ROME INFO

As a tourist, there are constantly new distractions everywhere you go, however you need to remain aware of your belongings at all times in large cities where there are always people ready to prey on those little moments of distraction. Pick pockets are rife in Rome and they do have the ability to spot tourists from a good distance away! Always make sure you carry your bags in front of you when taking any public transport, never carry wallets, purses or other valuable items in your pockets and carry a photocopy of your passport as oppossed to the real thing, hours at your embassy trying to get an emergency passport will not be fun! Bus routes popular with tourists such as the 64 or the 40 are OK to use as long as you are aware!! Termini, again because it's the main train station and full of travellers is an area to be careful in, common sense is the key. Groups of Women and even children are often the worst culprits, don't let your guard down just because it's a mother and child. They are professionals and prey on people's weaknesses. PORTA PORTESE is one of the biggest flea markets in Rome, held every Sunday morning and slightly different Roman experience for the braver traveller. Great bargains can be found here but BEWARE... due to the crowds and the distractions this is a notoriously pick pocket friendly place, money is best kept in a neck pouch or a safe inside pocket, never keep valuables in your outside pockets and take extra care when browsing the stalls or stands.

Using taxis as a form or transport can prove very costly in Rome. Its always wise to try to establish a rough of idea of the price before getting in to the cab and keep an eye on the meter. An average journey across Rome should be about €15 depending on traffic and if travelling with suitcases you will be charged slightly more for the baggage. If you feel you have been unfairly charged, the drivers number can be found on the door of the taxi, taking that number and threatening to report them to the municipality tends to help! Also worth a note, if you call a taxi as oppossed to going to an official taxi rank you will be charged from wherever the driver is until the point of your pick up, so generally speaking you can expect at least €2 - 3 already on the meter. You don't have to tip the taxi driver if you feel they didn't deserve it, however if you do want to tip €1 or 2 is fine. TAXI NUMBERS: From Rome dial 06 4994,/ 06 3570 / 06 6645, / 06 5551, or 06 8822

TAXIS PRICE SUPLEMENTS

- Night supplement (from 10pm to 7am) : € 2.58
- Sundays and public holidays (from 7am to 10pm) : € 1.03
- Luggage : € 1.03 per piece
- Rome - Fiumicino Airport : € 7.23
- Fiumicino Airport - Rome : € 5.94
- Rome - Ciampino Airport or Ciampino Airport - Rome: € 5.16

• Rome Center Buses:
• Rome Tramps (Center):
• Rome Metro and Regional Railway:
• Rome Sub Urban Routes:
• Rome Night Buses:
• Rome Ostia Buses (to the Beach):

Although modern metropolitan Rome is spread out all along the arterial roads, the historic center of the city is really quite compact and walkable, as the famous Seven Hills don't really challenge your physical fitness. So if you're tired of trying to figure out where the bus stops and Metro stations are, just put one foot in front of the other and you'll find that the distances aren't that great. Walking around is the best way to get oriented, and even if you do get lost, you'll no doubt run across something like a Baroque fountain or ancient marble fragment that will make that wrong turn worthwhile.

Getting across a busy Roman road safely and in one piece is not always easy!! You will find traffic rules in Italy are not perhaps quite the same as at home. Standing at the side of the road at a Zebra Crossing will not work in Rome. Make sure that the approaching car has enough stopping distance, put a brave foot out on to the crossing and hold your hand out to show you mean business. Eye contact also helps! Walk at an even pace and try not to hesitate, scooters will often weave around you and changing your pace can often be worse than to just keep walking! Often when a traffic light is showing green for pedestrians it also means that it is green for cars to turn too, officially they are supposed to give way to pedestrians however the more impatient driver may not! It's always important to look and take care even at crossings!

Bank opening hours: weekdays from 08:30 or 09:00 to 12:30-13:30 and from 14:30 -15:00 to 16:00 depending on the bank. Most commercial offices are open Mon-Fri from 8.30 until 18.00hrs depending on the industry. Most hight street stores are open from 8.30am until 8pm and in the main shopping areas will remain open throughout the whole day. Smaller boutique style shops or traditional Italian shops in the less tourist areas are likely to close around 1pm and re-open around 4pm until 8pm. This also includes the August Holidays, most tourist areas will remain unaffected but again the smaller more traditional style Italian shops will close for anything from 2 weeks to 4 weeks during the month of August, usually starting from around the 15th. There are many change places which are often better options than banks for changing your currency, better rates can be found around the Termini area. There are many ATM/Cashpoint machines to be found around the City, however ALWAYS alert your bank to the fact you will be using your card in a foreign country. Due to a big crackdown in fraudulent withdrawels and stolen cards, many cards are automatically put on hold and you will remain unable to use your card until you have contacted your bank at home and they can then approve any transactions. The phonecalls alone can be very costly but being unable to use your card will prove to be an even bigger headache.

