Roman holiday

Rome, the city that is heir to one of the world's greatest civilisations, is famous for religious opera and is synonymous with Borghese, Basilicas, Boccelli, Bolognese and … blisters.

Yes, for all the wonderful sights in the city, it is your feet that bear the brunt of a week's holiday there.

After arriving at our base, Hotel Quirinale near Via Veneto and the Termini Railway Station, my friends and I set off to see the view of Rome from the Spanish Steps at the end of Via Condotti, one of the exclusive streets to shop in the city.

All the big designers, such as Armani, Bulgari, Salvatore Ferragamo and Cartier, can be found on these cobbled streets.

And for those of us in the UAE who like luxury brands, I hear that Rome's St Regis Grand Hotel has just opened a Bottega Veneta suite.

Captivating sculpture

On the way to supper, we left Piazza Venezia and wandered through the streets to the Trevi Fountain, which is much more than a mere sculpture.

The marble, clever lighting and water movement were captivating. In line with the tradition of the fountain, I threw in a coin over my shoulder, wishing we would return to Rome.

On our second day, we went to the Basilica of Santa Prassede. We admired the floor-to-ceiling golden mosaics, wondering if we could recreate such an effect in our homes.

This is one of the oldest basilicas in Rome but the Cosmatesque floor and frescoes are worth the walk.

Keen to get a taste of the Italian art scene, we took in the works of Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio in the small museum at Villa Borghese.

The gardens there are a great antidote to the hustle and bustle of Rome's busy streets.

Later that evening, as we strolled along Piazza del Popolo, the most beautiful sound came from a window above. A lady's voice could be heard singing opera arias.

Metro relief

We couldn't go to Rome without visiting the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Pantheon, which called for two days of walking across the city.

We took full advantage of the Metro, as many of the stations are located near the major sights.

There are some good deals on tickets for the train — we got a discounted day pass.

After a few days, the romantic mood of the city seeped in and we decided to walk over Ponte Sisto, a footbridge leading to Trastevere, an area with narrow lanes separated from the heart of Rome.

Cheap and satisfying

The Piazza di Santa Maria is a buzzing square; and if you walk through a few of the side streets closer to the Tiber River, there are slightly cheaper restaurants, where we had a peaceful meal on an outside table in the sunshine.

From here, we were advised to take a short walk to Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island), a curious place measuring less than 300m in length and 70m in width.

There are small markets, music stages, bars and food stalls on the footpaths; if you go in summer, it's a good idea to catch the film festival on the island.

On our last night, after sampling much of the Italian delights off Via del Corso, we walked through the elegant squares and streets, buying things at the night stalls and eating ice-cream, feeling every bit part of the bohemian atmosphere of the place.

Simple pleasures

Sometimes, we found that the simple sights we saw as we travelled were even more enjoyable than the destination itself.

We constantly found hidden courtyards, ruins or an unexpected fresco or a fountain.

That is the beauty of Rome — you stumble across undiscovered and unexpected sights all the time. Which is a relief, really, as regular stops are essential for weary legs.

So remember, when in Rome, pack the right shoes.

— Amanda Watts is a UAE-based travel enthusiast

Tourist tactics in Rome

At the Arabian Travel Market, I spoke to Rome's Tourism Board officials regarding the latest trends.

The monuments, climate, warmth of the people and the sense of leisure in everyday life makes Italy a very romantic destination.

“Rome connects to the heart,'' says Annamaria Carrer, of the Rome and Lazio Tourism Board.

No wonder it is a popular destination. The fact that Emirates airlines has planned more flights to the city is also proof of the above statement.

“Rome can offer a complete experience for all visitors by offering them art, archaeology, museums, shopping, spas, sports, events and concerts. Whatever you look for, you will find in Rome and its surrounding territories,'' said Dr Francesco Ventura, general director of promotions at the Rome and Lazio Department of Tourism.

Another boost to tourism came when the Rome Film Festival was established. The city has been featured in many movies and in a sense, has become a complete movie setting in itself.

Most of the foreign visitors are from the US. After them come those from Japan, England, Germany, French and Russia.

About 50,000 visitors from the Middle East alone come to Italy and almost 25,000 of them head to Rome.

Site excursions to the ancient port of Rome, the villas in the Roman Castles area (Villa Tuscolana) and the Tivoli (a Unesco site) Equestrian sites (ancient Roman civilisation) are recommended because of the vast Roman history.

Each year, at the end of May, the festival of horses (Piazza di Siena) is celebrated in the Villa Borghese Park in the heart of the city.

Carrer says the tourism promotion of Rome has been slightly lagging, which is why other European cities such as Frankfurt have been attracting more tourists. But all that has now changed.

“Other than the warmth of the city and the rich culture, Rome has much to offer in both business and leisure,'' said Carrer.

The budget for the promotion of the city depends on various findings and statistics from research.

“After the research, we focus on that part of Rome which should be promoted the most. The place has a wide range of tourist delights but there is much more to it than just monuments,'' said Ventura.

— By Maey El Shoush/Staff Reporter