1. TRIP TO ROME<br /> The Eternal City<br />I opted for ROME as my Tourist Destination as the City has always attracted me. No other city comes close. It may no longer be caput mundi (capital of the world), but Rome is an epic, bubbling-over metropolis harboring lost empires. One visit and you’ll be hooked. Rome has a glorious monumentality that it wears without reverence. Its architectural heirlooms are buzzed around by car and Vespa as if they were no more than traffic islands.<br />How To reach There<br />Airlines:: The airline Which I have Chosen is AEROFLOT (Russian Airways). It is a Cost effective and cheaper.<br />Departure Date:: 2nd Oct 2010<br />Returning Date:: 10 th Oct 2010<br />Outbound Delhi (DEL) - Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) <br />AEROFLOT SU0536, SU0277 Departs: Sat 02 Oct 10 02:00 Arrives: Sat 02 Oct 10 21:35<br />Economy - 1 stop - Total travel time: 23 hrs 05 mins<br />Leg 1 Delhi (DEL) - Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO)<br />AEROFLOT SU0536 Departs: Sat 02 Oct 10 02:00 Arrives: Sat 02 Oct 10 07:00<br />Leg 2 Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) - Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO)<br />AEROFLOT SU0277 Departs: Sat 02 Oct 10 19:40 Arrives: Sat 02 Oct 10 21:35<br />Inbound Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) - Delhi (DEL) <br />AEROFLOT SU0474, SU0533 <br />Departs: Sun 10 Oct 10 10:40 Arrives: Mon 11 Oct 10 05:45<br />Economy - 1 stop - Total travel time: 15 hrs 35 mins<br />Leg 1 Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) - Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO)<br />AEROFLOT SU0474 <br /> Departs: Sun 10 Oct 10 10:40 Arrives: Sun 10 Oct 10 16:40<br />Leg 2 Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) - Delhi (DEL)<br />AEROFLOT SU0533 Departs: Sun 10 Oct 10 22:20 Arrives: Mon 11 Oct 10 05:45<br />Price per adult inclusive of Rs 14,921 surcharges and fees: Rs 32,663<br />From Ludhiana I boarded a AC deluxe Bus. The charges for which were RS. 375.From Lal QIla ,delhi I boarded a Bus to International Airport .The charges for which Were Rs. 150.<br />This is economical as it is a roundtrip. Ticket will be booked Online through Official site Of Aeroflot to save agent charges.<br />An View of FCO Airport,Rome<br />Maps Showing ROME<br /> Language:: Italian<br /> Currency:: EURO <br /> TOURIST MAP OF ROME<br />The most important thing after landing was to find an accommodation. Rome is home to number of good hotels. (hotelpantheon, hotelcampodefiori, hoteltrevi, hotelforum,1-7 star hotels,inns,beds and breakfasts)).<br /> Map depicting number of hotels<br />Out of all the hotels facilities available I opted for El Trotamundo B&B. B&B stands for bed and breakfast.<br />Some Info about it<br />El Trotamundo B&B is located in the middle of the Roman cultural and lively Pigneto neighbourhood. It is strategically located near Termini, the central station which you can easily reach by public transport (trams 5 and 14 or bus 105). As accessible as Termini, it is the Historic Centre being next to the University Area too. So, we guarantee the best service to everyone's demands. The comfortable, pleasant, cheerful and warm atmosphere offers a deserved pause to the tireless traveller. There are two air conditioned double-bed rooms, fully equipped, with T.V., WIFI, private bathroom and hairdryer. (Moreover there is an extra room in case you want the whole house) In addition you can make use of the kitchen.The delicious breakfast, included in the prize, is served in a refined living-room.<br />Location is best described as:<br />City<br />Directions to property:It is strategically located near Termini, the central station which you can easily reach by public transport (trams 5 and 14 or bus 105) in a few minutes(6 stops). As accessible as Termini, it is the Historic Centre being next to the University Area too. So, we guarantee the best service to everyone's demands.<br />Nearest major airport: Rome, Italy (FCO-Leonardo Da Vinci (Fiumicino))<br />Directions from airport:Take the train quot;
Leonardo expressquot;
