About ItalyCurrency

1 CAD = 0.69 EUR

Capital City

Rome

Imports

Crude Petroleum (8.1%), Cars (4.9%), Petroleum Gas (4.6%) - $466 Billion

Exports

Packaged Medicaments (4.5%), Refined Petroleum (3.3%), Car Parts (2.8%) - $391 Billion

Religions

Roman Catholic approx. 90%, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic

History

753 B.C.: Rome is founded

509 B.C.: The monarchy is overthrown, and Rome becomes a republic

27 B.C.: Augustus becomes the first emperor of the Roman Empire

1200-1600: Rome, Florence and Venice prosper during the Renaissance

1861: Italy becomes a unified nation under King Victor Emmanuel II.

1915: Italy enters World War I on the side of the Allies.

1940-1943: Italy enters World War II on the side of the Nazis

1984: Catholicism is no longer Italy's formal state religion

2008: Billionaire Silvio Berlusconi returns to power as prime minister

2009: In April, the mountainous area of Abruzzo is badly hit by an earthquake

Info CenterAddress

Via della Conciliazione, 4, 00193 Roma, Italy

Hours

8.30am to 6pm daily

Phone Number

+39 060608 from 9am to 9pm

Local Sports Teams

A.S. Roma (soccer), S.S. Lazio (soccer), Pallacanestro Virtus Roma (basketball)

Post-Secondary Education

Sapienza University of Rome, The American University of Rome, John Cabot University

Population

Italy: 59.83 million (2013), Metro Area: 4.34 million (2013), Rome: 2.627 million (2012)

Climate

Average of 9°C to 21°C and 837mm of rain per year

Per capita income

44877.93 CAD or 30789.46 EUR per year (2015)

Rome

Raymond ChenBlock 4

Accommodations1. Hotel Palace Nardo

Located in North Rome, the Hotel Palace Nardo offers free WIFI and parking. Rooms are air-conditioned and contain a minibar and TV with satellite channels. You may request a free map of Rome. In the morning, there is a breakfast buffet. The staff is multilingual and is available 24 hrs. The hotel is a 20 minutes’ drive from Fiumicino Airport, is 1.9 miles away from Ottavia Train Station, and provides quick connection to Rome city centre and the Vatican. It’s also cheap, with the price averaging about $70 per night.

2. Rome Cavalieri

Get the royal treatment here at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel and Resort. It’s surrounded by large Mediterranean gardens and offers views of Rome and the Vatican. It features spacious and luxurious rooms and a wellness center. The rooms include a flat-screen TV and a balcony. Some offer access to the Imperial Club Lounge. There are 2 restaurants and 4 bars at the Rome Cavalieri. It also offers 2 tennis courts and a fitness trail with Technogym facilities. Its Grand Spa includes a Turkish bath, saunas, a room with an indoor swimming pool and a fireplace. The hotel's large art collection includes antique furniture, magnificent paintings, precious tapestries, and statues and artifacts. However, the prices are a bit steep, at over $300 per night

Other Attractions1. Rome Coliseum

The most famous sight in Rome is worth a visit. Ticket includes Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well.

2. Vatican Museum

Another can't-miss attraction. Includes the Sistine Chapel.

3. Pantheon

This ancient church is one of Rome's many free sights in Rome.

4. Spanish Steps

Popular with tourists, though not much to see

5. Borghese Museum and Gallery

Rome’s most famous art museum, besides the Vatican Museum

6. St. Peter’s Basilica

The world's largest church and the center of Christianity. The imposing structure was built over a span of more than one hundred years by the greatest Italian architects of the era.

Tours1. Cigar Box Guitar Building Workshop

Guitar workshop, Rome, 1-6 people, 12 hours

This workshop will let you create your own Cigar Box Guitar led by the luthier Claudio in his guitar shop. The activity lasts 3 days, 4 hours each day. You'll receive a kit including a semi-ready instrument, according to your skills. At the end, you'll be ready to play your new full-custom cigar box guitar.

€100 per person

2. Highlights and Hidden Gems of Rome

Highlights tour, Rome, 1-8 people, 3.5 hours

See the highlights of Rome, but not like everybody else. You can discover all the must-sees along a less touristy road in the most awesome private tour. In addition, enjoy the best pizza and gelato in town

€26 per person

3. Michelin Star Food Tour

Michelin Star food tour, Rome, 1-8 people, 3.5 hours

Enjoy a course from 4 of the best Michelin Star rated restaurants in Rome in one private tour, and enter the culinary world of Andrea Fusco, Massimo Viglione, Giuseppe Di Iorio and Luigi Nastri

€105 per person

4. Capture Your Trip in Rome

City Tour, Rome, 1-12 people, 4 hours

Get a lasting video memory of your trip to Rome. Professional video maker Rob is ready to capture the most important moments of your travels. See the Colosseum, go through Via dei Fiori Imperiale and wander on the small little Roman streets to get to the Pantheon.

