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Rome/Colosseo

The Colosseo district is the heart of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. It has the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Capitoline Museum.

Get in
Via dei Fori Imperiali cuts through the centre of the Rome/Colosseo district, connecting Piazza Venezia with the Colosseum. It is well served by buses, although if you are into serious sightseeing you are likely to want to walk instead as the Roman Forum is on your right for most of the journey. After the Colosseum, the road becomes Via Labicana and takes you close to San Giovanni. Buses serving Via dei Fori Imperiali include No. 75, which connects Termini Station with Aventino- Testaccio and No. 85, which connects Piazza San Silvestro in the Modern Center (close to the Trevi Fountain) with San Giovanni. The metro station is two stops from Termini station in the direction of EUR. It will also be a stop for the new, and very much delayed, Line, and the Colosseum end of the Via dei Fori Imperiali is made unattractive by the construction site.

Colosseum, Imperial Forum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Tickets
When visiting the Colosseum in late spring, summer, or early fall, it is not unusual to see long lines at the entrance, where the admission fee is €16. The ticket is valid for 24 hours (updated May 2023) and includes admission to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum.

It is possible to purchase an admission to the Palatine Hill (or the Roman Forum) for the same sum, which also provides direct access to the Colosseum via an automated entrance. The ticket for the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill (one ticket for all three sites) can be ordered online from the official ticket office and printed at home. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. Even with the printed tickets you do have to stand in the line for the Colosseum, since there is a security check first. This line goes quite fast and isn't nearly as long as the line for the ticket office. When you have passed the security check, you can walk right to the ticket barriers. People who bought the ticket at the Colosseum have a small (metro style) ticket with a magnetic band. Your printed tickets won't fit in the machine. Therefore, make sure you use a barrier with a member of staff attending to it, they can scan your ticket with a hand scanner and let you pass. If no staff member is at the ticket barriers, go the reservations office at the right, near the barrier.

If you already have a ticket (from the Colosseum or Roman Forum or printed at home) and want to visit the Palatine Hill, make sure you don't stand in line at the entrance at Via di San Gregorio. The entrance near the Arch of Titus is closed. The line at the entrance is for people without a ticket. If you have a ticket, enter the entrance building at the right side of the line. People with small tickets issued at the Colosseum can use the automated ticket barrier at the right side in the building, people who have home printed tickets should use the entrance on the left in the building, right after the ticket office. There is a member of staff with a hand scanner who can scan your ticket.

Guided tours
Near the Arch of Titus at the entrance to the Roman Forum, you might be approached by young, native-English speakers (often students) offering you free guided tours of the Forum. This is not a scam and is done as a way for tour companies to promote their other tours (i.e. at the end of the free tour, the guide hands out a brochure telling you about other tours around town that do cost). Even if you're not interested in the other tours, take the free one and you'll learn a lot about the most important archaeological site in the city. Another option is to prebook an official guided tour.

Eat
Several places in this area are aimed at tourists and as a result don't have to offer high-quality food to do well.

Budget
There are many budget restaurants around.

title: Rome/Colosseo


text:
Rome/Esquilino-San Giovanni

Esquilino and San Giovanni are adjacent neighborhoods in Rome.

Esquilino is named for the Esquiline hill on which it stands. It lies south of the Termini station and is centred more or less on the Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele II. It is now partly a Chinese immigrant neighbourhood, and specialty groceries and shoe stores abound. San Giovanni is named after the Basilica, which is the parish church of Rome. The area is south-east of the Esquiline.

Get in
Metro Line A connects Termini station with the basilica of San Giovanni. There are also several buses from the downtown area, best caught at Piazza Venezia or by the Colosseum, where you can connect with Metro Line B.

Do
Movies are shown and some performances are held for free in Piazza Vittorio during the summer.

Eat
There are a lot of Chinese and Indian restaurants, but you will also find many typical trattorie.

Go next

 * Rome/Nomentano — for the nearby Porta Maggiore

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Rome/Esquilino-San Giovanni


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Rome/Modern Centre

The Modern Centre of Rome, home to the Via Veneto, Quirinale, Castro Pretorio, Repubblica, and Trevi neighbourhoods, is the city's hub of activity, especially shopping and nightlife. It's also home to a huge assortment of hotels, and it's likely that you'll be staying here, despite the fact that most of Rome's historic attractions are elsewhere.

Get in

The Modern Centre of Rome is not hard to find as the Termini Station brings you into the west edge of it. As you leave the station, the Castro Pretorio neighbourhood is to your right, with many smaller hotels. To the left the main roads of Via Cavour and Via Nazionale lead down the hill. Larger hotels here, catering more for groups than independent travellers.

Termini Station is a major bus hub with buses to all parts of town. Beware taxi drivers who operate at the station as it seems to attract the most crooked ones. Get a cab from the rank and ignore the drivers who solicit you outside the station. Always insist that you see the meter is turned on after you get into the cab. No matter what time of day or night the starting price should never be more than €6 (during the day less) and a figure 1 on the meter should indicate that the correct rate is being applied. A legitimate extra fee of €2 is levied for all rides beginning at the station.

Buy
For a little bit of shopping, the Via Nazionale is perfect: souvenirs, clothes, Italian shoes, etc. But the main attraction is without a doubt, the Via Veneto.

Budget
There are many budget restaurants around.

title: Rome/Modern Centre


text:
Rome/Nomentano

Nomentano is a district of Rome.

The San Lorenzo neighborhood is a student area south-east of Rome's main train station (Termini). It has a small street market (food, clothing), unpretentious caffès and is a major centre of Rome's night life.

Get in
The Nomentano area is easily reachable by bus from Termini Station (90) from Piazza Venezia or via Nazionale (60) or by Metro Line (stops: Castro Pretorio, Policlinico, Piazza Bologna, Tiburtina).

See

Do

 * Drinking in the open. Do what Romans (students in particular) do: buy a cheap beer in one of the countless bar around and just hang out or stroll, observing people and enjoying the mildness of a Roman evening.

title: Rome/Nomentano


text:
Rome/North

The North of Rome is comprised of Municipi III, XI-XV.

Do

 * Take in a soccer match at the Stadio Olimpico. The stadium is shared by Rome's two main teams, Rome and Lazio, usually playing there on alternate Sunday afternoons, with occasional games on Saturday or Sunday evenings or midweek evenings. Games between these two clubs are well worth avoiding as they often turn violent but the stadium is rarely full for other matches. However, past crowd troubles mean that you can no longer just turn up: you need to buy tickets in advance at one of the agencies around town, and show some ID when you do!

Budget

title: Rome/North


text:
Rome/North Centre

North Central Rome is a district that covers the areas around Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo and Parioli, as well as the magnificent Villa Borghese and its gardens. Further out the area is bordered by Via Nomentana and the River Tiber and includes the area of Salario.

Understand
Spagna lies in the northern part of the central city, to the west of the park of the Villa Borghese. It includes the Piazza di Spagna and the famous Spanish Steps. It is one of the most fashionable and well-heeled districts of the Italian capital.

Parioli is a quiet, affluent and elegant Rome neighborhood close to Villa Borghese. The name originates from a gigantic wall called "parietone".

Salario, just to the northwest of the Modern Center and the Villa Borghese, is another elegant, upscale neighborhood, home to a large and beautiful park, Villa Ada.

Trieste is also a quiet affluent and elegant neighborhood, close to the Parioli and Villa Ada. It is full of Fascist architecture and early Christian churches such as Sant’Agnese Fuori Le Mura.

Get in
This is still the centre of Rome. It is served by the metro stations (Piazza di Spagna: Spanish Steps and Borghese Gardens) and. Piazza di San Silvestro, which is a short walk from the Spanish Steps, is a terminal for many bus lines.

Antique Rome

Catacombs

Do

 * Rent a boat and take a row on the lake in the Borghese Gardens.

Buy
The streets to the west of the Spanish Steps, such as Via dei Condotti, house Rome's most upmarket shops. Most of the famous designer labels can be found here.

title: Rome/North Centre


text:
Rome/Old Rome

Old Rome is the historic medieval and renaissance center of Rome. While the oldest section of Rome is at the Forum, and the Modern Center has shifted to the Via Veneto, Old Rome remains the city's most charming district, with lovely piazzas (squares) and streets to wander and find small cafes and restaurants. Old Rome includes the neighborhoods of Navona, Campo de' Fiori, Pantheon, and the Ghetto.

Get in
From Termini station, take the 64 bus. Be careful as this route is popular with pickpockets. The Old Rome area is served by several stops between Piazza Venezia and the River Tiber. Or, take one of the many other buses serving Piazza Venezia.

Ancient Rome

Do

 * Wander the stalls of the Campo de' Fiori market. From farm fresh vegetables to spices to kitchen implements—it is a colorful and busy place.
 * Wander around the side streets, particularly those between Piazza Navona and the river. There are still many artisans' shops and away from the tourist areas it is sometimes difficult to believe that you are in a major city.

Buy

 * Campo de' Fiori is one of the oldest open air markets in Rome. The day starts as early as 03:30, when the first "fruttivendolo" drive up, and by 08:00, under wide umbrellas, tables overflow with an abundance of brightly colored fruit and vegetables. Organically home-grown by people who have, more often than not, been farming for generations. At the east end, near one of the best sandwich shops in all of Rome, is the flower stand absolutely bursting in color and fragrance. The "Campo" is filled with tourists, locals, families, school groups and musicians until 15:00, when the booths are taken down, packed into cars, carts and trucks with the produce and driven away, and a loud, white, behemoth of a street cleaner sweeps through the square, cleaning up leftover greens, wrappers and trash.
 * Via dei Giubonnari stretching from the south-east corner of Campo de' Fiori due west towards Via Arenula contains many funky, fashionable clothes shops, and other interesting boutiques.

Eat
Cooking for yourself. In Campo de' Fiori you won't have any trouble finding local food shops and there's also a food market right in the square in the morning. Cooking at home is cheap.