direct to Termini station. Departures are foreseen every 30 minutes, from 6 ' 37 am to 23 ' 37 .follow directions from Termini Shuttle service for guests booking, not only with incuso in the price. Fiumicino 25 Euro, Ciampino 20 euros.<br />Meeting places:<br />Airport<br />Bus<br />Train<br />Room Rates (EUR Euro)<br />All occupancy rates are subject to change<br />Accommodations: Suites<br />There are 2 guest accommodations (2 with private baths)<br />Single occupancy rate is between EUR 35.00 and EUR 45.00<br />Double occupancy rate is EUR 60.00<br />The rate for each additional person is between EUR 25.00 and EUR 35.00 <br />Meals<br />A Full breakfast is included with room rate<br />Breakfast is served from: orario libero<br />Breakfast is served in the Breakfast/dining area<br />Additional food services included in room rate: Afternoon tea, Fruit, Non-alcoholic beverage<br />Policies<br />No minimum stay required<br />Smoking is allowed<br />Limited accommodations for guest pets<br />Children are welcome<br />No childcare is provided<br />Consumption of alcohol is permitted<br />Check in time is 06:00/24:00 and Check out time is 11:30<br />As this inn is affordable and provide all the facilities, so it was selected by me.The best part was it was near the airport.<br />Transport facilities in ROME<br />Local transport<br />Taxi<br />Rome’s taxi drivers are no better or worse than those in any other city. Some will try to fleece you, others won’t. To minimise the risk, make sure your taxi is licensed (it’ll be white or yellow with the letters SPQR on the front door), and always go with the metered fare, never an arranged price (the set fares to and from the airports are an exception to this rule). Official rates are posted in the taxi and on www.romaturismo.it (click on Rome Welcomes You, Transportation, When in Town, Taxi).<br />Hailing a passing taxi doesn’t work in Rome. You must either wait at a taxi rank or telephone for one. In the centre you’ll find ranks at Stazione Termini, Largo di Torre Argentina, the Pantheon, Corso Rinascimento, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Largo Goldoni, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Venezia, the Colosseum, Piazza GG Belli in Trastevere and near the Vatican at Piazza Pio XII and Piazza Risorgimento. To book a taxi by phone, try the following:<br />Cosmos (06 8 81 77)<br />La Capitale (06 49 94)<br />Pronto Taxi (06 66 45)<br />Radio Taxi (06 35 70)<br />Samarcanda (06 55 51)<br />Tevere (06 41 57)<br />Note that if you phone for a taxi, the meter is switched on immediately and you pay from wherever the driver receives the call. <br />Bus & tram<br />Rome’s buses and trams are run by ATAC (800 43 17 84;The main bus station is in front of Stazione Termini on Piazza dei Cinquecento, where there’s an information booth (7.30am-8pm). Other important hubs are at Largo di Torre Argentina, Piazza Venezia and Piazza San Silvestro. Buses generally run from about 5.30am until midnight, with limited services throughout the night on some routes. <br />Useful routes: <br />H Stazione Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Largo di Torre Argentina, Ponte Garibaldi, Viale Trastevere and into the western suburbs.<br />8 Tram Largo di Torre Argentina, Trastevere, Stazione Trastevere and Monteverde Nuovo.<br />23 Piazzale Clodio, Piazza Risorgimento, Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, Lungotevere, Ponte Garibaldi, Via Marmorata (Testaccio), Piazzale Ostiense and Basilica di San Paolo.<br />40 Express Stazione Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Largo di Torre Argentina, Chiesa Nuova, Piazza Pia (for Castel Sant’Angelo) and St Peter’s.<br />64 Stazione Termini to St Peter’s. It takes the same route as the 40 Express but is slower and usually more crowded.<br />170 Stazione Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Via del Teatro Marcello and Piazza Bocca della Verità (then south to Testaccio and EUR).<br />175 Stazione Termini, Piazza Barberini, Via del Corso, Piazza Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Via di San Gregorio, Circo Massimo and Stazione Ostiense.<br />492 Stazione Tiburtina, San Lorenzo, Stazione Termini, Piazza Barberini, Piazza Venezia, Corso Rinascimento, Piazza Cavour, Piazza Risorgimento and Cipro-Vatican Museums (metro line A).<br />590 Follows the route of metro line A and has special facilities for disabled passengers.<br />660 Largo Colli Albani, Via Appia Nuova and Via Appia Antica (near Tomba di Cecilia Metella).<br />714 Stazione Termini, Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano and Viale delle Terme di Caracalla (then south to EUR).<br />910 Stazione Termini, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Piemonte, Via Pinciana (Villa Borghese), Piazza Euclide, Palazzetto dello Sport and Piazza Mancini.<br />Rome’s night bus service comprises more than 20 lines, most of which pass Termini and/or Piazza Venezia. Departures are usually every 30 minutes with buses marked with an N after the number. Night bus stops have a blue owl symbol.