In the ancient world, the Romans were on top of their laundry game. Innovative and industrious, they were able to clean their linens and fund government infrastructure. These two initiatives were accomplished through a very special ingredient that everyone on the planet is familiar with today: Urine. That’s right, the ancient Romans used pee to […]
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Five Reasons to Feel Thankful while in Rome for Thanksgiving
It’s no secret that Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Rome (or anywhere else in Italy, for that matter). In fact, your search for cranberry sauce could easily devolve into an Amazing Journey storyline primed to become a wacky blockbuster hit. However, if you’re far away from home and feeling teary-eyed over turkey, here are five reasons […]
Rock Stars of History: Michelangelo Buonarroti
Whether through fresco, sculpture or architecture, Michelangelo is the poster child of the High Renaissance While his passport would say Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, the artist’s enduring fame means that most of us refer to him as if he were that good friend we keep meaning to have coffee with. For anyone who’s heard […]
If the World Is a Stage, then most Romans Are Keen Spectators
Image courtesy of Ruth Orkin Romans find open curiosity as natural as breathing For some cultures, it’s rude to stare. In the Eternal City however, a frank glance or a lingering gaze is a manifestation of an inquisitive culture. Or let’s face it, unabashed attraction. Many newcomers to Rome are often taken aback at the degree […]
Enjoy a Leisurely Swim in Rome’s Fountains!
Said no one ever! Unless you’re Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita, you can’t frolic in any of Rome’s fountains. So what are they there for? There’s no denying that these magnificent works of art can certainly overshadow the senses (including common sense). Their sheer size, artistry, and compelling stories pull the viewer into an alternate reality that […]
Gladiators: What Were They Really Like?
The image of the gladiator is one that continually sparks the imagination, but does it match history’s real-life warrior? Are You Not Entertained? Fictional movies, books, legends, and TV shows depict towering swordsmen in a blood-crazed amphitheater. Most narratives portray them as renegade slaves, or captured individuals fighting for their lives against beasts and foes. While it’s […]
What’s Gelato, Anyway? And Can You Enjoy it in the Winter?
Summer isn’t the only season for this chilled treat. Even under the crisp influence of winter, Roman gelato is delectable as ever. Before singing gelato’s praises however, let’s take a moment to summarise its properties. Its simplest translation into English is ‘ice cream’, and while it’s commonly used interchangeably with its Anglo-American relative, there are in […]
10 Ways To Stand Out as a Tourist in Rome
Traveling abroad contains countless positive aspects, and exploring the riches of Rome is one of them. As strange as it may sound though, there are times when adventuring requires blending into a crowd; it’s worth Doing as the Romans Do to experience an authenticity that can’t be captured on a postcard. If ducking under the radar […]
How to reach Rome from Civitavecchia (and back!)
If you are on a cruise and planning a shore excursion to Rome, or if your cruise has ended and you are disembarking in Civitavecchia and flying back home from the Roma Fiumicino “Leonardo da Vinci” airport, these simple directions will be useful to let you reach your destination with no stress! Getting to Rome from […]
Taxi, Uber or private drivers?
If you are not a walker and you don’t like public transport you will have to take a decision very soon….Taxi, Uber or Private Drivers? The First thing we want to say as we start writing about this is: WALK. Rome is not a city for cars, the distances are not so long and public […]