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Visiting Italy - Lothia - 09-07-2007
Ave Civitas,
I will be visiting Italy during the second week of March.
I am writing a novel set during the last years of Constantine I and those who followed him.
I want to gather as much information about what it was like to be a Roman Soldier and what it was like to be a Roman Citizen during that period.
I hope to walk and touch and taste as much Roman and Native Italian as I can during my week there.
So, I have questions which I hope someone can help with.
1. Where would be the best places to visit for a one-day stop?
2. Without using an auto, what is the best (cheapest - most comfortable - most dependable ) mode of moving from one place in Italy to another?
3. Staying in a One or two star hotel and eating frugally, what can I expect to spend per day (and are weekends different from week days)?
Thanks a lot. I do appreciate your help.
Tom.
PS. What is the best beer?
Re: Visiting Italy - jvrjenivs - 09-08-2007
In the area of Rome the best way to move is by Train and Underground. Last holiday I was on a campsite between Napoli and Rome (Formia) and we just got a day-ticket for both the train to Rome and the underground busses etc of whole te area for just Euro 11.50. (imagine that the train ride itself was about 2 hours/150 km)
I know that going by Train from Firenze to Rome is some more expensive.
Re: Visiting Italy - Mauritius - 09-08-2007
Would suggest bed and breakfast staying just on fringe of Sorrento then jumping onto train to Pompeii and Herculean take a backpack with lunch and wine and just wander off the main tourist route to the back of the ruins
Thanks - Lothia - 09-09-2007
Ave Civitas,
Thanks for the information. I will see if there is a map of the subway for Rome on the internet. I am sure there is.
Does anyone know of any re-constructed sites that I might visit? Somewhere where I could get a view of what a soldier might see in or around Rome?
Lothia,
Re: Visiting Italy - M.H. White - 09-10-2007
Go to the Forum Romanum. Start at Constantine's arch, walk all the way up the Via Sacra to the Capitoline. Go at a time of day when its unlikely to be crowded (not sure what that would be, but you should have better luck in march than I did in July/ November.) Doing this, its not so hard to imagine you're in a triumphal procession.
Re: Thanks - jvrjenivs - 09-10-2007
Quote:Does anyone know of any re-constructed sites that I might visit? Somewhere where I could get a view of what a soldier might see in or around Rome?
,
Note that Armed soldiers aren't allowed into the City. When the empire becomes bigger most of the soldiers even don't come near the city in their whole lifetime.
Re: Visiting Italy - Lothia - 09-17-2007
Ave Civitas,
Your idea of visiting Pompeii is good. I had not thought of that, but it would give me a good idea of the sizes of Roman Civilian homes, the width of streets (not the ones widened for motor traffic).
jvrjenivs, thanks for the tip on using the underground. I hope, and assume, that I don't have to learn Italian to navigate within the cities. I knew of the restriction about no armed soldiers within the city (Alaric must have not read that part, :lol: ) That restriction did not apply to Constantinopolis. I wonder why not?
Mr. White, thanks for the itinerary around the city of Rome. I will definately do that.
Re: Visiting Italy - jvrjenivs - 09-17-2007
Quote:Your idea of visiting Pompeii is good.
Then you could also, visit Ostia. You can go to ostia by underground (station Ostia antica) and there're less tourists. I personally like Herculaneum very well, but its harder to get there by public transport and is a lot smaller than Pompeii.
Re: Visiting Italy - Jeroen Pelgrom - 09-17-2007
Quote:Then you could also, visit Ostia
Visit Ostia! Its a half hour trip with the train. Take the whole day for your trip and buy a good plan of the town before starting.
Ostia Antica will give you a good idea of a roman harbour town (lots of storage buildings, flats and baths)
here is a good website of Ostia:
www.ostia-antica.org/
Re: Visiting Italy - Lothia - 09-18-2007
Ave Civitas,
Thanks for the note on Ostia. I had forgotten about the port in laying out my itenerary. I will have to add it. I don't know now if a week will be enough time. I may have to extend it for ten days.
Thanks for your help.
Lothia.