Rome The famous saying " When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is something to strive for, but how can you ever do all that Rome has to offer? Begin by switching gears and relaxing to the rhythm of Italy's slower inner clock! Take the time to walk through the ruins of ancient Rome tracing, the steps of the Caesars through the Roman Forum and Coliseum. Experience the Vatican's magnificence and marvel at the beauty and artistic achievement of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Wonder at the many artistic treasures this city possesses, from Raphael to Caravaggio. See spectacular churches, fountains and sculptures. Or simply relax at sidewalk cafes while tasting delicious homemade gelato. Allow Rome's cuisine to entice you and its culture to seduce you!

Rome Hotels

10 ways to Enjoy Rome

• Ancient Rome Tour: Explore the antiquities of Rome by taking a guided bus tour lasting half of the day in the afternoons. See the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the magnificent Arch of Constantine and Circus Maximus.
• Monumental Rome Tour: Relive Roman history by this guided bus tour lasting half of the day in the mornings. View the Piazza della Repubblica, Fontane di Trevi Castel Sant'Angelo, and St. Peter's Basilica, home of Michaelangelo's Pieta. Tour stops at the Panthenon, Piazza Navona, and St. Peter's.
• Vatican Museum Tour: Go inside the sovereign Vatican City on this guided bus tour. View the Vatican Galleries and Museum, including the Tapestry Gallery, the Sistine Chapel, the Spiral Staircase, and Candelabra Gallery. Continue to the Aurelian Walls, the Porta Pinciana, and the park-like Villa Borghese. Lasting half of the day in the mronigns.
• Papal Audience or Papal Blessing: Take a short guided bus tour and arrive in St. Peter's Square for either the Papal Audience(Wednesday mornings) or the Papal Bleesing(Sunday morning). Local custom prohibits anyone in shorts or sleeveless tops from entering the Audience hall. Lasts up to 1 hour.
• Naples and Pompeii: Ride on a deluxe motorcoach along the Autostrada del Sole to Naples. While in Naples, see the Mergellina, Lungomare Caracciolo, the Royal Palace and the San Carlo Theatre. Continue to Pompeii for lunch and see the ruins where, in AD 79, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius buried portions of the city in volcanic ash. Take in views of the Tyrhhenian Sea and return to Rome. Lasts a full day.
  

Documents Needed for Travel

Every person entering must have a valid passport and a valid return ticket.

Language

The official language is Italian.

Time Zone

One hour ahead of CEST.

Climate

Italy has a largely temperate climate with regional variations. In summer the Northern parts of Italy are warm with occasional rainfall, the central region is somewhat stifled by humidity and the south scorches under the dry heat. In winter conditions in Milan, Turin and Venice are dominated by cold, damp and fog and Tuscany’s winter temperatures approach freezing, temperatures in the South of the country are more favourable averaging 50-60ºF (10-20ºC). Most people visit Italy between June and August, however the best time to visit is in Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October) when the weather is good and the tourists are few. The sea is warm enough for swimming between June and September. Most Italians take their vacation in August and many shops and restaurants are closed during this period. The ski season runs between December and April and the best time to walk in the Alps is between June and September

What to Wear

Moderately casual clothing is acceptable during the day. Most hotels and restaurants require an "elegantly casual" appearance after 6 p.m., shorts are not accepted.

Currency and Credit Cards

The Euro (€) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques, particularly in major tourist destinations.

Electricity

220 volts and a frequency of 50 Hz. Officially it is 230 volts plus or minus 10%. Some localities have 110 volts, but 50 cycles is the standard frequency regardless of the voltage throughout Europe.

Marriage Requirements

US CITIZENS planning to marry in Italy must present certain documents and comply with specific requirements in order to obtain a marriage license. The documents required and the procedure to follow are described below.
Passport for a civilian, birth certificate and permission to marry issued by the Commander from the military.
If applicable, evidence of the termination of any previous marriage such as final divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate.
Sworn Statement by parents or legal guardian consenting to the marriage if the person is under 18.
TO BE DONE IN ITALY: Declaration, sworn to by the US citizen at US Consulate stating that there is no legal impediment to his/her obstacle. Your legal status must be such that you can legally marry another person under Italian and US Law. After obtaining the declaration from the Consulate, it must be taken to the Prefecture to be authenticated (legalized), as described in the following paragraph.
TO BE DONE IN ITALY: Authentication (legalization) of the aforesaid declaration must be done by the Legalization office of the Prefecture. Usual office hours are from 10am to 1pm Monday through Saturday. The required legalization can be obtained at any Prefecture. There is one in every provincial capital.
THESE TWO ABOVE STEPS ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND CAN BE ARRANGED FOR THE SAME MORNING OR AFTERNOON IN ONE OF THE 5 CONSULATES THROUGHOUT ITALY.
OUR STAFF ACCOMPANIES YOU THROUGHOUT
Atto Notorio. This is a declaration, in addition to the sworn statement described under point 4 stating that according to the laws to which the citizen is subject in the United states there is no obstacle to his/her marriage. This declaration is to be sworn to by two witnesses (a witness may be if any nationality, but must be over 18, with proper identification), before an Italian Consul outside of Italy, or in Italy before a Court official. US citizens coming to Italy to get married are urged to obtain this declaration for a Consul of Italy, before leaving the United States. In Italy an appointment should be arranged in advance. A fee of 50.000 lt. Lira is charged
A woman whose previous was terminated within the last 300 days must obtain a waver from the Procura della Repubblica (District Attorney), which is issued on presentation of a medical certificate that she is not pregnant.
BANNS AND MARRIAGE CEREMONY
However banns are automatically waived if neither party of the marriage is an Italian citizen or a resident in Italy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It is also emphasized that the documentation listed at the beginning of the information sheet should be procured in the order in which it appears.
All documents originating outside Italy (Birth Certificate, Divorce Decree, etc...) MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN. Both the original documents and the translations MUST BE LEGALIZED for use in Italy with so-called "APOSTILLE" stamp, in accordance with the Hague Convention on the legalization of foreign public documents. In the USA, the "Apostille" stamp is placed by the Secretary of State in the State where the document was issued.
Under Italian law, all public documents - regardless of their origin, are considered to be VALID FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS from the date of issue. Americans are therefore advised to make sure that all documents to be submitted to Italian authorities have not been issued more than six months ahead of the marriage

Exciting Excursions: