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What to do in Rome & Venice
Sightseeing
Rome: One of the most ancient cities in Europe;
the list of attractions in this cultural capital is
endless. Among Rome’s more renowned historic
attractions are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum
and the Pantheon. But also don’t leave Rome
without throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain and
climbing the Spanish Steps. Nestled into the
outskirts of Rome is the independent Vatican City,
the seat of the Pope and home to the famous
St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel with its
magnificent fresco of the Last Judgement by
Michelangelo.
Venice: Elegant Venetian buildings and palaces
peer over the ancient maze of narrow streets and
labyrinth of canals. Mention Venice and the image
of gondolas gliding along beautifully lit canals
comes to mind, however this romantic city has
much more to offer. Rialto is filled with market
stalls, and Rialto Bridge provides a great viewpoint
over The Grand Canal, Venice’s main waterway.
St. Mark’s Square in the heart of Venice houses
the awe-inspiring St Mark’s Basilica, and The
Bridge of Sighs connects the old prisons to the
interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace.
Shopping
Rome: Head to the markets in the centre to find
some deals on trinkets like crafts, leather goods
and glasswork. On Sundays, the popular Porta
Portese flea market operates from the Trastevere
district. Head to the Piazza di Spagna for an
assortment of boutique stores with brands like
Prada, Valentino, Gucci and Fendi and for the best
jewellers like Bulgari head to Piazza San Silvestro.
Venice: Look out for hand-made and painted
carnival masks, fine velvets, silks and lace, and
Murano glass. The streets around St. Mark’s
Square and the Rialto Bridge offer the best
opportunity for some souvenir shopping, but for
up-market designer shops check out the streets
between the train station and St. Mark’s Square.
Eating & Drinking
Local delicacies include pizza, pasta, antipasto,
gnocci, risotto, olives, ice cream, zabaglione,
tiramisu, cappuccinos, and much much more…
Rome: A range of cafés, bistros and restaurants
can be found in the popular districts of Piazza
Navona, Centro Storico, along Via Cavour and
around Termini Station. The Borgo district near the
Vatican offers the cheapest options in Rome. For
a taste of more authentic Italian cuisine head to
Trastevere which is separated from central Rome
by the Tiber River. Its narrow cobblestone streets
are lined with numerous cafes, boutiques, pubs
and restaurants.
Venice: Enjoy wonderful restaurants with many
featuring seafood, especially cuttlefish, and
cicchetti (Italian tapas) on their menus. Near the
Rialto Bridge, there is a string of restaurants with
tables along the canal. To eat where the locals do
head away from the main, more expensive, tourist
centre to places like The Dorsoduro area.
Getting Around
Rome: The fastest transportation is an express
train from Fiumicino Airport to Termini Central
Station, which takes approximately 30 minutes.
Buses run from Ciampino Airport to the Anagnina
metro station as well as to the local train station,
from where metros or trains connect to the city
centre. Most of the historic sites are within walking
distance of one another, and it is advisable to walk
and take in the city’s architecture while the frantic
road traffic passes you by. Otherwise, a taxi or
bus is the recommended means of travel.
Venice: Water taxis or water buses can be taken
from Marco Polo Airport to your hotel or nearest
river access, and take approximately 50 minutes.
The historic centre is divided into six quarters
(sestieri). These are: San Marco, Dorsoduro, San
Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. The
city’s main thoroughfare is the Grand Canal from
the railway station to San Marco. An alternative to
walking is to cruise the waterways onboard the
motorboat buses known as vaporetti. These are
the less romantic but also less expensive
substitutes for the famous gondolas.
Useful information
✔ Currency: Euro
✔ Time difference: GMT + 1hr
✔ Flight time from London: 2-3 hrs
✔ Airports:
Rome: Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci (FCO)
19 miles south-west of Rome
Ciampino (CIA)
9 miles south-east of Rome
Venice: Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
5 miles north of Venice
✔ See our selection of hotels in Milan, Florence,
Pisa, Sorrento and The Italian Lakes on
page 55 or visit www.superbreak.com for a
wider selection.
Call reservations on 0871 221 2828, log on to superbreak.com or see your local travel agent 51
Venice
Pisa
Vatican Museums, Rome
Piazza de San Marco, Venice