Budget
There are many budget restaurants in this district.

Drink
Among the two most popular bars in Campo de' Fiori, particularly for American backpackers and exchange students, are Sloppy Sam's and the Drunken Ship. Both are nice for a quiet afternoon drink but are usually quite noisy at night, with specials most nights to encourage business.

title: Rome/Old Rome


text:
Rome/South

The South of Rome includes the historic Appian Way and nearby catacombs, as well as important tourist attractions in EUR, and San Paolo.

Understand
EUR was built in the first years of the 1940s. It was built in a perfect fascist architectural style, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fascism (Mussolini came to power in 1922, becoming Prime Minister). Its name means "Esposizione Universale di Roma" (Universal Exposition of Rome); in fact it was also designated to host the International Exposition in 1942, but this exposition didn't take place because of the war.

San Paolo is a residential area not so far from the center. Today it hosts several buildings belonging to the RomaTRE University and a very noticeable piece of art, the "Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura" which certainly deserves a visit. For the rest, it is just a residential borough.

Via Appia, or the Appian Way, was one of the earliest and most important Roman roads. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy, primarily as a route for troops and military supplies. The main part was started and finished in 312 BC. The original route can be followed for 10 km or so, much with little or no traffic. It is lined with tombs and in places the original stones used for the road’s construction are exposed. The Appian Way passes close to three catacombs, the Villa dei Quintili and many other important architectural sites. If you are in Rome for a week or so, an exploration of the Appia, with a visit to some catacombs, is a great day out!

The Catacombs of Rome were for underground burials. Primarily for Christian burials, they were also used for pagan and Jewish burials, either in separate catacombs or mixed together. They began in the 2nd century, due both to a shortage of land and for persecuted Christians to bury their dead secretly. The Christian catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano are on the Via Appia and those of San Domitilla are nearby. There are also Jewish Catacombs.

By bus
To reach the Appian Way from Termini station, take the 714 bus from outside the station, and change at the 6th bus stop (St Giovanni) to the 218 bus, which will take you all the way to the main entrance to the San Callisto catacombs and then on to San Domitilla catacombs and the Fosse Ardeatine. The 118 bus, which passes by Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, will get you to the same entrance to San Callisto and then travels further along the Via Appia as far as Villa dei Quintili and the Capannelle race track. Buses in this area are not very reliable, particularly in the morning or evening rush hours when journeys can be delayed or even arbitrarily cancelled. From the main sites of the Appian Way, consider returning to Rome with a walk through the Caffarella Park, which will bring you to Metro Line A. The Appian Way is theoretically closed to cars, but not buses or cycles, on Sundays and public holidays but this is not being actively enforced by the police.

By metro
Metro line B goes to EUR, with EUR Fermi being the most central station. The line also passes the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura, with the station being named after the basilica.

The Appian Way zone
See "Get in", above. The 118 goes to the catacombs of San Sebastiano before turning off the Appian Way. At the first major junction after Cecilia Metella (see below) by the bar, you can catch the 660 bus (every half an hour traffic permitting), which will connect you with Metro Line A at Colli Albani station. Alternatively, walk down the hill to the Via Appia Pignatelli, where you can catch the 118 back to Rome. A further two km along a pleasantly shaded part of the Via Appia, with many small tombs, and you arrive at Via del Tor Carbone. There you can catch the 765 bus (in theory every 20 minutes). West takes you to EUR and Metro Line B back to Rome at Laurentina station, while east connects you with Metro Line A.

The Appian Way begins close to the Terme di Caracalla and heads in a south-easterly direction. For the first mile it is known as the Via di Porta San Sebastiano but after passing through the Porta di San Sebastiano it becomes the Via Appia. The first three miles are still heavily used by cars, buses and coaches but from then on traffic is very light and the wonderfully evocative road and its many ruins can be explored on foot or by bicycle in relative safety.

The Headquarters of the Appian Way Park is at No. 42. This occupies the site of a former paper mill and some of the original equipment can still be seen. The Church of Domine Quo Vadis is on the second mile of the road by the main entrance of the San Callisto catacombs. Opposite is the visitor office of the Appian Way Park (no. 60) where you can get lots of info and rent bicycles (09:30 to 17:30). From there it is rather dangerous to walk along the road for a mile or so as it is narrow with lots of traffic. Fortunately, there is a more pleasant option, which is to walk parallel with the Via Appia, through the gardens of the San Callisto catacombs (except Wednesdays when they are closed). You can rejoin Via Appia at the third mile where, on the right, are the church and catacombs of St Sebastian. Opposite the entrance to the church is an 1852 memorial to Luigi Canina who supervised the restoration of the Appian Way under the orders of Pope Pius IX. Without Canina's work there would be little to see now.

A little way further on the left is the Circus of Maxentius, the best-preserved chariot race circus in Rome. From there the road climbs slightly to the tomb of Cecilia Metella. After that there is little traffic and, for the fit, the road is straight and can be followed on foot or by bicycle for another four miles or so, with close to 30 small, mainly reconstructed, tombs to examine. Beyond Via del Tor Carbone there are some fascinating ruins but the trip is best done by bicycle as transport back is difficult to find. For lunch there are a few restaurants along the first few miles and a bar near the entrance to San Callisto. Next to San Sebastian there is a small bar and there are two bar/restaurants 200 m further on the right, almost opposite Cecilia Metella. After Cecilia Metella is the somewhat expensive Appia Antica caffé, where you can also hire bicycles. The restaurant opposite does not seem very tourist friendly. Beyond that there is no source of refreshment without a detour, other than two water fountains and the occasional appearance of a mobile snack bar, both at the junction with Via del Tor Carbone.

The attractions of the Appian Way are described here in the order in which they are found along the road, together with a few detours.

''Immediately after Casal Rotondo you can take a left into Via di Casal Rotondo. A short walk down the hill will bring you out at Capannelle, Rome's horse racing course. From there you can catch the 118 (see GET IN above) or take a bus to Metro line A, and back to Rome.'' For the really fit you can carry on a further three miles or more. At the 8th mile are some ruins originally thought to be part of a Temple of Hercules built by the Emperor Domitian, but now considered to have been more likely a place of rest, or even a factory. Shortly after that is a strange building known as the Priest's Cap because of the shape of its roof. From here it is a short walk to Ciampino Airport from where you can make your way back to the center.
 * The Original Surface. The lava flow from ancient volcanic eruptions in the Castelli Romani reached approximately to where Cecilia Metella is. The rock was used to construct the Appian Way. A few steps after Cecilia Metella the original stones have been exposed for about 30 m. There are further lengthy stretches of exposed stone about 500 m further on. In parts of the later stretch you can see grooves made by Roman carts.
 * The Original Surface. The lava flow from ancient volcanic eruptions in the Castelli Romani reached approximately to where Cecilia Metella is. The rock was used to construct the Appian Way. A few steps after Cecilia Metella the original stones have been exposed for about 30 m. There are further lengthy stretches of exposed stone about 500 m further on. In parts of the later stretch you can see grooves made by Roman carts.

Elsewhere

Sleep
If you plan to spend most of your time exploring the centre of Rome, hotels in this area may limit your options and involve you spending rather a lot of time on public transport.

Go next

 * Castelli Romani — Continuing southeast from the Appian Way brings you to the Castelli Romani, including the Pope's summer home of Castel Gandolfo and the wine-producing town of Frascati.
 * Ostia — Continuing southwest from EUR, Ostia is about 25 km from the center of Rome. It's considered the capital's beach and is also well known for the "Tourist Port" with moorings for boats from 8 to 60 metres in length. Don't miss Ostia Antica, the well-preserved ruins of the Roman port.
 * See the Go next section of Rome for more suggestions.

title: Rome/South


text:
Rome/Trastevere

Trastevere is a district in Rome. The district's name derives from the Latin words "Trans Tiberem": beyond the Tiber river. Today Trastevere is one of the centers of Roman night life; rich in pubs, restaurants, clubs. Trastevere has a high population of expatriates and American college students as there are two American universities in the area.

By train
Trains (marked regionale, not the express to Termini) from Leonardo da Vinci airport stop at Trastevere Railway station. Then hop on tram n° 8.

By tram
Tram n° 8 from Piazza Argentina is a nice tram for the short distance from close to the Pantheon to Trastevere. It runs frequently but unless you have luggage Trastevere is close enough to walk.

By bus

 * Night Bus n° 8
 * Bus n° H from Stazione Termini (the main train station)

By car
Cars of non-residents of Trastevere are not permitted to park there after dark so you'll have to park close and walk if you're going by car. Beware that on weekends or on any warm evening parking can involve driving round in circles for a long time looking for a place.

See

Buy

 * Viale di Trastevere, from the start of this 2.5-km-long street at Ponte Garibaldi (in the north) and all the way to the Trastevere Train Station (in the south) you can find stands selling fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, clothing, accessories (such as knock-off designer purses and wallets) and a number of other things.

Eat
Trastevere is the best place in city to get great Italian food at reasonable prices. There are dozens of quality restaurants in this area. A few are listed below; prices for a pizza or pasta dish with some wine or beer and bruschetta are around €12-15 and should not exceed €20 per person, though if you want to spend more you certainly have the option. Restaurants tend to open much earlier here than in other parts of Rome, mainly to cater to tourists as no self-respecting Roman would go out for dinner before 20:00.

Go next

 * Rome/North — contains the nearby Villa Doria Pamphili inside a large park

title: Rome/Trastevere


text:
Rome/Vatican

Vaticano is a district of Rome measuring 225.2 hectares, it encompasses the 49-hectare Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano; Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), as well as the surrounding Roman neighbourhoods of Borgo (48.77 hectares) and Prati (127.43 hectares). St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are all in Vatican City. This tiny country completely within Rome is packed with more history and artwork than most cities in the world, and indeed many countries.