<br />The most useful routes: <br />29N Piramide (Piazzale Ostiense), Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza Risorgimento, Viale Belle Arti, Piazza Ungheria, Viale Regina Margherita, Piazza Porta Maggiore, Piazza Porta San Giovanni, Via Labicana and Piramide.<br />40N Follows the route of metro line B. <br />55N Follows the route of metro line A.<br />78N Piazzale Clodio, Piazzale Flaminio, Piazza Cavour, Corso Rinascimento, Largo di Torre Argentina, Piazza Venezia, Via Nazionale and Stazione Termini.<br />Long-distance national and international buses arrive at and depart from Stazione Tiburtina. <br />National companies serving Rome:<br />ARPA (0862 41 28 08; www.arpaonline.it in Italian) For L’Aquila and Abruzzo.<br />Bargagli (057 778 62 23; www.bargagliautolinee.it in Italian) To/from Orvieto.<br />Cotral (800 15 00 08; www.cotralspa.it in Italian) For destinations in Lazio.<br />Sulga (0862 41 28 08; www.sulga.it in Italian) Runs to/from Perugia and Assisi.<br />Car & motorcycle<br />Motorcycle & moped<br />Average prices range from €50 per day for 125cc scooters to €95 for a 500cc motorcycle. Agencies include:<br />Bici e Baci (06 482 84 43; www.bicibaci.com ; Via del Viminale 5)<br />Cyclò (06 481 56 69; www.scooterhire.it ; Via Cavour 80)<br />I Bike (06 322 52 40; Villa Borghese underground car park, 3rd sector, Via Vittorio Veneto 156)<br />Treno e Scooter (06 489 05 823; www.trenoescooter.191.it ; Piazza dei Cinquecento) Show a train ticket and you get a 20% discount on the first day’s rental<br />Train<br />Rome’s main train station and transport hub is Stazione Termini (06 473 06 599; Piazza dei Cinquecento), from where there are regular trains to other European countries, all major Italian cities and many smaller towns. <br />On the main concourse, the train information office (7am-9.45pm) is helpful (English is spoken) but often very busy. To avoid the queues, you can get information online at www.trenitalia.com (accessible through the Link option on the home page of www.ferroviadellostato.it) or, if you speak Italian, by calling 89 20 21. <br />The station has the usual assortment of shops, snack bars and ATMs. In the hall parallel to platform 24 you’ll find the tourist office and a hotel reservation service. The left-luggage office (6am-midnight) is on the lower ground floor under platform 24. To leave an item costs €3.80 for the first five hours, then €0.60 per hour for each additional hour.<br />Rome’s second train station is Stazione Tiburtina, a short ride away on metro line B. Of the capital’s eight other train stations, the most important are Stazione Roma-Ostiense and Stazione Trastevere .<br />Apart from connections to Fiumicino airport, you’ll probably only need Rome’s overground rail network if you head out of town to the Castelli Romani or to Ostia.<br />Subway & light railway<br />Metro<br />Rome’s metro system is of limited value to visitors, with the two lines, A and B, bypassing much of the centro storico. The two lines traverse the city in an X-shape, crossing at Stazione Termini, the only point at which you can change from one line to the other. Trains run approximately every five to 10 minutes between 5.30am and 11.30pm (one hour later on Saturday). However, until 2008 or 2009, Line A is closing for engineering works at 9pm every night. To replace it there are two temporary bus lines: MA1 from Battistini to Arco di Travertino and MA2 from Viale G Washington to Anagnina.<br />Bicycle<br />The centre of Rome doesn’t lend itself to cycling: there are steep hills, treacherous cobbled roads, and the traffic is terrible. Things improve on Sundays when much of the city centre (and Via Appia Antica) is usually closed to traffic. <br />If you want to pedal around town, pick up andiamo in Bici a Roma (€7.50), a useful map published by Lozzi & Rossi Editore, which details Rome’s main cycle paths.<br />On Sunday, and weekdays after 9pm, you can take your bike on metro line B and the Lido di Ostia train (front carriage only), although you’ll have to buy a separate ticket for it.<br />You can also carry bikes on some regional trains, paying a €3.50 supplement. On Intercity and Eurocity/Euronight services the supplement is €5 on national routes and €10 on international journeys.<br />These are all the transport facilities available in Rome. According to me, The best option was to rent a car as it will help me to explore the city.