€45 per person

5. Pompeii Daytrip with an Archaeologist

Pompeii Tour, Rome, 1-10 people, 5 hours

Enjoy a journey back to the past filled with great stories and wonderful views. Join me for a private tour to one of the most important archaeological sites of Italy – Pompeii. See breathtaking highlights like the Roman Forum, Porta Marina & many others.

€90 per person

6. Highlights Tour with an Archaeologist

City tour, Rome, 1-6 people, 4 hours

Join archaeologist Adriano for a private tour filled with accurate historical stories told in a fun, easy-going way. See the main highlights of Rome at your own pace as your host will also point out the hidden corner streets, the gems you'll enjoy like a local.

€20 per person

Find tours on: www.withlocals.com/experiences/italy/rome/

3. Hotel La Rovere

Set on the Tiber River promenade, Hotel La Rovere is only 2,133 feet from St. Peter’s Square. It offers rooms with LCD TVs in Rome’s popular Trastevere district. Wi-Fi is free in public areas and a continental breakfast is served every morning in the dining room. It includes pastries, cereal plus hot and cold drinks. A snack bar is open 24 hours a day. All rooms feature air-conditioning, soundproofing, and a minibar. The bathroom is complete with shower, a toiletry set and hairdryer. Some have a spacious private terrace with tables and chairs. The famous Piazza Navona square is a 15-minute walk from La Rovere Hotel, while the Colosseum is 1.2 miles away. The area is well connected with several bus links to Termini Train Station. One night costs a little over $150.

4. Villa Eur Parco Dei Pini

Offering free parking and free Wi-Fi, Villa Eur Parco Dei Pini is 1,641 feet from Palalottomatica sports and concert venue in Rome's EUR business district. Laurentina Metro Station is a 10-minute walk away. Rooms are air conditioned and feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and minibar. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. An Italian buffet breakfast is served each morning and the bar is open 24 hours a day. The restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine and is open every day at lunch and dinner. The property has also been rated the best value in Rome, going at under $100 per night.

FoodOsteria Bonelli

An authentic Italian dining experience, especially since pretty much everything is in Italian. The food is amazing and you get a great price for what you eat, with a meal being about $20. It’s been rated 4 stars on Yelp.

Farinè la Pizza

Although the atmosphere is a bit lacking, and there are only 7 selections of pizza, but it makes up for it by its amazing pizza. It’s incredibly simple and a pizza is about $15-$30. It’s been rated 4 stars on Yelp

La Carbonara

Although this restaurant mainly sells pasta, the pasta is very good; and cheap too. There’s a big selection of pasta, and it’s just about $15 for “the best dish you’ll ever have.” It has been rated 3.5 stars by Yelp. .

Capo Boi

Capo Boi is a fish-centric, Sardinian-kitchen restaurant where dignified Romans go for special occasions. The fish appetizers are the best in town, and the entrees are massive and sublime. Well worth the expensive price, up to $60. It’s been rated 4 stars on Yelp.

Flavio al Velavevodetto

Tucked into Monte Testaccio, Flavio al Velavevodetto serves up all the traditional Roman dishes, but in a way that makes even your 100th dish taste almost new. Prices are about $30-$60

L'Arcangelo

Arcangelo Dandini is the one of Rome's most beloved chefs, a man who embraces seasonal, traditional recipes of the Italian capital. His dishes are inspired by time spent in family members' home and restaurant kitchens, but he also seeks to recreate specialties of the Roman Renaissance and even ancient delicacies. Prices are about $30-$60

Litro

A café and wine bar with an outgoing staff and a constantly changing list of wines and spirits, Litro is a great place to be. It’s open all day (Tues.-Sun.) and its wines are decently priced. There’s also other foods, so you can grab a snack too.

Da Danilo

The small, so-intimate-you're-bound-to-knock-knees trattoria serves up Roman dishes, but with such fresh ingredients, they hardly compare. Don't miss the carbonara (top of post), with one of the most delicious, smoky-crispy-perfect pieces of guanciale I've ever encountered. It’s a bit on the expensive side, $40-$60

Transportation

Local train from airport to city center€10.44

Express train from airport to city center€15.38

Taxi from Fiumicino airport to city center€52.75

Taxi from Ciampino airport to city center€32.97

3 km taxi ride in Rome€6.92 - €10.99

City sightseeing bus tour (72 h)€24.48

B.I.T. Standard ticket (valid for one Metro ride or 100 minutes on all buses allowing transfers)€ 1.50

24 Hour Ticket€7.00

48 Hour Ticket€12.50

72 Hour Ticket€18.00

Weekly ticket€24.00

Termini Station: Piazza dei Cinquecento, 1, 00185 Roma, Italy