Viator Rome

Rome is one of the most popular places to visit in Italy year-round, and with good reason. On New Year’s Eve, the city gets even more popular, with Italians from other parts of Italy heading to the capital for the festivities. If you’ll be in Rome over New Year’s Eve, there are a few events going on that you can attend (most of them completely free of charge), but keep in mind that hotels in the historic center get booked quickly over the holidays – so don’t delay in making your own arrangements.

Located within the city of Rome is a separate city state, the Vatican. The head of this state is the Pope. Many people make the pilgrimage to the Vatican every year – as they have done for centuries – to see the Pope. Here are the best ways to do this:

A genuine remnant of Rome as it once was, this annual festival is the time the residents of Trastavere celebrate their district’s humble working-class roots. Festa di Noantri translates as Our Festival.

Summer in Rome is one long series of things to do.

From 16 June until 28 September 2012, the 35th Estate Romana brings the Eternal City alive.

As the money seems to just leak out of your wallet, remember there are many things to do for free in Rome that will give you just as much insight into the city as visiting the big museums and attractions. There are also special days and events to help you see the major sights on a budget.

FREE SUNDAYS
On the last Sunday of every month there is free entry to the Vatican Museums between 9am and 12:30pm. The queues are very long so get there early.

When in Rome it’s tempting and very easy to stay in the Centro Storico, the historic center. But as they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do, which means you need to cross the river and head to Trastevere. This is the heart of real contemporary Rome. Trastevere is the place the city’s inhabitants come in the evenings, to the bars and restaurants that give the narrow cobbled streets such vitality.

1. Easter. April 8th is Easter Sunday in 2012 and both Sunday and Monday are public holidays in Italy. Rome is a very religious city and home to the Vatican so it’s a special time here. The Pope says Mass to hundreds of thousands of people who gather in St Peter’s Square at 10.15am on Easter Sunday.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Italians invented coffee. They have certainly made it their own by naming all the various ways to drink it: cappuccino, espresso, macchiato, caffé latte. But actually coffee beans as a source of energy were first noted in Ethiopia in the 13th century.

Some say it’s morbid, but I love visiting cemeteries when I visit foreign cities. They hold so much history and, especially in Europe, so much historic art and architecture. Many cemeteries are really beautiful and interesting places to visit anytime but on All Souls’ Day, they become a festive celebration of family in Italy.

When in Rome, do as the Romans. And since the Aventine Keyhole is where the locals bring their friends to marvel over the splendour of Rome, you should not miss out. It’s just a little bit off the beaten tourist track although you might still find yourself having to wait patiently while others take their turn to look through the ornate keyhole at the splendid vista of St Peter’s Basilica floating at the end of an avenue of carefully trimmed trees. It might not sound that exciting but what is special about it is the sense of artistic vision which went into creating this perfect sightline, and which really is the drive behind the aesthetic splendour of the Rome we go to admire.