<br /> Car Rental in Rome, Italy<br />About Car Rental in Rome<br />A car rental in Rome, Italy, is your key to unlock The Eternal City and its surroundings. With your rental car in Rome, you can explore everything from the gritty to the glorious - there's plenty of both, and sometimes they're combined - and still have a few days left over to venture further afield. Auto Europe offers several pick up locations and a large rental car fleet, so finding a car rental in Rome is both easy and economical.<br />Tour with a Rental Car in Rome<br />When you tour with a rental car in Rome, Italy, you can see it all at your own pace. After you've had enough of Rome's magnificence, head down to Naples, up to Florence or Milan, or check out the nearby towns of Tivoli and Trastevere, the first offering a portrait of wealthy Italian life through the ages, and the second of Italy's working class. With a car rental in Rome, you'll also have easy access to neighboring France, Switzerland, or Austria. Questions about driving in Rome? Our rental car driving information page should provide answers.<br />How to Rent a Car in Rome, Italy<br />If you're searching for unbeatable rates and top-notch service, rent a car in Rome, Italy, from Auto Europe. We strive to meet your needs with our price match department and excellent customer service, to ensure that you are more than satisfied with your car rental in Rome. You can book a car rental in Rome online or for more information review our car rental FAQ, or call Auto Europe at 888-223-5555. <br />I will rent a car from AutoEurope Group.The rent is $ 34 per day.From airport train facilities r available but rail facility is limited in ROME so it much advisable to explore the city by car. The car is also equipped with GPS navigation system.<br />Also I will take a city map.<br />Weather<br />Weather in Rome<br />Annual rainfall:<br />760mm (30 inches)<br />Average January temperature:<br />8°C (46°F)<br />Average July temperature:<br />28°C (82°F).<br />The average Temp for September is 23°C with some rain expected now and then.<br />Average Weather in Rome for October <br /> Sunlight 6 hours a day <br />Coldest daily temperature 12 Celsius <br />Warmest daily temperature 22 Celsius <br />Coldest October temperature 4 Celsius <br />Warmest October temperature 28 Celsius <br />Discomfort - Morning Humidity 85 percent <br />Evening Humidity 58 percent <br />Rain 99 mm a day <br />Wet days for October 9 days<br />Places i will be Visiting<br /> ST. PETER SQUARE<br />A huge sanctuary of Christian religion. Its façade is 45 meters high, and its enormous dome is 136 meters. St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, overlooks the square that carries the same name that was designed by Bernini and which is surrounded by a colonnade. Grandeur and majesty: this is the sensation that one gets walking up Via della Conciliazione towards Piazza San Pietro. One of the most important works of art inside is the “Pietà” sculpture by Michelangelo, that was created between 1498 and 1500.<br /> THE Colesseum<br />This is the most ancient monument from ancient Rome. Its building began in 7.5. A.D. and was opened in 80 A.D., an opening celebrated with a full day of bloody games during which, according to legend, five thousand animals were killed. This was a gruesome leisure activity for the ancient Romans: prisoners condemned to death were torn to pieces by ferocious beasts, animals were killed by archers and there were fights to the death between “professional” gladiators. The surface area of the Coliseum, which totals about 19,000 square meters, was arranged into four sections, each of which could hold up to 70,000 spectators. The Emperor’s box was placed in the center from where he could decide the gladiators’ fate with a simple hand gesture. The underground area of the Coliseum was used to organize and create the settings for the games, such as how to make the ferocious beasts appear unexpectedly in the arena, bringing them up to the main area with an elevator hoist that was hidden in the sand. In 438, the games were prohibited and the Coliseum was gradually abandoned.<br /> <br /> TREVI FOUNTAIN <br />The most majestic in Rome, and the most famous throughout the world. The Trevi Fountain dominates a small square in the heart of Rome and entered everyone’s imagination thanks to the nighttime bathing scene with Anita Ekberg in the film quot;
La Dolce Vitaquot;