Understand
The Vatican City is the temporal seat of the Pope, head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Situated within the city of Rome, the Vatican is the world's smallest sovereign state. You may also hear the term Holy See (Italian: Santa Sede; Latin: Sancta Sedes), which is used to refer to the Diocese of Rome—that is, the ecclesiastical and administrative authority of the Pope, rather than the sovereign governmental entity that is the Vatican City State.

History
Vatican City is all that remains of the Papal States, the former temporal land holdings of the Pope. Over the years, this territory varied considerably in extent, and may be traced back to AD 756 with the "Donation of Pepin". However, the popes had been the de facto rulers of Rome and the surrounding province since the fall of the Roman Empire and the retreat of Byzantine power in Italy. Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the Pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome was annexed.

Disputes between a series of "prisoner" Popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City, granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy, recognised the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent. In 1984, the agreement was revised to eliminate Catholicism's position as the only state religion of Italy, but the essential features of the agreement remain in force today.

Diplomacy
The Holy See — the headquarters of the Catholic Church which is housed in Vatican City — has diplomatic recognition from the overwhelming majority of countries in the world and has permanent observer status in numerous international organisations, including the United Nations General Assembly.

Although there are apostolic nuncios (equivalent to ambassadors, also known as Papal nuncios or just nuncios) in many foreign capitals, due to its limited size the Vatican does not house any diplomatic missions; instead, foreign embassies to the Holy See are based in other parts of Rome. This means that Italy hosts its own Embassy of Italy to the Holy See. The diplomatic mission of the Holy See in a foreign country is known as an apostolic nunciature.

According to an agreement between the Holy See and Italy, foreign missions to Italy are not allowed to double as missions to the Holy See. Therefore, many countries have two embassies in Rome: one to Italy and another to the Holy See. Other countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See but don't have a second embassy in Rome have their missions in another country (usually in Bern, Switzerland) double as representatives to the Holy See.

Terrain
The Vatican is between 19 m (62 ft) and 75 m (246 ft) above sea level. With a perimeter of only 3.2 km (2 mi), the Vatican City is not just the smallest country in the world, it's smaller than some shopping malls! Most of the area consists of the Vatican Gardens.

Population
Although 1,000 people live in Vatican City, many dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican. It has about 800 citizens, making it the smallest nation by population on the globe. The Vatican fields a football team composed of members of the Swiss Guard, who hold dual citizenship.

Read

 * Inside the Vatican (2009) by Bart McDowell, National Geographic Society, ISBN 978-1426204500. A light run-through of the history of the Vatican, with a particular focus on some of the recent popes. It is illustrated with extensive photographs of the going-ons in this tiny country.

Tourist information

 * Vatican City State website

Get in
Although the Vatican City is an independent country, it does not issue visas or residency permits to visitors and it has open borders with Italy.

Since Italy is a part of the Schengen area, you must have a Schengen visa (if you are required to get one, that is) to enter Italy. If you are able to access the Schengen area visa-free, all the more merrier.

By taxi or foot
It's easy to get to the Vatican by taxi or foot from Rome. There are 3 road entrances to Vatican City: from Via della Stazione Vaticana, Via Paolo VI and Borgo Pio. The entrance from Borgo Pio leads to the Vatican Museum, and the other two entrances lead to St. Peter's Basilica.

By bus
There are several bus stations beside Vatican City. For the St. Peter's Basilica and Square, the #64 bus goes from central Rome right to the southern end of the Vatican, but it is filled with pickpockets so guard your valuables! From western Rome, the #46 bus also goes to St. Peter's Basilica and Square.

For the Vatican Museums, the #49 bus goes from western Rome to the northern end of Vatican City. The gate to the Vatican Museums is carved on the wall right beside the bus station.

By metro
Take the metro to for the museums, and  for St. Peter's. To go from Cipro to the museums, go east through Via Candia and then turn right at Via Santamaura. To go from Ottaviano to St. Peter's, go south through Via Ottaviano. A fun trip is to take the tram to Piazza del Risorgimento.

Tour touts are often seen near Ottaviano station, and some may falsely claim that St. Peter's Basilica is closed (see "Attraction Closed" on Common scams).

By train
It's a little-known fact that the Vatican has its own train station. Historically, it has been used by the Pope for special travel on Italian rail or to send off papal remains. There are no regular scheduled passenger services on this line, but the public Roma San Pietro station is just south of the Vatican's borders.

By plane
Vatican City does not have an airport, but there is a heliport that is only used by the Pope. The closest airport is the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome.

On foot
With an area of and a population of about 1,000 residents, the Vatican is small enough to be explored on foot. You can easily cover the Vatican in 30-60 minutes this way.

By car
It's a little-known fact that the Vatican issues vehicle registration plates.

Visitors (including Italian citizens) are not allowed to drive around the Vatican without permission from the Vatican authorities. Unless you're here for something incredibly important (e.g. the Pope wants to meet you personally, you are here on diplomatic business, you're an Italian policeman and you've been asked to patrol St. Peter's Basilica) it's highly unlikely that you'll be given permission to drive around.

In any case, you don't need to drive around to fully take in the beauty of the Vatican; the country's road network is small and limited.

In Borgo some streets and in Prati most streets have one way traffic. Parking in the streets is available but it will be difficult to find a free place. Big parkings are located SE of St. Peter's Square and under Piazza Cavour.

Talk
The official languages of the Vatican are Italian and Latin.

If you know some Latin or if you are a Latin enthusiast, rejoice! This is the only country in the world where Latin is an official language. Most members of the clergy (not everyone, however) know some Latin, and the Catholic Church routinely uses the language for official documents and announcements.

If you don't know any Latin, do not despair; Italian is the more widely spoken of the two official languages.

Since the Vatican is home to and visited by people from all over the world, you can get by with English.

See
There is a lot of artwork to see in Vatican City.

St. Peter's Basilica

Construction of the basilica began in 1506 and it was not completed until the end of 1626. Thus it spans two architectural periods. The overall design by Bramante and Michelangelo is Late Renaissance but the façade designed by Maderno and the interior, which owes much to Bernini, are both Baroque in style. The interior is lavishly decorated and contains a large number of tombs of popes and others. There are also several sculptures in side chapels, including Michelangelo's Pietà.

To get in, you will first go through a metal detector (after all, this is an important building). Don't be put off if there is a long line in front of the detectors; the whole thing moves quickly. The line is usually shorter in the morning and during mid-week. A strict dress code is enforced, so have shoulders covered, wear trousers or a not-too-short dress, and take your hats off. Women must wear scarves or something to cover their heads. You might be required to check your bags at the entrance. Photos are allowed to be taken inside, but not with a flash. Visits to the basilica are still possible while Mass is in progress.

 * The dome, which dominates Vatican City, has a total height of 136.57 m (448 ft) from the floor of the basilica to the top of the external cross. It is the tallest dome in the world. Its internal diameter is 41.47 m (136 ft), slightly smaller than the Pantheon and the cathedral at Florence. Most of the final design was by Michelangelo, building on earlier designs by Bramante and Sangallo and taking much of his inspiration from the cathedral of Florence. After Michelangelo's death in 1564, the work was completed by Giacomo della Porta. You can take an elevator up to the roof and then make a long climb up 323 steps to the top of the dome for a spectacular view. Taking the elevator costs €10 (€8 to climb the stairs) and you should allow an hour to go up and down. During the climb and before reaching the very top, you will find yourself standing on the inside of the dome, looking down into the basilica itself. Be warned that there are a lot of stairs so it is not for the faint at heart (literally or figuratively) nor those suffering from claustrophobia as the very last section of the ascent is through little more than a shoulder-width spiral staircase. The dome opens one hour after the basilica and closes one hour before the basilica.
 * In the first chapel on the right (nr. 9 on the map) as one enters the basilica is a Pietà, the first of four works on the same theme by Michelangelo depicting the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the funeral monument of the French Cardinal Jean de Billheres and was moved to its current location in the eighteenth century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed. In 1972 the Pietà was attacked by a mentally disturbed person using a geologist's hammer, which is why it now appears behind a bullet-proof glass wall. Reconstruction was not helped by the fact that some onlookers helped themselves to fragments after the attack.
 * Underneath the altar in the second chapel on the right (nr. 13 on the map) are the remains of Pope John Paul II.
 * The first chapel in the south aisle, on the left as you enter, is the baptistry (nr. 93 on the map). The font is a fourth-century sarcophagus but its lid comes from another sarcophagus, which held the remains of Emperor Hadrian. This lid was dropped by workmen, broke into ten pieces, and was subject to expert restoration, with the gilt-bronze figure of the "Lamb of God" being added at that time. The tomb of Pope Alexander VII, towards the end of the aisle (nr. 47 on the map), is by Bernini and is considered a masterpiece of Baroque art. The tomb is supported by four female figures. The two at the front represent Charity and Truth. The foot of Truth rests upon a globe of the world, her toe being pierced by the thorn of Protestant England. The Baroque period coincided with the Reformation and St. Peter's was seen as an affirmation of Catholicism.
 * The central internal feature is the Bernini-designed baldachin, or canopy (nr. 64 on the map), built over the Papal Altar underneath the dome. The baldachin had to be enormous to avoid being overwhelmed by the size of the basilica. To obtain the quantity of bronze required, Bernini was given permission by Pope Urban VIII to strip it from the portico of the Pantheon. It is considered to be one of the great works of the Baroque period and remains the largest bronze sculpture in the world.
 * Against the north-east wall of the dome is a statue of St. Peter (nr. 71 on the map). One foot of the statue has been largely worn away by pilgrims kissing it over the centuries. Set in niches under the dome are four statues associated with holy relics held in the basilica including one of St. Longinus holding the spear that pierced the side of Jesus, by Bernini.
 * In the apse, at the far end of the basilica, is a large bronze throne (nr. 39 on the map), also by Bernini. Known as the "Cathedra Petri" or throne of St. Peter the throne houses a chair which was claimed to have been used by Saint Peter, but is more likely to date from the twelfth century.

