Where Rome, June 14 issue HI RES-page59

ESSENTIALS
TRANSPORTATION
On Road Scooter & Vespa Rental
On Road offers a fleet of motorcycles, scooters,
and bicycles for rent, seven days a week. From
small scooters to motorcycles for long distance
trips. Delivery and pick-up service at your
accommodations or at the airport (for vehicles above
250 cc). Via Cavour, 80. Tel 064815669. Map F/G3
Corso V. Emanuele II, 204. Tel 0668801966. Map C3
www.onroad.it
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Principal bus terminals: Termini Station, Pza Venezia,
Largo Argentina. Metro lines A and B operate daily,
5:30am–11:30pm, Sat until 1:30am. Single ticket:
€1.50; valid 100 minutes on one or more buses and/
or one metro ride. Validate ticket on bus or upon
entering metro. 1-day pass: €6; 3-day pass: €16.50;
7-day pass: €24. Tickets available at ticket machines,
bars, tobacconists, and newsstands. Tel 800431784.
TAXIS
© CLAUDIO VACCARO
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
To Fiumicino and Ciampino Airport (by
train and coach)
Pick of the
Month
by A. Bruzzese
A spectacular blend of art, culture, and
tradition, Genzano Infiorata is an annual
springtime festival that has been held in
Rome’s neighboring town of Genzano as
far back as 1778. While the very first Infiorata
consisted of a simple scattering of flower
petals on the streets during the Feast of
Corpus Christi, the tradition has evolved into
a dynamic display of artistic whimsy and
craftsmanship. Preparations begin three days
beforehand, when an estimated 500,000
flowers are harvested and stored in caves
around the town while artists busily sketch
out the outlines of their masterpieces in chalk.
Flower petals are then painstakingly applied
to each design, creating a magnificent and
intricate “carpet” that stretches the length of
Via Italo Belardi, the city’s central street. This
year, look out for floral homages to Nelson
Mandela and Michelangelo alongside classic
depictions of religious imagery. Bring the kids
along as well – on the last day of the festival,
children are allowed to run through the
flowers and wreak havoc. 22–23 June.
Coop Airport
CAR RENTALS
Avis
(Fiumicino)—Tel 0665011531/06419941
Europcar
Tel 800014410/064882854
Hertz
Tel 199112211/064740389
Maggiore
(Fiumicino)—0665010678/064880049
Can be picked up at taxi stands or hailed. Don’t trust
people who approach you at stations, airports, or
tourist sites offering taxis. Authorized taxis can be
called at: 064994, 063570, 066645, 065551, 0688177.
€48 flat fare between Fiumicino and center; €30
between Ciampino and center.
Non-stop Leonardo Express departs Termini
Station and arrives inside Fiumicino
Airport. 31 mins. €14 one-way. Trains also
run to and from Trastevere, Ostiense,
Tuscolana, and Tiburtina stations, €8
one-way. www.trenitalia.it
Romeairportbus - Romeairportbus.com
offers non-stop transfer between Rome’s
airports (Fiumicino and Ciampino) and Rome’s
city center. Departs from Termini Station (Via
G. Giolitti) at least every 30-40 minutes and
takes about 40 minutes. Operates every day,
4:50am–12midnight. Tickets on board, or online
tickets from €3.90 one-way. romeairportbus.com.
Free Wi-Fi on board. Operated by SCHIAFFINI
TRAVEL SPA since 1950.
CHAUFFEUR SERVICES
Limu Event
Hire an all-white 8.6 meter limousine and enjoy
Happy Hour on board your private eight-person
vehicle, with music under your control when you
bring an iPod. Daily Ferrari and Lamborghini
rental also available. Tel 3668079203.
www.limuevent.it
DID
YOU KNOW?
Rome has more
acres of public
green space than
any other capital
city in Europe.
The official transfer company of Fiumicino
Airport with a welcome desk in Terminal T1. From
Fiumicino to Rome center (and vice versa): €50; from
Fiumicino or Rome center to Civitavecchia port:
€120 (price per car, not per person). All destinations
outside Rome available on demand. All credit cards
accepted. Tel 0665079001. Mon–Sun, 7am–11pm.
www.coopairport.net; [email protected]
Driver in Italy
Canadian-born Italian transplant
Roberto Melaragno offers tours
with a private car and driver, as well
as airport and port (Civitavecchia)
transfers. Tel 0666182052.
www.driverinitaly.com
YOUR OFFICE
ABROAD
Currency Exchange
Take a passport or other ID. Commission rates
vary from zero to €5 per transaction. Banks and
post offices also have exchange bureaux.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Princess Guide to Rome
By Belinda Darcey
Princess Guide Books
The ideal guidebook for women traveling to Rome, either
alone or in company, The Princess Guide to Rome is full of
practical advice as well as in-depth information on the
most important sights in the Eternal City. The first half of
the book covers the basics, from where to stay to how
to avoid getting ripped off, from the best place for a
cappuccino and some people-watching to where to find
the most jaw-dropping views, the tastiest pizza, or the
best tour guides the city has to offer. The second half delves deeper: not only will
you learn about the works of art and architecture that characterize the city, but you’ll
also gain insight into the lives of the artists, as well as the popes and noble families
that commissioned them, helping you to gain a more thorough understanding of this
incredible city. Find it at www.amazon.com.
www.wheretraveler.com 59