There is some concern among Romans over the fate of their Eternal City if current “rowdy” social behaviors continue to overshadow the Rome they used to know. Peter Kiefer of the International Herald Tribune reports, “As a city, Rome remains a very safe destination for visitors. The rowdiness of its night life is on par with, and often does not …
News from Rome: Talk About a Wrong Turn
If you’ve ever been to Rome, or any Italian city for that matter, you know that the streets can be a bit confusing. Add to the equation an out-of-towner, who had a little too much to drink that night, trying to navigate the mind-boggling streets at four in the morning. This is exactly what happened to one 24-year old Colombian …
Searching for Heavenly Hotel Rates in Italy?
Would you consider renting a hotel room…from a nun? More and more people are turning to convents as a more affordable way to get some shut-eye in the Eternal City, not to mention the warm hospitality, clean, private bathrooms and serenity that is conducive even to praying. Although this trend started in 2000 when 25 million tourists and pilgrims visited …
Get in The Travel Mood: Watch a Clip of “La Dolce Vita”
If you’re counting the days until you arrive in Rome or if you’re just dreaming about the the city, you might want to get a copy of Federico Fellini’s classic film La Dolce Vita (1961). Considered one of the best movies of all time, the movie follows the “sweet life” of a tabloid journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) who covers the glitzy …
Taking the Family to Rome
Travel writer Ann Cochran chronicles her trip to Rome with her adult children on the Executive Traveler Web site. I know many of you are planning the same kind of trip this summer and Ann chronicles how she found affordable lodging for all as well as set up the ground rules for how much the group would do together. Ann …
Vatican Watch: The Pope’s Number Two Guy
The inner workings of the Vatican are fascinating to those of us who spend so much time in Rome. It is one of the few powerful worldwide organizations that still keeps plenty of secrets and mysteries close to the vest. This week Time Magazine profiles Pope Benedict’s “right hand man,” new Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a native …