 | Rome Local Customs | Tips 41 - 50 of 409 |  |
Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (409) You will not believe this - all the azalia plants that lined the Spanish Steps were stolen (Wednesday, June 7, 2006) sometime between 3 and 5 a.m. - I was shocked -- my nephew who is Italian said it was a wonder they did not steal the steps!!
So then - NO, this is not a "local customs" tip because the plants were stolen - its because it is SPRING FESTIVAL!!
The Piazza was was under construction for awhile and now back in beautiful shape. They didn't get the Spanish steps decorated in time for Easter but here it is in full bloom in May and for Festa della Primavera (Spring Festival). We attended Mass there at Trinita dei Monti on Easter - hardly anyone there at Mass the throngs of people crowded St Peter's - the church facade is still undergoing rennovation. But, as of April 21 new azaelia plants covered the center and both right and left sides. Rome is showing her colors - lots of light rain and warm sunshine helped the season's greenery - so, spring has spung. Will keep this tip updated as we're there often.
Photos and reference text by permission of Roberto Piperno for non-commercial purposes only.
|
 | |  |
Visiting Rome?
Read reviews about Rome Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
If we are not in the midst of a festival, there is one on the way. Check the Rome meetings/events often as I do try to list them as they are approaching. You are welcome to e-mail me at any time if you are here, in transit, or planning your trip. I'll do my best to find out what is happening or direct you to where you can find the information you would like.
The Festival of San Lorenzo was celebrated in various locations throughout Rome on August 10. This legend urges you to pick a star in the sky and make your wish and prayer to Saint Lorenzo - he's very generous on this day especially. As my nephew is yet another Lorenzo (although no saint, to be sure!) we did celebrate. I attended this concert and then joined Lorenzo the unholy and the multitude at a rousing wine tasting celebration on the grounds of Casa Cine in Villa Borghese produced by the vintners of Lazio.
This concert took place in the courtyard of the Church of St Ivers on Via Risorgimento and the photo of this facility speaks for itself. I met and sat with two lovely ladies - one I have been able to keep in touch with from Florence.
|
| | |
The second night's celebration of Italy's victory culminated with over 1 million people in Circus Maximus tonight - a sea of waving flags greeted Italy's soccer team as the entered in an open bus winding through the streets of Rome, hours late due to huge crowds along the way. Many other piazzas were filled with people celebrating.
Once they reached the Circus Maximus, the players appeared on stage, dancing and waving, as the crowd stretched out before them waving Italian flags. Alessandro Del Piero, who scored a goal in the semi-final win over Germany, took off his shirt and threw it into the crowd, posing bare-chested in front of the masses.
TV coverage has been constant and the party continues on into the night.
|
If you go into most coffee shops, like Tazza d'Oro in Rome, you might benefit from knowing the accepted protocol.
If you want coffee (of any kind), you go to the cashier first and place the order, get the receipt, then go over to the counter. The coffee guy will then make the coffee you ordered. Don't go right up to the counter like you might in America to order a drink. They will just ignore you for a while and then tell you to go over to the cashier first. Maybe others have had a different experience, but it is the protocol I noticed most places.
Oh, and if you just order coffee, you'll get Expresso. You only will get about an ounce of that really strong coffee. It cost's a little less than a euro. There is usually sugar at the counter. If you accidently add too much sugar, don't worry, you can't tell the difference it's so strong. I only saw cream at the counter once. You'll finish fast, so you will liklely just stand at the counter. If you want to relax and sit a long time, then you can go to a table first (if they have them)(and many cafe "bars" do not) and get a waiter/waitress to serve you. Of course, you will pay more and you will want to leave a tip for that service.
If you want regular coffee, not expresso, you need to tell them or else you get expresso. For regular American coffee tell them, "One Cafe' Americano" and they will know what you mean. You may need to ask for milk.
|
| | |
Italians love their cars - and I have become endeared to these little cars I see in our neighborhood. The only model I recognize is the Citron and the "naked" Smart - so, someone help me out here if you know what the others are.
|
Visiting Rome?
