X is for 'X marks the spot'

When visiting Rome a map is a necessity. Although the city isn't that big there are so many small streets so you can easily get lost or miss what you are looking for! I used the lonely planet map from the guide book. 

TIP: When planning a trip to Rome take a map and circle all the things you really want to see. I did this when I first visited Rome as it meant that I look where I was on the map and then see what thing were nearby that I wanted to visit. It also means you don't go to one area and then realise hours later that there was something you really wanted to see one street away! 

W is for Water Fountains

During the summer the abundance of water fountains dotted around a Rome is a god sent. It means fresh cold water is readily available. And the water is actually really tasty! 

V is for Villa Borghese

This is a lovely park located in the north of the city. To access it: walk up the Soanish Step, turn left at the too and it is a couple of minutes walk along the road up on the right. From the gardens there is lovely views over Rome and especially Piazza Popolo. The park extends for miles so you can walk for hours around it (it's the third biggest park in Rome). 

There are often buskers playing which really adds to the atmosphere. The last time I was here there was a young girl playing a piano, who was amazing for such a young age. It was a beautiful day so wandering around the park with a piano playing in the background was just idilic.  

U is for Ufficio Postale

Ahhh the post office. A truly Italian experience of queuing for hours on end in the midst of chaos. My advice - go to a taboo store to buy your stamps. 

S is for Square Colosseum

About 20 mins outside the centre of Rome is a district called EUR. It was built in the early 1940's by Mussolini (who was a fascist leader of Italy from 1925 - 1943) and therefore the whole area has the same eery building style, with it's trademark white marble. All the buildings are extremely large and therefore overpowering and intimidating. 

One building is particular is knick-named the Square Colosseum as it is made from 6 rows of 9 arches and thought to be inspired by the Colosseum.  This is thought to represent the letters in Benito Mussolini's name as a constant reminder of himself and his policies. 

For all Mussolini's faults, he did build this area with a vision for the future. The roads are all very wide allowing ample space for cars and on street parking even though cars weren't as common at the time. The main buildings were built far apart to allow housing to be built inbetween so businesses and housing were close together; unlike the historical city plan of having the businesses all concentrated in the middle and then the housing sprawling outside the area. 

T is for Trastevere

This is one of my favourite areas of Rome, especially at night when it comes alive. The restaurants spill out on to the streets, the waiters flurry around, the odd man plays the harmonica and the smells of equsit Italian cooking pour out of the restaurants. The area has become touristy but it's charm can still be seen. I would defiantly recommend going out for a meal here and after finding a bar. One restaurant that I frequented was called Carlo Menta pizzas here were £3 for a margaretia and pretty decent. For someone on a budget (like me!) this is a great restaurant. I like how the tables are all in rows and close together to you can talk to the people around you; locals and tourists alike. However, from experience I wouldn't order the bruschetta or lasagna but the other dishes are really good! 

R is for Restaurant

Italy is famous for its food mostly: pizza, pasta and ice cream being the main ones. You can not visit Rome without having some pizza or pasta. 

Off Piazza Navona is one of the most amazing pizza resturants. Usually Roman pizzas are extremely thin whereas Napoliatan pizzas have thick bases. This pizza resturant makes the perfect pizza with the base being thin but not too thin and the crusts being doughy. For the life of me I can't remeber the name or find it on the internet, but I can remeber how to get there. Directions: Take the street heading west just after the main fountain, then take the second right down a dead-end street with a circular building at the end. The pizza resturant is located on the left at the end. 

Q is for Quintilis

This is the Roman word for the month of July. I felt that this was very topical as it is the month that I was in Rome!  

P is for Pantheon

In my opinion, this is the best monument in Rome and not surprisingly my favourite! Have a look at '54 hours in Rome' to see why!  

O is for Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica is Rome's beach so to say. It is extremely popular with locals and tourists as it is included in Rome's transport network; therefore a €1.50 ticket will get you to the beach. Be warned though that it is extremely busy on weekends and not the nicest of beaches. The sand is brown / black due to the high metal content (which means it gets extremely hot in the sun) and makes the sea a sludgy brown colour. I would not recommend going there! 

This is a picture of the pier on the beach at Ostia Antica. I really don't know how the middle of the pier is missing . . .