Since January 2005, smoking is banned in all enclosed public places including bars and restaurants. Smokers and Businesses are likely to face fines if caught ignoring the ban, most pubs and restaurants provide an outdoor smoking area for their customers.

Public telephones accept euro coins, tokens and phone cards which can be bought from a tobacconists, newstands and post offices. Many public phones now accept international credit cards which can also be purchased from the many internet points around the city. Most, if not all areas of Rome now have internet points which also offer phones for international calls, however it is now a legal requirement to have to show your passport or Identity document before being able to use the internet due to anti-terrorism laws.

United Kingdom: Via XX Settembre 80a, Tel: 800 877 790
USA: Via Veneto 119, Tel: 06 46 741
Ireland: Piazza di Campitelli 3, Tel. 06 697 9121
Australia: Via Alessandria, 215, Tel: 06 85.27.21
Canada: Via G.B. De Rossi 27, Tel: 06 445981
Netherlands: Via M. Mercati, 8, Tel: 06 32.21.141
Germany: Via San Martino della Battaglia 4, Tel: 06 49213
France: P.za Farnese, 67, Tel: 06 68.60.11
Spain: Lg. Fontanella Borghese, 19, Tel: 06 68.78.172

For medical emergencies go to the nearest "Pronto Soccorso" of any large hospital; Santo Spirito by the Vatican, Ospedale San Giacomo close to Piazza del Popolo and Ospedale Di San Giovanni by the Church of St John in Lateran are some of the most well known. For Children there is a special paediatric hospital called Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, located near the Janiculum hill (Gianicolo) For over the counter medicine or mild ailments the Pharmacies (Farmacia's) are usually pretty helpful and there will generally be somebody there that speaks English.

http://www.adr.it/portal/portal/adr/Fiumicino/Leonardo_da_vinci

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it

• Papal Basilica of Saint Peter - Vatican

  General Information: fax +39.06.698.85518
  Sacristy +39.06.698.83712
  Daily Mass Schedule: 9-10-11-12-17
  Sundays and Holiday Mass Schedule: 9-10.30-11.30-12.15-13-16-17.30
  Only for information concerning the celebration of Sacraments:
  Baptism of newborn babies, Confirmation of adults, Marriages
  Parish Office: fax +39.06.698.85793

• Basilica of Saint John Lateran

  Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 4
  Sacristy +39.06.69886433
  Parish Office +39.06.69886433
  Mass Times:
  Winter Schedule: 7-8-9-10-11-12-17 (Sunday 17-18)
  Summer Schedule: 7-8-9-10-11-12-18

• Basilica of Saint Mary Major

  Via Liberiana, 27
  Sacristy +39.06.483195
  Parish Office - Via Carlo Alberto, 47 +39.06.4465836
  Reception - Via Liberiana, 27 +39.06.4814287
  Mass Times:
  Sunday: 7-8-9-10-11-12-18
  Monday-Saturday: 7-8-9-10-11,15-12-18

• Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

  Via Ostiense, 186
  Sacristy +39.06.5410341/5410342/5410343
  Parish Office +39.06.5410178
  Mass Times:
  Winter Schedule - Sunday: 7-8-9-10.30-17.45 (Daylight saving.) - 18 (standard time)
  Summer Schedule - Monday-Friday: 7-8-9-10.30-12-18 (Saturday and pre-festive 18 p.m.)

Enquiries: Prefect of the Pontifical Household Ph. +39.06.69884857 fax +39.06.69885863

• VISITS TO THE VATICAN NECROPOLIS (SCAVI):

  Enquiries: Excavations Office, by e-Mail (scavi@fsp.va) or by fax +39 06 69873017

• PETER'S PENCE OFFICE

• VATICAN LIBRARY

• VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVE

• VATICAN PUBLISHING HOUSE(LEV)

  e-Mail: lev@lev.va

To purchase PHOTOGRAPHS all enquiries to be made to Photographic Service of the L'Osservatore Romano

To purchase video-recordings enquire at the Vatican Television Centre

Internet Office of the Holy See: communications and suggestions

Vatican Switchboard: +39.06.6982

Schedule Mon.- Fri.: 8.30-18.00; Saturday: 8.30-13.00; ph. +39.06.69883422

Office of Papal Charities: ph. +39.06.69883135, fax +39.06.69883132 UP