REX FEATURE
TRAVEL INSURANCE
ITALY
SUNDAY EXPRESS April 22, 200776 SUNDAY EXPRESS April 22, 2007 77/gas sc*/mgx
EERIE MARVEL: Rome’s Colosseum ampitheatre ruins will transport you back to the times of the gladiators
PAMPERED: The Junior suite in the elegant Duke Hotel is found in the upmarket Parioli district
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE to the other. But take it easy, thepeople here do.
Relax in one of the manysidewalk trattorias while youdecide on the route you want totake.
Wander through the Piazza DelPopolo and carry on down to theSpanish Steps, where hundreds oflocals and tourists alike sit andenjoy the sun.
Walk further down the road andyou will find the Trevi Fountain. Itappears out of nowhere. You turna corner and there it is in all itssplendour.
It is by far the most famous ofRome’s fountains and is the workof Nicolo Salvi who started it in1732. It was completed byGianpaolo Pannini 30 years later.
No visit to Rome would becomplete without seeing theColosseum. Passing the RomanForum on your way there is amere taster for the terrible beautywithin.
The arena was built by EmperorVespasian in AD72 on the site of adrained lake in the grounds ofNero’s palace.
In its heyday, it was the site ofunspeakable games that saw
every whim. I stayed at theelegant Duke Hotel, situated in theupmarket Parioli district, close tomany embassies and between theparks of the Villa Borghese andVilla Glori.
It is a plush, expansive, five-starhotel that retains many traditionalItalian features with its charmingPolo Lounge bar and I Duchirestaurant offering fantasticcuisine. The rooms are lavish andI felt pampered even before Iunpacked.
The Borghese Museum and theMuseum of Modern andContemporary Art are bothnearby.
It is also just a short journey tothe chic shopping areas, and thefamed Trevi Fountain and TheSpanish Steps.
Stepping out into the heat of anItalian day can leave anybody at aloss as to where to begin.
Walking is by far the best way toget around because it is too easyto miss something wonderful,although the straightforwardsubway system is useful fortravelling from one side of the city
Picture: A1PIX LTD. UK
TRAVEL
historic grandeur
VIBRANT PAST: The Forum was the political and economic centre of Rome
thousands of men, women andchildren put to death in front of55,000 screaming Romans.
It has an eerie quality that is inno way diminished by thehundreds of tourists with whomyou share the experience.
After such a marvel, it is time toindulge in one of the Italians’ mosttreasured pleasures – food.Romans prefer flavour over style,and many humble trattorias servesplendid local dishes.
After a good meal, relax in thebars and watch the Roman worldgo by while you plan the followingday’s outing.
A trip to the Vatican is a must.Secrecy, scandal and intriguealmost inevitably surround thewealth and power of the world’ssmallest independent state.
Yet it remains jaw-droppinglystunning. Just to loiter in StPeter’s Square is enough to leavethe visitor speechless.
The city-state has its own postoffice, television and radio stationsand even its own army.
The 110-strong Swiss Guard,who parade in flamboyant blueand yellow tunics with red plumedhelmets, make up the smallestarmy in the world.
St Peter’s, the largest basilica inChristendom, with its Goliath-sized statues of former pontiffsand Michelangelo’s vast dome is awonder in itself and a tour to thetop of the dome is well worth thelengthy climb.
Arrive either very early or last
thing for the Vatican museums(including the Sistine Chapel) oryou will be battling big crowds.
Rome’s medieval core is just asunmissable as her ancientattractions.
Exploring the quiet alleysaround the Campo dei Fiori andPiazza Navona, stopping for acoffee or diving into historicchurches, is a great way torelax.
Summer in Rome is all aboutbeing outside, and the way tostart, and possibly end, hotevenings is to hang out in piazzas,on church steps or outside the oldbuildings, as most of the city’syouth do, chatting and checkingeach other out.
Good spots include theTestaccio neighbourhood, wherethere’s a lively evening scene, andtons of restaurants, which manytourists miss.
L’Oasi della Birra the ‘Oasis ofBeer’ (38 Piazza Testaccio) is onesuch hidden gem renowned for itsfine selection of over 500 brewsand excellent menu. ‘Cin Cin’indeed.
● GETTING THERE: Cox & Kingsoffers a three-night package atThe Duke Hotel in Rome from£495 per person, including flightswith British Airways fromGlasgow, private transfers andB&B accommodation.
For more information call 0207873 5000 or visitwww.coxandkings.co.uk
Fresh lookat world of
cruise shipsSOME of the biggest names inthe cruise industry will be visiting Scotland this monththanks to a leadingindependent travel agency.
Glasgow-based BarrheadTravel is hosting a cruiseexhibition at its city centresuperstore on Oswald Street,where representatives frommajor companies includingCunard, P&O Cruises andRoyal Caribbean Internationalwill be present to discuss theirships.
The event is designed tointroduce the concept of cruising to people who havenever taken a cruise before.Barrhead Travel managingdirector Jacqueline Dobsonsaid: “In recent years therehas been a tremendous growthin the cruise holiday market,yet there are many people whohave never considered takinga holiday at sea.”
“This is perhaps due to apreconception that cruises arespecifically for people of a certain age or income –through this exhibition we aimto encourage holidaymakers totake a fresh look at cruising.”
The event takes place onSaturday between 10am and5pm.
● For further information call0871 226 0477, visitwww.cruisedirect.co.uk or popinto your nearest BarrheadTravel shop.
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