bmibaby the award winning airline with tiny fares, is today (7th June 2007) celebrating the start of its new daily service to Rome Fiumicino from Birmingham International Airport. As part of the festivities passengers checking in for their bmibaby flights were able to indulge their wicked side by enjoying ice cream from Morelli's Gelato, exclusively available from Selfridges Birmingham.
bmibaby’s new route to Rome Fiumicino is one of nine new destinations that the airline will fly to for summer 2007 including Aberdeen, Barcelona, Faro, Glasgow, Jersey, Lisbon, Marseille Provence and Murcia, making a total of 21 European destinations served by bmibaby from Birmingham. Fares to Rome Fiumicino start from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.
Rome will be loved by all, from cultural lovers to romantic couples, but there is no need to break the bank when visiting the city of la dolce vita. Below is a list of bmibaby’s top ten favourite Roman experiences that can be enjoyed for less than €10 (£7) – and in some cases, for free.
www.bmi.co.uk/birmingham
1. piano music
Designed by architect Renzo Piano and inaugurated in 2002, Rome’s Auditorium, in the northern suburbs, has been a success from day one. Guided tours of this amazing multi function performance space run on weekends - €9 (£6), concessions €5 (£3) – or you can just get a drink or light lunch in one of the cafes, browse the bookshop or (in winter) go ice skating in the cavea, the open-air amphitheatre at its centre. If you want to splash a bit more cash, acts lined up for June and July include such legends as Patti Smith and Lou Reed, as well as Scissor Sisters and Pink! www.auditorium.com
2. there’s no such thing as a free lunch......
... but free dinners are definitely on the agenda. Cool new bar Freni e Frizione is set back from the busy riverside road next to Piazza Trilussa in bo-ho Trastevere (south of the Vatican). From 7pm onwards, they do a huge apertivo spread, with salads, couscous, pizza and other treats; anyone who buys a drink – from €5 (£3) for a glass of wine – can tuck in. Imported from Turin (the owner’s home town), the idea has proved a huge hit with bright young Romans. Via del Politeama 4-6, tel +39 (0)6 5833 4210
3. cat worship
Everyone knows about the Colosseum and the Forum, but Rome has so many other ruins – in the most unlikely places and with the most unusual residents! In Largo Argentia, the Centro Storico’s main traffic hub, the remains of four temples are sunk below pavement level in a “sacred area” that has become a place of refuge for...stray cats. Most of the ladies who run the sanctuary speak English and are happy to show people round, a small contribution is appreciated. www.romancats.de
4. Gregorian rap
Rome is famous for its seven hills, and the leafiest of these is the Aventine. High up on the hill is Sant’ Anselmo, a 19th century monastery. But while neighbouring churches may have the architectural edge, Sant’ Anselmo makes the sweetest music. Fans of Gregorian Chant should turn up here at 7.15pm – as the bells toll, Benedictine monks file in for evensong – a haunting call-and- response chant that dates back centuries-before filing out in silence. A moment of pure Roman theatre....and free!
5. scampagnata
Scampagnata is Italian for a country jaunt, and Rome is a getaway to some of the most beautiful countryside you’ll ever see. If you fancy getting out of town, invest in a one day BIRG pass - €2.50 - €10.50 (£1.70 - £7.15), depending on the number of zones – and escape. About 100km south of Rome lies the beautiful seaside town of Sperlonga (with its sandy coves and whitewashed houses), while 100km north, you’ll find the lush Lazio region (try Viterbo, a fascinating Medieval town). Visit the website for more: www.romaturismo.com
6. gelato crawl
Forget the dayglo shaving foam that passes for ice-cream in many of the city’s tourist-oriented bars: for an authentic cool treat, head for one of Rome’s gourmet gelaterias. Try Gelato di San Crispino (Via della Panetteria 42), where the zabaione flavour is made from 20-year-old barrel-aged Marsala, or Alberto Pica (via della Seggiola 12) for riso alla canella – cinnamon-flavoured rice! www.ilgelatodisancrispino.com
7. Micca Club
A multi-tasking nightclub, the Micca Club empire embraces a record label and a radio station. This “cathedral of music” features a spiral staircase leading down into the funky brick vaults of the club itself (Via Pietro Micca 7a, not far from Stazione Termini), where a diet of jazz, soul and swingbeat is served from Wednesday to Saturday. And on Sundays, from 6pm onwards, the club transforms into Micca Market, offering vintage vinyl, clothes and other retro delights. Entrance €5 (£3), but you need to sign up on the website www.miccaclub.com
8. pasta museum
It’s a fair bet you’ll enjoy a plate or two of tortellini or tagliatelle during your stay, but first make your way to the world’s only museum devoted to the perennially popular foodstuff. For €10 (£7) you can tour 11 entertaining rooms exploring pasta protection over the ages and its cultural impact. Our favourite is the Valeriani Room with its photos of celebrities, including Ingrid Bergman, enjoying a plate of Italy’s finest. What better way to work up an appetite? Find this little gem in the shadow of the Trevi Fountain. www.pastainmuseum.com
9. surfing in the park
In town with a laptop? Few visitors realise that Rome is humming with free wi-fi hotspots. One of the first public areas to be hooked up was the Villa Borghese Park, the largest public park in Rome, located north of the Spanish Steps – so you can now combine a picnic with sending the odd email. A number of city-centre piazzas are also online, including the Piazza Navona and Piazza Campo de Fiori. www.romawireless.com
10. cooling off
Most of Rome’s open-air pools are in hotels or private sports clubs. The exception is the Piscina delle Rose, an Olympic-sized tub in the heart of EUR (Mussolini’s model suburb – take Metro B to EUR Palasport station). The cheapest option is the weekly 1pm-4pm slot, May-Sept, €9 (£6) www.piscinadellerose.it
Source: bmibaby in flight magazine Yeahbaby, June/July edition 200
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