A Friend in Rome

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Italia
Rome
A Friend in Rome

Rome was not built in a day...hence, you need some days (or some trips) to see it all!

visit our page to have infos on events, news, special venues, little treasure in Rome. If you live here or if you plan to visit the city...that's a different point of view to discover it!

17/06/2026

OVER ROME

One of the most classic panoramic terraces of Rome, the garden of the Orange Trees on Aventino Hill. Perfect for sunsets!

15/06/2026

To be or not to be … flexible?

We always try to be flexible and accommodate the wish of our guests. But sometimes this is the wrong thing to do.
Our experience is more valuable than the welcoming attitude on some specific case.
Like visiting the Forum and Colosseum on a Sunday morning of June.
We already know what to expect in terms of heat and chaos and the request to start the tour at 10 am is not reasonable.
We suggested an early morning or an afternoon tour. But the guest insisted, promising to cope with the discomfort. And we surrendered.

Then the heat and the chaos happen and the tour is all uphill. For everybody.

13/06/2026

HIDDEN ROME

In the lively district of Testaccio (that you can reach by metro B line, stop at Piramide) you can wander is a new space returned to the city lately, the so called "ex Mattatoio".

The former slaughter house of the city since the end of the XIX is now converted into an exhibit centre and gathering space. for public events. Also some classrooms of the Architecture Faculty are located here, so it is easy to meet students in the area and Roman passing by, maybe walking their dog.

09/06/2026

CHURCHES of ROME

Santa Lucia del Gonfalone is not the fist church you think of visiting in Rome, but if you are walking near Campo dei fiori, in the charming road called Banchi Vecchi, it might be worth having a look for its harmonious space and elegant frescoes.

05/06/2026

MUSEUMS of ROME
Inside the archaeological park of the Colosseum/Forum since a couple of years you can visit what is known as the "Domus Tiberiana": massive structures of the Imperial palace with some interesting displays of the objects found during the digs.

The passage is open to everybody, while for the showcases you need the "SUPER" ticket.

04/06/2026

Be a responsible tourist in Rome: how?

Instead of just talking about theoretical “tourist ethic”, maybe listing few practical tips can help the cause of responsible tourism:

1. pick off-season whenever possible (in Rome from November to March, excluding the Christmas holidays). Avoid visiting main sites on weekends.

2. travel slowly, take a bit extra time in each destination of your itinerary and include less sites.

3. go off the beaten path: ask yourself which are your interests and which experience do you wish for, maybe the colosseum is not necessarily a must!

4. book local services directly: the margins of international platforms don’t go to local business nor to local taxes. Contact hotels, BB, tour guides to make your reservations as much as possible, and make a little research about restaurants or shops which are family-run businesses instead of chains

5. learn a bit of the local language, it is always a kind attitude

6. ask permission before taking pictures involving people or holy places

7. prepare to walk more than your average and maybe consider a bike to move in town, it’s fun and eco friendly (we can also rent e-bikes since we live in a hilly city!)

8. bring a bottle and refill at drinking fountains, we don’t need extra plastic.

9. Take coffee at the counter in a ceramic small cup, embrace the local habit and avoid useless packaging: you are on holiday, you do not need a coffee to go!

10. Dress appropriately: Rome is not a beach city and even if it gets hot, we always wear shoes (not slippers) and a full outfit (also, churches are everywhere and they require covered shoulders and knees)

In the end, Rome is a welcoming city, but remember to treat a city like a city, not a resort or a theme park. Thank you!

01/06/2026

The slope of the Palatine hill towards the Forum, now called "Domus Tiberiana" should have looked like this in the Imperial Age.

30/05/2026

May has been busy ;)

25/05/2026

Today first early morning walk of the season: we start at 7 am and we beat the heat and the crowds, we include a stop for a typical Italian breakfast (“cornetto e cappuccino”) and you have a nice orientation in town upon arrival.

A great option for the summer months!

24/05/2026

To all of you who tried in these last months to book tickets for the colosseum and had problems (even if finally succeeded), can you please send a complain to the relevant offices of the archaeological park at these two email addresses ?

[email protected]

[email protected]

Indirizzo

Rome
00100

Sito Web

http://www.afriendinrome.it/

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