ROME

Rome - May 2009

Purpose-The main reason for going to Rome was to watch the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona. Having got the tickets two weeks before, we then needed to book flights. At Ł529 per person for a return trip, with no accomodation, we found that we could make it a 5 day holiday for about the same price.
Travel-We flew with Swiss Air from Manchester to Zermat where we stayed overnight, then on to Rome the following morning. The return was a straight transfer via Zurich. This cost Ł129 per person

Hotel-Stayed at a converted farmhouse named Residenza d'epoca Pietra di Ponente, just outside the Rome ring road. Beatifully situated with comfortable rooms and a small restaurant. They were happy to transfer guests to and from the local Metro station, airport and also local restaurants in the evening. Definately the place to stay in Rome taking about half an hour on the train to the centre

Touring - Used the pocket sized Eyewitness guide book 'Top 10 Rome' which was ideal. As we had been to Rome before we did not tour the main sites. Wandered around the Colosseum area and took another look at St Peters. Also made the tour of the Vatican (We found that by leaving this until after 11:30, there was an entrance fee but no queues.
We had picked up a hire car for the duration of the trip and this allowed us to explore areas surrounding Rome.
Ostia Antica is the ruins of Rome's ancient port city which is now about 3 kilometers from the sea and is amazing. The current port of Fiumicino is a dump to be avoided. Another interesting trip was to Hadrians Villa, built as his summer retreat in AD118-134. A huge area of ruins in amazing condition. Both places are well worth half a day.

The match
On the day of the match we took the train into Rome, spent the morning in the Spanish Steps area and the afternoon in the Park of teh Villa Borghese. It was from the park that we caught a free transfer bus to the Stadium in the late afternoon. The tranfer buses went in a convoy of twelve. Between each was an armoured van full of police in full riot gear
Entry to the ground area was reasonably simple with the expected searches and security. We took our places in the stadium about 2 hours before kick-off. The plastic seats were absolutely filthy and covered in bird excrement.
The atmosphere for the match was everything you would expect, the result was not!
Residenza d'epoca Pietra di Ponente Hadrian's Villa

Corridor leading to Sistine Chapel Michael Angelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel

Ostia Antica

Spanish Steps Olympic Stadium

Rome - May 2009
Purpose-The main reason for going to Rome was to watch the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona. Having got the tickets two weeks before, we then needed to book flights. At Ł529 per person for a return trip, with no accomodation, we found that we could make it a 5 day holiday for about the same price. Travel-We flew with Swiss Air from Manchester to Zermat where we stayed overnight, then on to Rome the following morning. The return was a straight transfer via Zurich. This cost Ł129 per person Hotel-Stayed at a converted farmhouse named Residenza d'epoca Pietra di Ponente, just outside the Rome ring road. Beatifully situated with comfortable rooms and a small restaurant. They were happy to transfer guests to and from the local Metro station, airport and also local restaurants in the evening. Definately the place to stay in Rome taking about half an hour on the train to the centre Touring - Used the pocket sized Eyewitness guide book 'Top 10 Rome' which was ideal. As we had been to Rome before we did not tour the main sites. Wandered around the Colosseum area and took another look at St Peters. Also made the tour of the Vatican (We found that by leaving this until after 11:30, there was an entrance fee but no queues. We had picked up a hire car for the duration of the trip and this allowed us to explore areas surrounding Rome. Ostia Antica is the ruins of Rome's ancient port city which is now about 3 kilometers from the sea and is amazing. The current port of Fiumicino is a dump to be avoided. Another interesting trip was to Hadrians Villa, built as his summer retreat in AD118-134. A huge area of ruins in amazing condition. Both places are well worth half a day. The match On the day of the match we took the train into Rome, spent the morning in the Spanish Steps area and the afternoon in the Park of teh Villa Borghese. It was from the park that we caught a free transfer bus to the Stadium in the late afternoon. The tranfer buses went in a convoy of twelve. Between each was an armoured van full of police in full riot gear Entry to the ground area was reasonably simple with the expected searches and security. We took our places in the stadium about 2 hours before kick-off. The plastic seats were absolutely filthy and covered in bird excrement. The atmosphere for the match was everything you would expect, the result was not!