Free 90-minute tours leave daily from the Tourist Information Centre at 14:15, many days also at 15:00. . €5 audio-guides can be rented from the cloakroom.

The Pope
If you want to see the pope, you can either see a usual blessing from his apartment at the Apostolic Palace on noons on Sundays, just show up (but in the summer he gives it from his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, 25 km from Rome) or you can go to the more formal Wednesday appearance. The pope arrives in the popemobile at 10:30 to bless crowds from a balcony or platform, except in winter, when he speaks in the Aula Paolo VI Auditorium next to the square. You can easily watch from a distance, or get a free ticket, which you must get on the Tuesday before. There are a number of ways:

 * Your hotelier may be able to book one for you
 * You could wait in a long line at St. Peter's on Tuesday where the Swiss Guards hand out tickets at their post to the right of the basilica, after 12:00 on Tuesday
 * You could contact the Santa Susanna Church to get you a ticket (online or ), which you pick up there on Tuesday between 17:00 & 18:45, on Via XX Settembre, Metro stop: Repubblica.
 * Finally, to book a free spot in the square or auditorium,

The pope also gives masses during Christmas and Easter. He may occasionally be away on a state visit, however.

St. Peter's Square

There are two stones (one on each side of the square) between the obelisk and the fountains. If you stand by either of these stones, the four columns on the colonnades merge into one. In total there are 284 columns. When Bernini came to design the piazza he had to incorporate the obelisk and a fountain designed by Maderno, both of which were already there. The symmetry of the square was enhanced by the addition of another fountain, designed by Bernini.

The obelisk in the middle of the square was transported from Egypt to Rome in 37 AD by Emperor Gaius Caligula to mark the spine of a circus eventually completed by Emperor Nero. The so-called Circus of Nero was parallel to and to the south of the east-west axis of the current Basilica. It was here that Saint Peter was killed in the first official persecutions of Christians undertaken by Nero beginning in 64 AD, and continuing until his death in 67 AD. The original location of the obelisk is marked with a plaque located near the sacristy on the south side of the basilica, where it remained until it was moved in 1586 AD by Pope Sixtus V to its present location.

During the Middle Ages, the bronze ball on top of the obelisk was believed to contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. When it was relocated it was opened and found to be empty. The present reliquary, the Chigi Star in honor of Pope Alexander VII, was added containing pieces of the "True Cross". This is the only Egyptian obelisk in Rome that has never toppled since being erected in Ancient Rome and is the second largest Egyptian obelisk after the Lateran obelisk. The obelisk nearly shattered while it was being moved. Upon orders of the pope, no one was to speak a word while it was being moved otherwise they would be excommunicated. However, a sailor shouted to water the ropes to prevent them from burning. He was forgiven and in gratitude for saving the day, the palms for Palm Sunday still come from the sailor's home town of Bordighera in Portugal. The moving of this obelisk was celebrated in engravings during its time to commemorate the Renaissance's recovery and mastery of ancient knowledge.

Until the Fascist era visitors approached St. Peter's Square from the Tiber River by two narrow parallel streets that did not provide the same views as seen today. Mussolini dictated that a warren of poor houses be knocked down to make way for the Via della Conciliazione and the new buildings alongside it. The name of the street commemorates the Lateran Treaty of 1929, under which the Vatican was recognised as an independent state by the Italian government.

The square is generally very crowded, even on weekdays, even during rain. Many times during the year, it will be full of barricades, tents or other objects. Do not have high hopes of getting a good picture of yourself in the St. Peters square without the crowd or other obstructions.

The Vatican Museum

Much of the museum is organised so you follow a one-way route leading to Raphael's rooms and the Sistine Chapel but there is much more to see as well. If you are very short of time, it will take at least an hour to visit the Sistine Chapel.

The Museum is usually crowded on Saturdays, Mondays, the last Sunday of the month, rainy days, and days before or after a holiday but, basically, it is crowded every day and if you want to see the gems that it contains you will have to tolerate the crowds or sign up to very expensive private tours after the museum is closed to everyone else. Dress code: no short shorts or bare shoulders. There are often lengthy queues from the entrance that stretch around the block in the early morning. Non-guided visitors should join the queue that is to the left as you are facing the entrance; the queue on the right is intended for guided group visitors. You can book online in advance and with a booking, you can skip the queue. Audio-guides are available from the top of the escalator/ramp for €7. Two people can share a single unit plugging in a standard set of earphones.

Photography and video recording are not allowed. Visitors are expected to be quiet at all times. The guards will regularly remind you of this.
 * The Sistine Chapel is a rectangular brick building with no exterior decoration. There is no exterior entrance, it being approached from within the Vatican buildings. Inside, the walls are divided into three levels. The lower is decorated with frescoed wall hangings. The middle of the walls has two cycles of paintings, "The Life of Moses" and "The Life of Christ", painted by Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Signorelli, Pinturicchio and Perugino, among others. The upper tier contains a Gallery of Popes. Around the tops of the windows are the "Ancestors of Christ", painted by Michelangelo as part of the ceiling. The ceiling proper contains nine paintings inspired by the Old Testament, showing God's Creation of the World, God's Relationship with Mankind, and Mankind's Fall from God's Grace. Michelangelo was reluctant to work on the ceiling but was unable to refuse an instruction by a pope, Julius II. He worked on it between May 1508 and October 1512, which included a one-year period when he did little work. Given that most of the painting was done by Michelangelo himself, rather than his pupils, completing it in such a short period was an amazing achievement. The ceiling had to be worked on piece by piece as frescoes require painting when the plaster is still damp and most of the time Michelangelo was lying on his back in considerable discomfort.

 * Raphael's papal apartments (Stanze) were begun in 1508 when the painter was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II. The first room on which he worked was the Stanza della Segnatura, the pope's library and office. The four walls have the themes of Theology, Poetry, Jurisprudence and Philosophy. The Poetry wall contains portraits of Greek and Ancient Roman poets, as well as of contemporaries of Raphael, such as Dante. The most impressive of the four walls is The School of Athens, representing philosophy. Well-known Greek philosophers are represented, often with the faces of famous Italians of the time. Plato, for example, is believed based on Leonardo da Vinci; Euclid appears to be like Bramante, the first architect for the rebuilt St. Peter's. In the Stanza d'Eliodoro one of the characters bears a likeness to Raphael himself. Pope Julius II is also introduced into the scenes.
 * It would be a big mistake to just visit Raphael's rooms and the Sistine Chapel and then leave the museum. The Pinacoteca should not be missed. Among other works of art, it contains one of the relatively few paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, the unfinished St. Jerome in the Wilderness, three paintings by Raphael, a triptych by Giotto, Caravaggio's Entombment and works by Perugino and Filippo Lippi.

Swiss Guard

Borgo and Prati

Do
While guidebooks do their best to provide an aid for viewing the collections inside the Vatican, a guided tour is a far better way to make sure you get the most out of your visit.

Vatican tours
Guided tours are provided by the Vatican itself for the cost of €30. These may be requested in advance by fax from one month to one week before the requested tour date, or online from two months before the requested tour date. The Vatican is notorious for failing to reply via fax, and repeat requests are often necessary.

Two-hour English tours of the Vatican Museum cost €31 and include museum admission, and leave at 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00 in summer, and 10:30 and 11:15 in winter. To reserve, book online. Other contact details: for groups visiteguidategruppi.musei@scv.va, for individuals: visiteguidatesingoli.musei@scv.va, or, fax. With a booking you skip the queue and enter through the exit, next to the entry, to go to the guided tours desk.

Guided tours are the only way to see the quiet and peaceful, either by foot (€32, duration 2 hr) or by open bus (€36, duration 40 min). Ticket prices for both types of tours include access (without a guide) to the Vatican Museum. Book at least a day in advance by calling or book online. Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday at 10:00, depart from tour desk and finish in St. Peter's Square.

Another guided tour is called: Vaticano In Treno – Vaticano Full Day. You visit the museum, the Sistine Chapel, the gardens, leave for Castel Gandolfo by train from the Vatican railway station, and visit Castel Gandolfo. Making it the only possibility to go by train from the Vatican Railway Station.

To tour the Necropolis and Saint's Tomb, call the excavations office at least a week in advance at, €10 for a 2-hour tour, office open Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:00.

Go to Mass
If you're Catholic (or even if you're not), you can go to religious services in any of the four Basilicas of the City, including St. Peter's. All four have Mass daily, some hourly during daylight hours (generally 07:00–15:00). Confession is also available daily in these basilicas, and is offered in multiple languages.

Mass in St Peter's Basilica is held daily at 08:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 17:00 from Monday to Saturday, and Sundays and religious holidays at 08:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:10, 13:00, 16:00, and 17:30. Visits to the basilica are still possible while Mass is in progress.

Buy
The Vatican has a unique, non-commercial economy supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics worldwide. It also sells postage stamps, tourist mementoes, and publications. Fees for admission to museums also go into church coffers.

The Vatican euro coins are the rarest in circulation among European countries, so don't spend them! They are worth a lot more than their face value. Collecting Vatican coins is a popular hobby among numismatists, as the coins of the Vatican City carry a great deal of historical and religious significance. Vatican coins often depict images of popes, saints, and scenes from the Bible and can be a great way to commemorate a special event or admire the coins' beauty. Collecting Vatican coins also offers the chance to learn more about the history of the Vatican and the Catholic faith.

Work
The Catholic Church is the Vatican's sole employer. Many jobs in the Vatican require you to be baptised into the Catholic faith.

This is not a place you can just move to for work; the hiring process is informal, meaning that someone from the Vatican has to recommend you for a position.

Male citizens of Switzerland may serve as Pontifical Swiss Guards if they have completed their mandatory military service, are Catholic, have formal education, and stand at least 174cm tall.