by Fellini. This huge Baroque construction, inspired by sea mythology, took 30 years to built, starting in 1732, and was started by Niccolò Salvi who did not live to see the completion of his work. Legend says that anyone who throws a coin into the fountain will return to the Eternal City.<br /> Palazzo del Quirinale<br />This has been the President of the Republic’s residence since 1948. In the past it was used as the summer residence for Popes who had the Cappella Paolina and the Cappella dell'Annunziata chapels built inside it. In 1871, it became the residence of the Savoia dynasty and it was completely renovated. The East wing of the Palace was called the Sabauda Wing. The palace’s wonderful outdoor gardens that lie on four hectares of land are full of tree-lined avenues, fountains and rare plants.<br /> The Sistine Chapel<br />This chapel owes its name to Sixtus IV, the Pope who commissioned the building of the chapel at the end of the 14th century. The Chapel was decorated by famous 15th century painters such as Botticelli and il Ghirlandaio. Later, in the 16th century, Michelangelo was called upon to paint all the frescoes on the chapel’s vaulted ceiling: about 1000 square meters. He painted frescoes representing stories from the Bible such as the amazing Universal Judgment, which caused a scandal because of the nudity of about four hundred people in it, and the Creation of Mankind.<br />CHURCHES AND MUSEUMS<br />MONUMENTS<br /> <br />Squares and Fountains<br />PALACES, VILLAS, GARDENS<br />These are the major attractions of ROME. As Rome is known as eternal city so one needs to see all these majestic monuments which took years to build. Most of my daytime was spend admiring these grandeur structures.<br />Restaurants in ROME<br />Restaurants:<br />The restaurants below have been grouped into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. They are divided into four different pricing categories:$$$$ (over €90)$$$ (€60 to €90)$$ (€30 to €59)$ (under €30)The prices quoted above are for an average three-course meal for one and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent; they include IVA but do not include service charge or tip. IVA (value-added tax) at 10% is included in restaurant prices. A 15% service charge is occasionally added to the bill, more common is a bread and cover charge called pane e coperto (usually €1-2 per person and officially illegal). Romans are not very generous with tips but an additional 10% on top of the bill (providing you have not been charged for service of course) if the meal and service have been good is very much appreciated.<br />A typical Roman menu begins with the essential bruschetta “ammazzavampiri” (so full of garlic it would kill vampires), and maybe also a wonderful mozzarella in carrozza. The large pasta course that follows could be: spaghetti alla carbonara, bucatini all'amatriciana, bucatini cacio e pepe or gnocchi alla romana. If you want to try rigatoni pasta with the famous pajata sauce, we recommend that first you eat it and then ask what the ingredients are: you might be so shocked that you no longer want to try the dish otherwise and lose your chance to try out new types of food.Onto the main course. You can choose between: coda alla vaccinara, saltimbocca alla romana, costolette d'abbacchio.For side dishes, don’t miss the chance to try artichokes “alla giudia”, a typical way of cooking artichokes from Jewish-Roman traditional cooking.If you still have room in your stomach, to finish why not try a couple of maritozzi, or freshen up with a lovely quot;
grattacheccaquot;
, the typical Roman crushed-ice drinkWash the whole meal down with a white wine from Frascati or Cerveteri.Let’s take a look at food and wine you can buy.Every morning in the picturesque market in Campo de' Fiori, fruit and vegetable stalls show off their seasonal wares: the effect you get is an explosion of color and aromas that makes your mouth water. The bakers’ shops and food shops surrounding the square are also culprits in stirring up this desire for food.For good wine lovers, many wine cellars in the city organize wine tasting courses and information-giving meetings about vineyards, harvesting, fermentation and all the processes linked to the production of this nectar of the gods. Among some of the places in the city that organize such events, we can name quot;
La Tradizionequot;
and quot;
Franchiquot;
