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Italy : Rome - May 2009

Country Code: Dial for Italy

May in the Italian capital feels like summer, as Romans crowd the parks and enjoy the sun. And until 28 June, you can also admire the beauty of Giotto’s paintings at the Vittoriano. Solveig Steinhardt basks in the sun and culture

Getting around

Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport

Bus: The Terravision bus is cheap (about €15 for a return), but the timetable less frequent – there’s approximately one bus every two hours and the journey takes 45 minutes.
Train: The Leonardo Express runs every 30 minutes into Termini station. The journey takes 35 minutes and costs €11.
Taxi: The journey from the airport to the city centre takes 50 minutes. Expect to pay around €40-60.
Tourist information: The main office is at 11 Via Parigi (, www.romaturismo.com).

CENTRO STORICO

Take a walk in the city centre and unveil layers of art and history.

Sleep soundly – For sweet dreams right by the Spanish Steps, head to the small Residenza Frattina (104 Via Frattina, tel. , frattina. hotelinroma.com, rooms from €160), an affordable solution in Rome’s fashion district.

Culture vultures – Admire the works that revolutionised European art in Giotto and the 1300s at the Vittoriano (Via San Pietro in Carcere) all month.

Must eat – Sample the ricotta-filled zucchini flowers amid modern art at gallery/restaurant Il Margutta (118 Via Margutta, ), a popular vegetarian eatery. For a fivestar gelato, Ciampini (29 Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina) is the answer.

Must drink – Hidden behind Via della Pace, Société Lutece (17 Piazza di Montevecchio) serves mountainous aperitivos for the price of a drink. The perfect start to a tipsy evening.

Shop til you drop – Need a pasta maker or a special apron? Your quest ends at C.U.C.I.N.A. (65 Via Mario de’Fiori). Lovers of Victoriana should make a beeline for Michal Negrin (2a Via del Corso) for semi-precious jewellery and delicate period pieces.

MONTI AND CELIO

These quiet districts offer stunning views and lots to do in the evenings.

Must eat – If white is your colour, head to Maud (6 Via Capo d’Africa, ). This minimalist restaurant serves contemporary dishes and sinful desserts; go for the wild berry tiramisu.

Must drink – Choose from over 20 gourmet beers at Tree Folk’s (29 Via Capo d’Africa). There’s lots of outdoor space here, so it’s good for whiling away the long late-spring evenings

Shop til you drop – Vintage meets modern at Le Gallinelle (76 Via del Boschetto), where a mother/daughter team puts together old clothes with new fabrics to create unique garments. Across the street, Boschetto Tre (3 Via del Boschetto) carries a selection of Scandinavian designs for the home.

TRASTEVERE

Head down the cobblestone streets of Rome’s most picturesque neighbourhood for relaxing afternoons and riotous nights.

Culture vultures – Take a walk through the Orto Botanico (24 Largo Cristina di Svezia), owned in the 17th century by Queen Christina of Sweden.

Must eat – Looking like the cellar of an old Italian country house, La Fraschetta (134 Via San Francesco a Ripa, tel. ) serves soups, meats, pizza and stacks of garlic and chilli peppers under vaulted ceilings.

Must drink – Recline at low tables surrounded by silk cushions and hukkah pipes at Shisha (135 Via San Francesco a Ripa).

Dance the night away – Samba until dawn at Central do Brasil (56 Via Federico Rosazza), where they serve up the best Brazilian tunes alongside a range of fantastic cocktails.

Shop til you drop – Haven’t found your dream dress yet? Have it made with exquisite fabrics at atelier Scala Quattordici (13 Via della Scala).

PARIOLI/PONTE MILVIO

This elegant residential neighbourhood houses some of the city’s most chichi clubs and bars.

Sleep soundly – Located between the lush Villa Borghese park and the city centre, Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi (5 Via Frescobaldi, , parcodeiprincipi.com, rooms from €300) is a favourite among both businessmen and honeymooners.

Must eat – Lively Mediterranean bistro Dulcamara (449 Via Flaminia Vecchia, tel. ) does light dishes, such as lime chicken skewers, and a fabulous indulgent cheesecake.

Must drink – Join Rome’s see-andbe- seen crowd at Il Chioschetto (44 Piazzale Ponte Milvio), Ponte Milvio’s most popular cocktail kiosk.

Dance the night away – Piper (9 Via Tagliamento), Rome’s first nightclub, has been dancing away to the best tunes since 1965. Despite that, it’s still lively, with Rome’s best DJs on the roster and a wild crowd.

Compiled by Solveig Steinhardt