Once you manage to get a job at the Vatican, you will immediately become a citizen of the Vatican. Vatican citizenship is unique in the sense that it is based on jus officii, i.e. holding a position in the Catholic Church. As stated in the Lateran treaty, if you lose Vatican citizenship, you will immediately become an Italian citizen, provided you do not hold other citizenships.

Eat and drink

The Vatican Museums have a reasonable cafeteria-style restaurant, a bar, and a pizzeria, all of which are open during museum opening hours, and until about one hour after closing. As you might expect, the food is a little overpriced and not exactly gourmet, but when you get hungry halfway through the museums, it does the trick.

Sleep
Unless you count the Pope as a good friend (and he concurs), there are no lodging opportunities in the Vatican City itself. However, there are many hotels in the surrounding Vaticano neighbourhood of Rome.

Stay safe
You should not assume that the Vatican only attracts the honest. Since the Vatican receives so many people from around the world, there are also those who try to deprive people of their personal property. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times.

The Vatican City has its own laws and the Vatican legal system is based on canon law, which means you can expect to be treated with a degree of leniency in the unlikely event you are arrested. In October 2012, the Pope's former butler was arrested and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, but was pardoned by the pope two months later. Do not let the highly forgiving nature of Vatican law fool you; Vatican authorities regularly collaborate with Italian authorities and you can also expect to be prosecuted under Italian laws.

The Vatican can get overcrowded at times. If you're travelling with family members or with a friend, stick together. Supervise your children (if you have any) closely to make sure they are not lost among the crowd.

As is the case throughout Europe, the local emergency number here is 112.

All Vatican law enforcement officials (known as the Gendarmerie) are male and are between the ages of 21 and 25 (as required by Vatican law). They are generally courteous, professional, and helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them for any help.

Stay healthy
There are no hospitals or medical clinics in the Vatican. If you require urgent medical attention or health services of any kind, it is strongly recommended that you go to a hospital or a clinic in Rome.

By phone
Telephone numbers in Vatican City are integrated into the Italian telephone numbering plan. ITU-T has assigned country code +379 to Vatican City, but this is not in use.

Vatican telephone numbers are in the form of "+39 06 698xxxxx", "+39" being the country code for Italy and "06" the area code for Rome (the city surrounding Vatican City). Dialling the country code for calls within Vatican City or between Italy and Vatican City is not required, but the area code must always be dialled, as for any other call within Italy.

The telecommunications provider of Vatican City is the Vatican Telephone Service (part of the Governorate's Department of Telecommunications since 2002).

Respect
Many tips in the Christianity article will come in handy when visiting. Respect for the Catholic Church and its practices and doctrine is encouraged. You don't have to praise the Pope or the Catholic Church; be polite, refrain from bringing up and discussing controversial subjects (e.g. birth control and contraceptives), and there will be no problems.

When visiting the Vatican, it is advised that you dress modestly — no sleeveless shirts, shorts, flip-flops, trainers, or skirts — or else you will be refused entry to various places around the Vatican.

The Vatican is a holy place for millions of Christians around the world. Be open to new experiences, and don't feel afraid of communicating with anyone.

Photography and filming in the Vatican are permitted, but you are not allowed to bring selfie sticks, professional photography equipment, and tripods. Flash photography is also disallowed. The only place where photography is forbidden is the Sistine Chapel.

When visiting places of worship (St. Peter's Basilica being one of them), don't conduct yourself in a way that would be perceived as disruptive or annoying to others.

Smoking has been banned by the Vatican since 2002; anyone caught smoking risks being fined or disciplined by the Vatican authorities.

You may take photographs of Swiss guards, and they will happily oblige as long as you ask respectfully. Also, refrain from making jokes about the uniforms of Swiss guards; some people could be offended by such jokes.

Media
It is a little-known fact that the Vatican has a few media outlets. Exposing yourself to Vatican media is a good way to better understand the Catholic Church, how it is actively involved in global affairs, and understand how things work in the world's smallest country. Go ahead and explore!

Diplomatic missions
There are Embassies to the Holy See of many countries in this district, but there are no diplomatic missions inside Vatican City itself.

Go next
Right outside the borders, the amazing attractions of the global city of Rome await you. If you're up for some more historic sightseeing, visit the beautiful piazzas and palazzos of Old Rome or head to the ancient Roman ruins in the Colosseo district. If not, the hustle and bustle of the Modern Centre with all its shopping opportunities and colourful nightlife might be just what you are looking for.

If you can't get enough of the papal atmosphere, head to the San Giovanni neighbourhood to visit San Giovanni in Laterano, the Pope's cathedral in his role as Bishop of Rome. The small city of Viterbo also makes a good next stop. This is where popes took refuge when they were driven out of Rome and where six of the 13th-century popes had their seat. Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano, is another location where the pope's summer residence is.

title: Rome/Vatican


text:
Romney

Romney is a city in the Potomac Highlands region of West Virginia.

Get in
Romney is not served by public transportation. No train or bus service. Dulles International Airport is about 2.5 hours to the east. Romney is located on US Route 50, a major two lane east-west highway. It is about a one hour drive from Winchester, Virginia on I81 and about a 1 hour drive from Cumberland, MD, on I68.

Get around
No public transportation. You need a car.

Connect
The Hampshire County Convention and Visitors Bureau (HCCVB) is located in the "Bottling Works" building at 426 East Main Street in Romney, WV. The phone number is 304-822-7477 and the web site is http://www.cometohampshire.com

Go next

 * Moorefield, the next population center up the South Branch Potomac River

title: Romney


text:
Romsey

Romsey is a picturesque market town of about 15,000 people (2011) in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. It sits on the outskirts of the New Forest, just over 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of its eastern edge. It lies on the River Test, which is known for fly fishing, predominantly trout.

Understand
Romsey was described by The Guardian newspaper as 'resoundingly, timelessly English' in 2014, remarking on the town's representation of bourgeois provincial life. It is popular among retirees.

Romsey Abbey, the largest parish church in Hampshire, dominates the centre of the town. Other notable buildings include a 13th-century hunting lodge, an 18th-century coaching inn and the 19th-century corn exchange.

Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and the 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, whose statue has stood in the town centre since 1857. The town was also home to the 20th-century naval officer and statesman Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who lived at Broadlands.

By car
Romsey has very good road links to other parts of the country. The M3 motorway from London and the A34 dual carriageway from the Midlands and the North converge at Winchester. Take the A3090 from Winchester (M3 junction 11) to Romsey. The M27 runs westwards towards the New Forest and Bournemouth, and eastwards towards Portsmouth and Brighton. Junctions 2 and 3 of the M27 are close to Romsey. The A3057 runs north from Romsey to Andover and south to Southampton. The A27 runs north west towards Salisbury. From Bristol and South Wales it is usually quicker to travel via the M4 and A34 than the shorter but much slower A36. Likewise from the South West of England, the route via the A303, B3089, Salisbury and the A27 is often quicker than the A35 and A31.

Parking in Romsey can be difficult on Saturdays, but not any more so than at other market towns. Parking is free after 4PM each day.

By train
Local stopping services operated by South West Trains also serve Romsey frequently throughout the day and evening, providing additional journeys to Southampton and Salisbury and also link Romsey to Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Southampton Airport, various suburban stations in Southampton, and the nearby villages of Mottisfont & Dunbridge and Dean.

Trains from London, the Midlands and the North do not operate directly to Romsey. Change trains at Southampton Central or Southampton Airport Parkway stations, or take the bus to Romsey from Winchester station.

From the South West of England, change trains at Westbury or Salisbury.

From Bournemouth change at Southampton Central.

A useful tip when travelling from Southampton Central to Romsey is to take a train whose final destination is shown as Salisbury, Bristol or Cardiff. These reach Romsey much more quickly than those whose final destination is shown as Romsey, but which travel by a more circuitous route.

By bus
Buses from Winchester (operated by Stagecoach South), Eastleigh (by Wilts & Dorset) and Southampton (by Bluestar) run frequently and stop centrally in the town. Buses from Salisbury run less frequently. Limited services are also available from some nearby villages.

From Eastleigh, Southampton, and Salisbury the train is generally faster, cheaper and more frequent than the equivalent bus routes.

By plane
The nearest airport is Southampton Airport, about 10 miles (16 km) away in Eastleigh, with flights to domestic and European destinations. Southampton Airport Parkway railway station is next to the airport terminal - trains run directly to Romsey twice an hour.

From Heathrow take the railair coach service to Woking station, then take a train to Winchester, Southampton Airport or Southampton Central for connections to Romsey.

From Gatwick take a direct train to Southampton Central, and change there for a train to Romsey.

Get around

 * The small and pleasant town centre is easily covered on foot.
 * Walking around will occupy a pleasant, easygoing half day. A few villages on the outskirts offer (mostly) real old fashioned English pub atmospheres, where a morning walk and a pub lunch plus pints make for a very agreeable start to a weekend. Ampfield and Braishfield are two such villages accessible by local bus (leaving from the bus station to the rear of the high street, adjacent to Bradbeer's) and there is a village to the Northwest that's on the train route direct. Stopping at Mottisfont and Dunbridge there is a pub by the name of the Mill Arms quite literally opposite the platform, which is full of atmosphere, and where on Christmas Day you can turn up and get your first pint of the day for free!