.The historical coffee shops in the city are our last stop in this section, where it is possible to try typical Roman food in unique surroundings that combine culture, history and tradition. Meeting places and places to swap ideas for artists and writers in the 19th and 20th centuries such as Caffè Greco, Babington’s Tearooms, Caffè Rosati and Caffè Canova. For espresso coffee-lovers, we recommend Caffè Sant'Eustachio located in the square with the same name, a fine coffee shop founded in the 1930s where the coffee is roasted by hand over wood fires.<br />I mostly did my breakfast in The Inn. Dinner was done outside.Once in a while in an expensive hotel.Otherwise I opted for restaurants which served quality food at reasonable price.<br />SHOPPING IN ROME<br />One of the great things about shopping in Rome is that there are still so many small one-off businesses and family-run shops - it feels like there are less chain stores here than in many other cities, and many shops are devoted to one item, say, gloves, or hats, in a way that feels charmingly old fashioned. The smart designer shops, where sales assistants can be snooty and price tags discreetly absent, are concentrated in the network of streets spanning out from the Spanish Steps. Of these, Via Condotti has most of the big names: Gucci, Max Mara, Valentino, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo and Giorgio Armani.Bulgari, number 10, displays glitteringly expensive watches and equally costly jewellery. Nearby in Piazza di Spagna, Dolce & Gabbana offers slightly more entertaining but equally pricey gear. Fendi has taken over the whole of 19th-century Palazzo Boncompagni Ludovisi on Largo Goldoni and filled it with travertine marble and an endless array of furs, shoes, bags and its ready-to-wear collection. Other big names here are Gianni Versace, Moschino, Tod's, Gianfranco Ferré, and locally born and bred 'Queen of Cashmere' Laura Biagiotti.In the same area, TAD, Via Babuino 155A, is a small conceptual department store that will answer your every niche style need, from furniture to flowers and clothing to music. There is also a hairdresser's and a cafe. Via dei Governo Vecchio, leading from Piazza Navona, is full of small boutiques selling lesser known designers and vintage clothes and jewellery, while for more bijou boutiques try the Monti district, in particular Via del Boschetto and Via dei Serpenti. Just off Campo de' Fiori, Via dei Giubbonari teems with hip shops and a range of accessible labels (check out colourful Roman designer Angelo di Nepi here). You can find affordable buys in the high-street shops lining Via del Corso, Via del Tritone, Via Nazionale and Via Cola di Rienzo. Alternatively, you can sharpen your elbows and snap up bargains in the January and July sales or at one of the two large and garish outlets a short drive outside Rome - Castel Romano Outlet and Fashion District Valmontone.<br />Markets:<br />For art and antiques, head to Via Margutta, Via del Babuino, Via Giulia, Via dei Banchi Vecchi and Via de' Coronari (the pedestrian street organises fairs in May and October when its stores are open late). Bric-a-brac and cheap clothes and goods are on offer at the popular flea markets, the best being Via Sannio near San Giovanni (Monday to Saturday 0730-1400) and Porta Portese in Trastevere (Sunday 0700-1300). There are supermarkets and shopping malls in Rome, including one of the oldest in the city, the 100-shop Centro Commerciale Cinecittà Due, Viale Palmiro Togliatti 2. However, the preferred Roman shopping style is to visit the numerous local fruit and vegetable markets (Monday to Saturday 0700-1300) and to dip in and out of delicatessens. Things are slowly changing however, with supermarkets increasingly (and unfortunately) making their presence felt. Luxury goods to take home include assorted vinegar, truffles and olive oil. Castroni, Via Cola di Rienzo 196, sells the culinary riches from Italy's regions and comforting imports from around the world (including baked beans). The well-established Trimani, Via Goito 20, was founded in 1821 and stocks an excellent selection of Italian wines.<br />Opening times:<br />Smaller shops often close for lunch (1300-1630). Larger stores, department stores and shops in touristy areas tend to stay open all day (0900/1000-1930) and open with reduced hours on Sunday. Opening times can be confusing, with many food shops closed on Thursday afternoon (in winter) and other shops not opening until the afternoon on Monday. Summer brings later opening hours (until 2000) but also Saturday afternoon closing for small, family-owned shops and complete closure for at least a fortnight in July, August or September.