Read reviews about Rome Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Appropriate dress is required to visit any church in Rome. This means, essentially, that you must cover your knees and your shoulders. For women, tops cannot be sleeveless, and skirts or long shorts must fall at least below the knee. For men, it's best to wear full-length pants. If you want to wear sleeveless tops when walking around in the heat, you can bring a shawl to throw over your shoulders when you visit churches. There will probably not be anyone to stop you from walking into the smaller churches dressed inappropriately, though of course you should adhere to the rules out of respect anyway. To enter St. Peter's Basilica you will have to pass about a dozen hawk-eyed guards, and there's no way you'll get past them without proper attire. Some of the souvenir shops around the Vatican have capitalised on this and now sell throw-away, paper pants to desperate tourists. Don't waste your money on paper pants; come prepared. To visit most of the Vatican museums you can wear what you like, but when you get to the Sistine Chapel the same rules apply, so unless you want to miss the chapel you should cover knees and shoulders when going to the museums as well.
|
| | |
The safest way I found to cross the street in Rome was to follow the nuns. Especially near the Vatican, flocks of nuns are everywhere, and seem to have a heavenly force field which causes otherwise maniacal Roman drivers to yield to them. If you can find a group about to cross, follow closely behind them! Make sure to stay close enough to be in the nun safety zone, but not so close as to be creepy.
|
On June 1st, we had just left the house and turned the corner onto Via Veneto and I stopped in my tracks - this group of Caribinieri in full formal dress, all mounted on white horses was passing by us heading South on Via Veneto. I was told they were celebrating an anniversary of some particular event - I'm still trying to find out the significance of June 1st in the Carabinieri Corps.
Italy has both a local police force (Polizia) and the National Carabinieri.
The new Corps, created to perform both military and civil functions, was called the Carabinieri not only to avoid any comparison with the former napoleonic "Gendarmerie" but mainly because, like all elite units of those years, it was equipped with carbines.
The Carabinieri Corps was created on July 13, 1814, by resolution of Vittorio Emanuele I which established a Corps, known as Carabinieri Reali, of mounted or foot soldiers rigorously selected "... for their distinguished good conduct and judiciouness" whose task was "to contribute to the necessary happiness of the State, which cannot be separated from protection and defense of all good subjects."
These particularly sensitive functions, specified in the Regie Patenti (Royal Licenses), the official document comprising the aforementioned resolution, underlined the importance attributed to the personal skills required of the selected soldiers, as well as their dual military and civil task. From the very beginning, the Carabinieri demonstrated a heartfelt sense of duty, honor and top level conduct, and quickly gained people's respect and devotion.
|
| | |
Hey - I can't believe this - Its St Patrick's Day so, of course, I want to go out and celebrate at an Irish Pub. My nephew refuses because it is "Friday the 17th" and THAT IS BAD LUCK DAY in Italy!!! Da ya balieve it???
*Note this is classified as "Religious travel" Other Contact: someone call my nephew
|
These tents actually provided some of the best nibbles and the vendors were all open to bartering - some really nice hand made goods. All last month we had the Portal floating stage and music from Tosca to Big Mama blues - this month we have the Festival along the same space! We were here at night through the weekend (August 5/6) and the food was just great - along with a few good shopping ops. I can't believe any country celebrates pomp and pagentry quite the way Italy does - and, at moment's notice.
|
|
- Azzurra
Via del Boccaccio, 25, Rome, Italy - Alessandrino
Via Clemente Alessandrino 9, Rome, Italy - Everest 1
Via Cavour 47, Rome, Italy - 10 e Lode
Via Tripolitania 195, Rome, Italy - Alla Balduina
Via Alfredo Serranti 12, Rome, Italy - Assisi
Via Dei Mille, 29, Rome, Italy - Mercure Roma Delta Colosseo
Via Labicana 144, Rome, Italy - Royal Court
Via Marghera 51, Rome, Italy - Le Muse
Via Giacinta Pezzana 68, Rome, Italy - Arenula
Via Cavour 47, Rome, Italy - Del Corso
Via del Corso 79, Rome, Italy - Grand Hotel Plaza
Via Del Corso 126, Rome, Italy - Hotel Trastevere
Via Milazzo, 42, Rome, Italy - Quality Hotel Nova Domus
Via G. Savonarola 38, Rome, Italy - Romano
Largo Corrado Ricci 32 at Via Cavour, Rome, Italy
|
on August 30, 2006
on January 18, 2007
on June 16, 2006
on January 16, 2007