See

 * Walking tour of poetic quips and quotes. Plenty of towns in England have these nowadays, the Romsey version takes you on a particularly scenic meander along the banks of the Test a short way and through the town's modestly interesting historic streets, Bell street and parts of the High street especially still look and feel suitably ancient. Streets around the back of the Abbey are also on the route and they, with the abbey, lend a genuinely impressive air.
 * Walking tour of poetic quips and quotes. Plenty of towns in England have these nowadays, the Romsey version takes you on a particularly scenic meander along the banks of the Test a short way and through the town's modestly interesting historic streets, Bell street and parts of the High street especially still look and feel suitably ancient. Streets around the back of the Abbey are also on the route and they, with the abbey, lend a genuinely impressive air.
 * Walking tour of poetic quips and quotes. Plenty of towns in England have these nowadays, the Romsey version takes you on a particularly scenic meander along the banks of the Test a short way and through the town's modestly interesting historic streets, Bell street and parts of the High street especially still look and feel suitably ancient. Streets around the back of the Abbey are also on the route and they, with the abbey, lend a genuinely impressive air.
 * Walking tour of poetic quips and quotes. Plenty of towns in England have these nowadays, the Romsey version takes you on a particularly scenic meander along the banks of the Test a short way and through the town's modestly interesting historic streets, Bell street and parts of the High street especially still look and feel suitably ancient. Streets around the back of the Abbey are also on the route and they, with the abbey, lend a genuinely impressive air.

Further afield
A free minibus service links the town centre, and Romsey and Mottisfont & Dunbridge railway stations, to these attractions on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Do

 * Fish the River Test, one of the most renowned trout rivers in the world. You will, however, need to obtain a permit beforehand.
 * Drink in one of the famously numerous pubs; in the 16th to 18th centuries Romsey held the record from the most pubs per square mile, around 18 per sq mile, which were all supported by a population of 4000 including children. Whilst the number of pubs has gone down, the population has gone up so one might find that the pubs are a bit cramped at times. The number of pubs has gone down and the population up, but there are still some highly venerable pubs in the area, and places like the Duke's Head a few hundred metres North of the town proper which has been the site of an ale house since the 11th century.
 * Fish the River Test, one of the most renowned trout rivers in the world. You will, however, need to obtain a permit beforehand.
 * Drink in one of the famously numerous pubs; in the 16th to 18th centuries Romsey held the record from the most pubs per square mile, around 18 per sq mile, which were all supported by a population of 4000 including children. Whilst the number of pubs has gone down, the population has gone up so one might find that the pubs are a bit cramped at times. The number of pubs has gone down and the population up, but there are still some highly venerable pubs in the area, and places like the Duke's Head a few hundred metres North of the town proper which has been the site of an ale house since the 11th century.

Buy
Walk down the high street to experience high streets like they were in pre-recession Britain. There is also a market every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Most stalls are in The Cornmarket, but some are moved to Market Place because of social distancing.

Eat
There are many places to eat in Romsey ranging from cafés to pubs to restaurants. Some places that serve food are:

Drink
The multitude of pubs and cafés in Romsey mean that you won't need to walk very far to find a new one. Examples of good cafés are Caffé Nero, Asante, Miss Moody's tearoom and Bradbeers's cafés.

Sleep
There is one hotel in Romsey and many bed and breakfasts. However, there are more hotels slightly further afield, such as:

Go next

 * The New Forest National Park, with its extensive woodlands and heathlands, picturesque villages, and freely roaming livestock, is located a short drive west from the town.

title: Romsey


text:
Romulus

Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It is the city in which Detroit Metro Airport is located.

Get in
Hotels have shuttles to and from the airport.

Eat
Just north of the hotels on Merriman Road is a strip mall with Grill and Chinese restaurants and subs/sandwich and pizza takeaways.

title: Romulus


text:
Ronda

Ronda is a town in Malaga in Spain. Set in and around a deep gorge spanned by an impressive bridge, the relaxing atmosphere here is a great break from some of the more tourist-ridden places on the south coast of Spain, however it can still be packed with day-trippers from the Costa del Sol, especially during the peak summer months.

Understand
Ronda was first settled by the early Celts, and later inhabited by Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. The Moors left an indelible imprint in the city, which only fell to the Christian reconquista in 1485. In more modern times, the town has hosted a number of well-known writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, James Joyce, and the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

Ronda is divided into three neighbourhoods: the more modern Mercadillo, with the bus and train stations and other services; La Ciudad, the old Moorish quarter which has been largely preserved; and the Barrio de San Francisco. The town makes a good base for outdoor pursuits, including hiking, canoeing and river kayaking, and mountain biking.

Read

 * Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls. The execution scene in Chapter 10 is based upon events which took place in Ronda during the Spanish Civil War.

By train

A taxi from the train station to the quarter of La Ciudad should cost about €7, or it takes about 20 minutes to reach it on foot.

By car
From Marbella on the Costa del Sol, the scenic road A-376 leads through the mountains north. Plan on 1-1½ hours for the 43-km journey, which after many hairpin curves reaches an elevation of 1,125 m before descending to Ronda. At the highest point is a monument to the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke, in the form of a stone memorial with a stylized pen nib.

For a scenic route from Seville, head south on A-376 to Utrera, and then take A-375 to Puerta Serrana, and A-384/374 further on to Ronda.

From Jerez de la Frontera, take A-382 west to Arcos de la Frontera, continue on A-384 past the exit to Puerta Serrana and Seville, and pick up A-374 to Ronda.

Distances to Ronda: Madrid 612 km, Algeciras 100 km, Cadiz 150 km

Get around
Ronda is a small town, both easily and best navigated on foot.

While driving in by car may be interesting - once within Ronda - park it! Ronda is difficult to navigate by car, especially in the older quarters. In some parts - non-resident cars aren't even allowed to use the streets! There are two reasonably convenient public car parks in the Mercadillo: an underground garage beneath the ; and another on Avenida Poeta Rilke, north of the bull ring.

Mercadillo

 * Also located inside is a bullfighting museum.
 * Also located inside is a bullfighting museum.

La Ciudad
The old district of Ronda, beyond the new bridge. Full of twisting, narrow streets.

Buy
Ronda is noted for distinctive white enamelled ceramic, which is used for everyday domestic ware. There are plenty of ATMs dotted about the Mercadillo, or the main commercial district.

Eat
Avoid the restaurants in the tourist area during the day, as they are overpriced and often only full of other tourists! Look for smaller cafes and bars.

A quick breakfast usually consists of toast (pan tostada) and coffee (cafe con leche – coffee with milk; be sure to add the pack of sugar always served with it for a real treat.)

Look for bakeries (pastelerias), as Spain has some of the finest pastries around.

Budget
Any bar will be able to make you a sandwich (bocadillo) with your choice of ham, cheese, or tomato.

Drink
Near Ronda, high quality wines are produced in small wineries. Also you can find "Anis del Tajo".

Sleep
There are plenty of hotels in the area of town tourists are likely to want to stay, on some streets it looks like more of the buildings are hotels than are not.

Go next
Ronda is a district hub for the bus services to other pueblo blanco towns and villages such as Montejaque, Benaojan and Zahara la Sierra. Most of these villages have at least one weekday service, while others have up to three services a day.

title: Ronda


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Rondônia

Rondônia is a state in the North of Brazil.

Cities

 * — despite the name (old port), it was only founded in 1914 and is architecturally modern
 * — hosts Expoari, the biggest rodeo party in Rondônia
 * — a city of 40,000 that is a service center for local farmers
 * — called "the Capital of Coffee", it has waterfalls and beautiful lakes to visit
 * — a free trade zone where boat tours are offered on the Mamoré and Guaporé Rivers
 * — a city of 52,0000 people in the Jaru River valley
 * — Expojipa, for 9 nights in July, is the largest agricultural fair in the North Region of Brazil
 * — hosts the Garota Cachoeira Beach Festival and the state stage of Motocross annually
 * — a city of 36,000 people in 2020
 * — known for hosting popular events sponsored by the Catholic church
 * — the main events in the city are the "Festa do Milho", a gastronomic event, and the "Feira Agropecuária de Rolim de Moura", an agricultural fair with shows, fireworks and rodeo
 * — a major educational center, known for its cooler climate

Other destinations

 * — beautiful landscapes, diverse wildlife, and several unique species of birds
 * — the reserve is a three-day trip from the city of Guajará-Mirim. You can visit the ruins of the Real Forte Príncipe da Beira, built in the 18th century by Portuguese colonizers
 * — a survey recorded 168 species of fish, the probable presence of 189 species of amphibians and reptiles, 538 species of birds and over 73 species of mammals
 * — a survey recorded 168 species of fish, the probable presence of 189 species of amphibians and reptiles, 538 species of birds and over 73 species of mammals

Understand
Rondonia used to be home to over 200,000 km² of rainforest, but has become one of the most deforested places in the Amazon due to mining and cattle herding. In 2013, the state was one of the largest exporters of beef in Brazil, with a herd of 12 million heads.

As of 2011 there were 21 Indigenous Territories in Rondônia, with two more in process of being demarcated. The largest of these, the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous Territory, covers over 1.8 million hectares. Another, the Rio Omerê Indigenous Territory, is home to the Kanoê and Akuntsu people. Both tribes were the victims of massacres by cattle ranchers in the 1970s and 1980s, by 2013 had only four and five individuals respectively.

Over 20 indigenous languages are spoken in Rondônia.

Get in
The BR-364, fully paved in the Rondônia section, crosses the state from the border with Mato Grosso to the border with Acre.

Governador Jorge Teixeira International Airport, in Porto Velho, is the most important in the state and receives daily flights from Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Cuiabá, Manaus and Rio Branco, from municipalities in the interior of the state of Rondônia such as Ji-Paraná and Vilhena and from interior of the Amazon, such as Lábrea and Manicoré. It also has flights from Porto Alegre, with stopovers in Curitiba , Campo Grande and Cuiabá, flights to São Paulo and Rio de Janeirowith stopovers in Brasília and Fortaleza, with a stopover in Manaus and Belém.

In the interior of the state, the three main airports are José Coleto Airport in Ji-Paraná, which has four daily flights, Brigadeiro Camarão Airport in Vilhena, and the Capital do Café Airport, in Cacoal.

Get around
To find out about road conditions, call the Federal Highway Police in the state,

Do
Porto Velho is a starting point for excursions into the Amazon.

Festivals
The Banda do Vai Quem Quer draws more than 100 000 people in the streets of Porto Velho during the Carnival festivities. Another festival of great importance is the Arraial Flor do Maracujá, held in Porto Velho in June, and which represents the strength of Northeastern culture. It is the second largest festival in Brazil.