<br />Tax Info:<br />Value-added tax (IVA) is 20% on clothing and luxury goods. Foreign tourists from non-EU countries can claim a tax refund, provided they spend at least €155 at the same shop on the same day. Those who are eligible should ask the shop assistant for a receipt (with a description of the articles purchased) and a 'tax-free cheque'. Upon departure from the EU (no later than 90 days after the date of purchase), these should be presented to customs. <br /> <br />NIGHTLIFE IN ROME<br />Bars: The Vineria on Campo de' Fiori makes a perfect rendez-vous for an early evening drink. Customers range from well-known actors to local winos, from tourists to try-hards. Otherwise, Il Nolano at number 11 is as good for people-watching and always less packed. Just a few doors down at number 20 is the Drunken Ship, good for those in search of English-speaking expats and tourists. Rather more refined is Antico Caffè della Pace, Via della Pace 5, close to Piazza Navona. The cosy interior is adorned with antiques, while the ivy-clad facade backs a quintessential summer terrace. For an after-dinner digestivo and good-value people-watching look no further than the hip Freni & Frizioni, Via del Politeama 4-6, a bar housed in a former car workshop (hence the name - Brakes and Clutches) in Trastevere. In fine weather it spills out into a square near the Lungotevere. For something even more artsy, with regular DJs, head to its sister bar Societe Lutece, Piazza Montevecchio 17, near Piazza Navona.Clubs: House music remains a firm favourite here, although a number of smaller and more alternative clubs play rock and revival. In July and August, many clubs close, opening outdoor alternatives around town and beside the sea near Ostia.<br />The majority of Rome's clubs are clustered around Monte Testaccio, with places such as small, unassuming, but funky Metaverso, Via Montetestaccio 38, which plays hip hop, house and reggae, depending on the night. Alien, Via Velletri 13-19 is one of Rome's longest running clubs, where the dressed-up crowd groove and pout to house, hip hop and ambient. Nearby Alibi, Via Monte Testaccio 40, is mixed gay and straight, has a big outdoor terrace, and plays predominantly house music. Close by, Fake, Via Monte Testaccio 64, is a temple to electronic and hip-hop sounds with a pop-art décor and gauze-draped terrace.<br />Live Music: Jazz lovers should head for cave-like Alexanderplatz, Via Ostia 9, near the Vaticanbecause when the big names come to town, they often come here. Big Mama, Vicolo di San Francesco a Ripa 18), is cramped but pulls some good up-and-coming musicians, plus a few big names. In summer, there's the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, with live jazz nightly in a beautiful tree shaded park. Circolo degli Artisti, Via Casilina Vecchia 42 (is where big indie names play when they're in town. Fonclea, Via Crescenzio 82A) is a pub-restaurant in the Prati area (close to the Vatican), which stages popular jazz and blues concerts.The biggest concentration of nightclubs lies in the Testaccio and Ostiense districts. One of the main drags in Testaccio, Via di Monte Testaccio, is lined with bars, pubs, live music venues and clubs, so it's a good place to head if you want to stay out late. It has spread over to neighbouring, formerly industrial, Ostiense, which has some hip new bars and so-called ristodisco, places where you can both eat and dance. While Rome's hardly the gay capital of Europe, there's a small gay scene, with some saunas and clubs, and many nightclubs have weekly gay nights.<br />TOTAL EXPENSES<br />Airways::Rs 32663<br />+ Rs 375<br />+ Rs 150= 33188<br />Hotel Accomodation:: Euro 35per day=Rs 2142.59<br />Car Rentals:: Euro 34 per day=Rs 2081.29<br />Eating and Dining:: RS 15,000<br />Shopping n Nightlife::Rs 35000<br />Total::Rs 87411.88<br /> Wishing me a safe journey….<br />http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/italy-rome-el-trotamundo-rome-page.html<br />http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/rome/transport/getting-there-around#74851<br />http://www.autoeurope.com/car-rental/Rome-rental-guide.cfm<br />http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/16239.html<br />http://www.worldtravelguide.net/rome/shopping<br />http://www.travelocity.co.in/site/travel/flights/transport-results.html?skin=enin.travelocity.co.in&mondial_auto=true&DPSRT=PA&DPNOC=0&DPNOA=1&DPNOI=0&DPLOC=en_IN&DPNOS=0&DPHSI=0&date_in_month=10&DPXCP=F&DPFSI=0&DPCID=0&DPXAL=F&DPTRT=flights&DPSFT=&DPXTR=F&DPTTT=R&DPBFT=False&DPXCH=F&DPXMG=F&DPHEI=7&failureURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travelocity.co.in%2Fsite%2Ftravel%2Fflights%2Fflights-search-error.html&DPDAP=DEL&DPBFE=False&DPXIN=T&DPCLS=X&DPPID=5002&date_out_month=10&DPFEI=9&TRANS=ViewTransportationSearchBox%2CdoSearchForTransportation&DPSAC=Z01&date_out_day=2&DPDCC=INR&DPIDT=0001&DP1WF=0&DPFIT=&DPODT=0001&DPAAP=Rome+Fiumicino%2C+Italy+%28FCO%29%2C+IT&DPAIR=NONE&date_in_day=10&DPDIR=<br />