Call Ahead! Are they open or on strike? and other Rome, Italy General Tips

Favorite Thing: There are literally dozens of wonderful sites to see in Rome, but before you visit any museum or archeological site, it makes sense to call the information number the day of or the day before you plan to visit, to ensure that the museum is/will be open. Often there are strikes, usually lasting only a couple of hours, but sometimes for the entire day.

Believe me this happens!

On recent trips to Italy, there was a strike at the Florence state run museums until 11:30 one morning. (The same morning, the Museum of the History of Science in Florence was closed for 2 hours due to a problem with the electricity.) Pompeii was on strike until 10:30on one day when we visited. Another time, the Circumvesuviana Train line was on strike. Once, the Galleria Borghese (the museum workers) was on strike for an entire day.

Almost always, the site knows there will be a strike and can advise you in advance. There's a sort of joke in Italy that the best organized things in Italy are the strikes!

If the museum or site allows or requires reservations, be sure to keep the reservation number with you so you can rebook.

Here's a helpful official site on most of the museums in Italy with telephone numbers, including the telephone numbers for reservations.

Museum Information


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Favorite Thing: There are plenty of maps of Rome available - the city's own tourist information kiosks actually offer a decent one for free, but you have to insist to get the best one.

They have two maps - why, I don't know. If you ask for a map, they'll tear one off a tablet and give it to you - it's about 13 by 18 1/2 inches, and the type is so small as to be not terribly useful. They have a larger version (already folded) which is 18 1/2 by 26 inches. Much easier to read! But you may have to insist to get them to give you this one.

The last time I was in Rome, even though I speak Italian and asked for the larger map, they tried to tell me it was the same as the smaller one. Then they tried to tell me they only had it in Japanese! So keep insisting!

And of course, every guide book on earth has a map or series of maps. The cut-away maps of small neighborhoods in the Eyewitness Guide are great - but the book weighs a ton!

Still, my favorite is the Rough Guide's Map of Rome. Just detailed enough to keep you from losing your way in the tiny vincoli (alleys) that make the city so enjoyable. And made out of that wonderful, untearable, waterproof fabric that allows you to fold it again and again, in any way you like, in any way that's convenient for your current location. I love it.

Whatever map you choose - do this one little check. Look for Piazza Paradiso. Find Piazza Venezia (just north of the Roman Forum and Piazza Campidoglio). Then follow Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the west until you come to the Church of San Andrea delle Valle (which should be on the south side of the street.)

Ok, now find Campo dei Fiori, just to the southwest, and draw a line between it and the church. If you don't find Piazza del Paradiso just about in the middle, then the map isn?t detailed enough.

Fondest Memory: Actually, maybe it's getting lost and not caring one bit!

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Favorite Thing: OK, this isn't my favorite thing - but it might help you find a favorite thing.

“Roma C’č”

This is THE guide to what's happening in Rome. If you want to find out who's playing where, special tours, music, plays, opera, films, theater, this is the weekly magazine to get. Unfortunately, it's mostly in Italian - there is a small section in the back in English, but very limited.

But if you buy a copy and bring it to the front desk of your hotel, I'm sure they'll help you translate whatever you need.

There is a website, and it's been updated to include some English descriptions, but only of local Cinemas, shows, times, etc.

http://www.romace.it/site/index.php

You can buy it at any newstand.


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