Also in June, the Guajará-Mirim Folk Festival stands out, in which the main attractions are the performances of the bois-bumbás, an expression of the Amazonian culture in the region. To mark the immense strength of the agricultural culture, there are several rodeo parties and agricultural exhibitions in most municipalities in the state.

Expoari, held in Ariquemes in the Exhibition Park around the end of July, is the biggest rodeo in Rondônia, and one of the 5 largest rodeos in Brazil. There are nine days of event, where several musical shows take place, with artists from all over the country. Other rodeos include Expovil, in Vilhena, Expojipa, in Ji- Paraná and Expovel, in Porto Velho.

The city of Alto Paraíso holds the National Race of Jericos Motorizados every year, known as Festa do Jerico. It consists of a race of automobiles called Jericos, conceived by mechanics to adapt to work in the fields and the mistreated dirt roads that existed in the early days of the State of Rondônia, by joining parts of the different types of car.

Eat
Because Rondônia receives people from several states in Brazil, its cuisine is quite diverse. In cooking, fish and flour from the Amazon, polenta from Paraná, barbecue from Rio Grande do Sul and tereré from Mato Grosso are widely consumed. In addition, a very common snack is salteña, of Bolivian origin.

title: Rondônia


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Rongjiang

Rongjiang is a city in southeastern Guizhou. It is in the Qiandongnan Dong Miao Autonomous Region. It is a stopping point between small towns and villages in the region.

Get in
It is located on national highway 321 at the intersection between highway 321 and a smaller road that leads directly to Kaili.

Buses go to Rongjiang from Sanjiang, Congjiang and most of the other cities in the region.

Do
There are not many entertainment options in the small city. You are most likely to be here for transferring buses.

Buy
There is a nice selection of counterfeit clothing merchandise at some of the shops.

Sleep
There is only one hotel that allows foreigners. You can find it by asking which hotel foreigners can stay at. If you go to the front desk of any of the hotels, they will most likely be able to tell you where it is. This is due to government regulations. The hotel costs 149Y per night.

title: Rongjiang


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Rooi-els

Rooi-els is a small town in the Cape Winelands region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Rooi-els is a residential community, and a holiday destination, with many opportunities for outdoor sports.

Understand
There is a moderate number of permanent inhabitants, many of whom are retired. The local baboons roam the area frequently and should not be fed. It is on the eastern shore of False Bay, just to the south of the mouth of the Rooi-els river, and below the Klein Hangklip. There is a very pleasant little beach which is fairly sheltered from south west swells, and is generally safe for swimming. The Rooi-els river flows into the bay at the south end of the beach, and is usually only inches deep and a pleasant place for kids to play.

The town is quite exposed to the south east wind in summer, which can be unpleasantly strong, but is often mild and keeps the place cool. Winter can be beautiful, if the wind is light and the weather sunny, and when the wind and waves are up, the surf pounds on the rocky shoreline and throws spray high into the air. It is a pleasant place to get away from the city for a few days, or to enjoy a quiet vacation for a week or so at almost any time of the year.

Get in
From Cape Town or Hermanus by car on the R44 regional road. There is no public transport to or from Rooi-els

Get around
By car, bycycle or on foot. The town is small enough to walk anywhere. The roads are gravel and mostly a bit bumpy, but the locals like them that way as it keeps the traffic speed low.

Do

 * Rock and surf angling
 * Lobster netting and diving in season
 * Hiking in the local mountains
 * Walking, swimming or sunbathing at the beach
 * Geocaching
 * Kitesurfing
 * Bodyboarding
 * Snorkelling and Scuba diving

Buy
There is one small general store. You can find them on Facebook @rooielsvillageshop

Eat
There are a couple of restaurants

Drink
There is one public bar

Sleep
There are a number of private residences available for short term rent (daily rate)

Connect
See the Rooiels blog here http://rooiels.weebly.com/news.html

Go next

 * Pringle Bay
 * Hangklip
 * Betty's Bay
 * Kleinmond
 * Gordon's Bay

title: Rooi-els


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Roorkee

Roorkee is a small town in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is approximately 170 km from the capital of India, New Delhi.

By car
Travelling from Delhi, Roorkee is approximately 170 km north. Take the highway NH-58 (Delhi - Haridwar - Sri Badrinath Ji), and it passes through Roorkee. The city of Haridwar is further along the same highway about 29 km from Roorkee. In addition, the Panchkula (Chandigarh) - Yamunanagar - Roorkee NH-73 also serves an important route while coming from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, or Jammu & Kashmir.

By bus
The main bus depot of Roorkee is on NH-58. Several buses run from various cities in North India (includes the cities from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, J & K and Punjab).

By plane
Nearest airport to Roorkee is Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport which has Air India services from Delhi. New Delhi International Airport is about 200 km away.

By train
The easiest way to get to Roorkee is by train. The Roorkee city station is located on Kolkata (Howrah) - Amritsar Main Railway Line. There are several trains connecting Roorkee daily from various cities of India.

Important trains:
 * Mumbai (Lok Manya Tilak Terminus) - Haridwar A/c Special S/F Exp.
 * Mumbai (Bandra Terminus) - Dehra Dun Exp.
 * Chennai - Dehra Dun S/F Exp.
 * Kolkata (Howrah Jn) - Amritsar Punjab Mail
 * Kolkata (Sealdah) - Jammu Tawi Exp.
 * New Delhi - Dehra Dun A/c Exp.
 * New Delhi - Dehra Dun Shatabdi Exp.
 * New Delhi - Dehra Dun Janshatabdi Exp.
 * Guwahati - Jammu Tawi Lohit Exp.
 * Gorakhpur - Jammu Tawi Amarnath Exp.
 * Jamshedpur (Tata Nagar) - Amritsar Jalianwala Bagh Exp.
 * Ahmedabad - Haridwar Haridwar Mail
 * Indore - Dehra Dun Intercity Exp.
 * Sri Ganga Nagar - Haridwar Intercity Exp.
 * Lucknow - Chandigarh Intercity Exp
 * Amritsar - Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Exp.
 * Ujjain - Dehra Dun Ujjayni Exp.
 * Puri - Haridwar Kalinga-Utkal Exp.
 * Kochuveli - Dehra Dun Super Deluxe Exp
 * Jodhpur/Barmer - Haridwar Link Exp.
 * Okha - Dehra Dun Uttaranchal Exp.
 * Muzaffarpur - Ambala Cantt. Harihar Exp.
 * Dhanbad - Firozpur Ganga-Satluz Exp.
 * Valsad - Haridwar S/F Exp.

In addition, several other express/mail trains, passenger/shuttle trains, summer special trains and festival special trains etc. are also having their stoppages at Roorkee City Station.

Get around
The common ways to get around the city: Vikram Auto Rickshaw and Cycle Rickshaw. Walking is recommended in certain Old City areas.

See

 * Main building & IIT Campus, IIT Roorkee
 * War Memorial, Roorkee Cantt.
 * Bann Ganga Wetland
 * Himalayan Eco Park, Haridwar Road
 * A walk along Canal Banks (Roorkee Haat)
 * Solani River - Upper Ganga Canal Aqueduct
 * Walk around Upper Ganga canal near IRI
 * Temples: Shiv Mandir, Prem Mandir, Saraswati Mandir, Sri Ram Mandir etc.

Events

 * Flower shows organised by National Institute of Hydrology, Central Building Research Institute, Bengal Engineers Group and Centre, Afro Asian Hoste, IIT Roorkee.
 * All India Mushaira by Anjuman Farog-E-Adab
 * Kanvan Festival during July–August

Buy

 * Shopping Complexes: Vishal Mega Mart, Shiv Complex, Tyagi Market etc.
 * Civil Lines, Main Bazar, Sapper Bazar etc. for shopping

Eat

 * Punjabi Dhaba, Opp. State Roadways Bus Stand

Food

 * Hotel Center Point Roorkee 01332274050

Coffee

 * Cafe Coffee Day, Haridwar Road
 * Nescafe Cafetaria, Near Campus Post Office, IIT Roorkee

Sleep

 * Hotel Center Point

title: Roorkee


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Roosendaal

Roosendaal is a town and important railway junction in the Netherlands. It lies on the main line from Amsterdam to Antwerp and Brussels as well as the secondary routes to Vlissingen and Nijmegen. It is the last stop in the Netherlands for international trains heading towards Belgium.

Understand
Roosendaal has a population of 77,000.

By car
From Amsterdam, use the A4 heading for Leiden and The Hague, following the A4 until it ends in Rotterdam. Turn onto the A15 heading for Dordrecht afterwards. Keep heading for Dordrecht once the A15 and A16 merge and stay on the A16 from here on. After crossing the Hollands Diep, turn onto the A17 at the first possible interchange. On this highway, use exit 19 (Roosendaal-West), turning left once off the highway. You will be on the edge of the city centre once you have crossed the railroad. Turning left here, sends you heading for the train station.

From Brussels, follow the A1 highway (E19) heading for Antwerp. Once on the ring-way of Antwerp, turn onto the A12 heading for Bergen op Zoom. After crossing the border into the Netherlands, follow the A4 which you now find yourself on up to Bergen op Zoom and after exit 28, turn onto the A58. Here, use exit 19 (Roosendaal-West), followed by a left turn. Again, after crossing the railroad you will find yourself facing the city centre. Turning left leads you to the train station.

By public transit
has many routes connecting to it, both domestic and international. These are domestic intercity trains from:
 * Vlissingen to Amsterdam via Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Dordrecht.
 * Zwolle, terminating in Roosendaal running via Deventer, Zutphen, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Den Bosch, Tilburg and Breda.

The NMBS (National Belgian Railways) runs three services to Roosendaal, all running from Puurs via Antwerp. One of which terminates at Roosendaal during weekdays, one in weekends and one only on peak hours during weekdays.

From the train station, buses connect Roosendaal to Breda (line 312) and Bergen op Zoom (line 112).

Get around
Roosendaal lacks many parking spots.

Do

 * Walk through the Passage The Passage in Roosendaal is an indoor shopping center located in the city center, featuring Venetian-style architecture with elements of Jugendstil and Art Deco, offering a unique and captivating shopping experience.

Buy

 * Shopping at Designer Outlet Roosendaal also more commonly known as "Rosada". It offers products from over 100 brands. It's far from the town center but easy to visit with bus 112.
 * Rooselaar indoor shopping center which borders the Nieuwe Markt, you will find over 64 stores dedicated to fashion, lifestyle, and beauty.

Eat
Roosendaal has quite a few coffee shops.

Go next
Roosendaal is the first major Dutch railroad hub when travelling from Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels by local trains. Roosendaal therefore allows for easy access into Flanders as well as the Western Netherlands.

title: Roosendaal


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Roquebrune-sur-Argens

Roquebrune-sur-Argens is a town in Provence, France.

Understand
With scenery dominated by its famous rock, Roquebrune sur Argens is a sprawling town that also boasts the sea at Les Issambres and the woods of Malvoisin. The centre is a myriad of traditional cobbled streets winding upwards to a beautiful square. Boulangeries, vegetable shops and cafes can be found dotted throughout and as you wander you will feel a real sense of being in the heart of a truly French town.

Get around
You can walk around its centre, but you will need a car to travel off to the rock for walking and other surrounding areas.

Do

 * Go walking on the Rock and make sure you take a picnic so you can sit and appreciate the scenery.

title: Roquebrune-sur-Argens


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Roquetas de Mar

Roquetas de Mar is in Almeria (province). This is a low-key tourist resort town on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, about 18 km from the provincial capital city of Almeria. The town has many long, blue-flag, beaches which are kept meticulously clean. The resort is uncrowded and caters more for families and older travellers than similar resorts on the Costa del Sol. The nightlife is varied but relatively quiet.

Understand
The population of Roquetas de Mar is around 95,000 (2018), with many of those being immigrants from northern Europe who have settled in the last 15 years. Tourism and agriculture are the mainstays of the local economy, with the region producing large amounts of vegetables in plastic greenhouses, destined for supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Most visitors in the summer months are Spanish, with few British and German package tour groups visiting.

Climate
This area is said to be the sunniest region of Europe with 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and very low rainfall. As a result, this is a good destination for sunseekers and those keen on watersports. The town boasts a kite surfing school, sailing school, language school and a dive centre.

Get in
The nearest airport is at Almería, approx 40 minutes drive. There's no direct buses through to the airport, though the M-330 bus runs between Roquetas and Almería every 30 minutes. Bus information can be found CTAL (Almería metropolitan transport) website

Malaga airport is approximately 2 hours away via the A-7 autovía (no toll). Almería port also has ferry services (both for vehicles and foot passengers) to the Spanish city of Melilla, as well as Morocco and Algeria.

Get around
The resort is not very large, and is quite flat. Most places are walkable, though be sure to wear suitable clothing as the sun can be far more brutal than it feels, even in summer, due to the low humidity and sea breeze. Be sure to cover up and stay hydrated. The M-330 bus makes several stops around the resort and runs half hourly, continuing on to Almería city.

See

 * Visit Museum of Almeria or green house "invernaderos" agriculture.
 * Visit Museum of Almeria or green house "invernaderos" agriculture.

Do

 * Windsurf or kitesurf — the wind in Roquetas for extreme sports is very good.
 * Walk or bike in the Green Corridor parallel to the beach.
 * Natural Park Cabo Gata Nijar — beautiful beaches, sun and water. Recommended sun block factor 40 or umbrella-sun. Snorkelling is possible. (45 minutes distance in car). UNESCO has declared it a region if special nature. Nudism is practised at some beaches.
 * Flamenco — typical Andalusian singing and dancing.
 * Kart circuit in Roquetas
 * Mario Park — a water park for kids.
 * Marble Stone workshop — in Macael town.

Within striking distance of the Alhambra, in Granada, but make sure you book your ticket in advance as they are severely restricted and not sold on the day

Buy

 * Commercial Centre — "Gran Plaza" for shopping.

Eat

 * Tapas — (a small variety for degustation of Spanish cuisine). It includes: fish, cheese, jamon serrano, tortilla with a drink (beer or wine, in general). Eat in bars and restaurants. Typical only original-based in Almeria and Granada regions.
 * Omelet Potatoes — (tortilla de patatas or tortilla española)
 * Paella — (seafood and rices). Typically Spanish.
 * Gazpacho — (vegetables juice: tomato, cucumber, pepper, vinegar, oil, salt, water, ice)
 * Fish — Mediterranean Sea food.
 * Fruits — Melon and watermelon "sandia", oranges.

Drink

 * Pilsner beer. Spanish beer marks are: Mahou, Alhambra, Estrella Galicia, 1906, Damm, San Miguel. Make with alcohol (4-6%) or non-alcohol drinks or light.
 * "Clara" is a mixed drink combining beer and lemon tonic water.
 * Wine or "vino". Origin denomination of quality: Rioja, Ribera del Duero. Three colors: "tinto" (dark red), "rosado" (pink), or "blanco" (white or yellow-white). Vino de la tierra: Laujar or Alpujarra are wines of Almeria and Granada regions. (7% - 12% alcohol)
 * Mosto grape juice non-alcoholic. 0%
 * Sangria or Tinto De Verano. Wine variety with orange juice or gaseosa drink or champagne, and ice with small portions of orange and lemon.
 * La Casera - gaseosa drink. non-alcohol
 * Water - "Lanjaron" is a good mark of Sierra Nevada in Granada region. Vichy Catalan, a spirit water of quality.

Sleep
Hotels or hostels. Preferred in Aguadulce (a quartier of Roquetas de Mar). Near the beach with Mediterranean Sea views. In Summer hostels has a good and economic price. Almeria is one Spanish region with the cheapest prices for accommodation.

title: Roquetas de Mar


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Roraima

Roraima is a state in the North of Brazil, neighboring the states of Pará and Amazonas. It also borders Venezuela to the north, and Guyana to the east. It is the northernmost and most geographically and logistically isolated state in Brazil, and is Brazil's least populous state.

Cities

 * — the state capital is a planned city inspired by the streets and avenues of Paris, on the route between Manaus and Venezuela
 * — a city on the border of Guyana across from Lethem that has ruins of a fort built by the Portuguese in 1775

Other destinations

 * — the infamously-shaped flat plateau on the border of Venezuela and Guyana

Understand
The history of Roraima is strongly linked to the Branco River, which allowed the first Portuguese settlers to arrive in the region. The Branco River Valley's strategic position made it coveted by the English and the Dutch, who entered Brazil through the Guiana Shield in search of indigenous people to be enslaved. The Spaniards also came to invade the northern part of the Branco River and the Uraricoera River through Venezuela. The Portuguese settlers defeated and expelled all invaders, establishing Portugal's sovereignty over the region of Roraima and part of the Amazonas.

As a result of crisis in Venezuela since the 2010s, Roraima has become the leading entry point for Venezuelan refugees in Brazil. Displaced Venezuelans in Roraima are estimated to number around 100,000, approximately one-fifth of the state's population.

Get in
BR-174 connects the state with Amazonas and is the only paved road that connects the state to the rest of Brazil. There are also land border crossings with Guyana at Lethem/Bonfim and with Venezuela at Pacariama.

There are flights to Boa Vista from all large Brazilian airports, mostly via Manaus and Brasília, and there are flights from regional destinations, and across the border from Suriname and Guyana.

See
Natural attractions are the main tourist attractions in the state, especially Mount Roraima.

Pedra Pintada is the state's most important archaeological site; it contains inscriptions of ancient civilizations, such as cave paintings, pieces of ceramics, hatchets, necklace beads, among other artifacts that indicate the history of human migration, dating back to 4,000 years.

Serra do Tepequém is a plateau that offers trekking opportunities to the waterfalls of Paiva, Sobral, Barata and Funil.

Lake Caracaranã is known for its fine sand beaches surrounded by cashew trees.

Do
Admire Mount Roraima from a distance. The only way to climb is in Venezuela from Santa Elena de Uairén.

Go next

 * Angel Falls in Venezuela

title: Roraima


text:
Roraima (disambiguation)

There are more destinations called Roraima:

 * Mount Roraima - A table mountain on the border of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.
 * Roraima (Brazil) - A state in Brazil.

title: Roraima (disambiguation)


text:
Rosamond

Rosamond is a city in Antelope Valley, Southern California.

By car
California State Route 14 bisects Rosamond, coming from the Lancaster/Palmdale area to the south and Mojave and U.S. Highway 395 to the north.

By plane
The nearest airport is Palmdale Regional Airport in Palmdale, which used to be served by United Airlines, but now only serves private aircraft.

Go next

 * Mojave - North of Rosamond on Highway 14, Mojave is a hotbed of aerospace activity, with the Mojave Spaceport the headquarters of Scaled Composites, the first private company to launch a human into space. Edwards Air Force base, a landing site for the space shuttle and a center for the development of experimental aircraft, is located adjacent to the town.
 * Lancaster - Rosamond's southern neighbor on Highway 14, Lancaster and its twin city Palmdale are the two largest cities in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster provides extensive services for travelers, as well as the whimsical "Musical Road", a recreation of a road built in Lancaster for a Honda commercial that has grooves cut into it that generate an approximation of the William Tell Overture when a car passes over them.
 * Lancaster - Rosamond's southern neighbor on Highway 14, Lancaster and its twin city Palmdale are the two largest cities in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster provides extensive services for travelers, as well as the whimsical "Musical Road", a recreation of a road built in Lancaster for a Honda commercial that has grooves cut into it that generate an approximation of the William Tell Overture when a car passes over them.

title: Rosamond