The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Via dei Condotti. All three attractions lie within easy w

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For today’s hyatt hotel in albuquerque Destination of the Week , we asked  TPG contributor  Melanie Wynne  to guide us through one of the world s greatest all-time travel destinations, a city that administered sprawling empires, spawned legendary artists, not to mention mouthwatering cuisine hyatt hotel in albuquerque that has permeated every corner of the globe. Today we visit the Eternal City: Rome .
Rome s Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is a huge international hub, situated about 15 miles from the city center. It serves as hub for Skyteam partner, Alitalia, which offers flights from several US gateways including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York and Boston. hyatt hotel in albuquerque When it comes to U.S. carriers, Delta flies to Atlanta, New York-JFK and Detroit seasonally, United to Washington-Dulles and seasonally to Newark, U.S. Airways all-year to Philadelphia and seasonally to Charlotte hyatt hotel in albuquerque and American offers seasonal service to both New York-JFK and Chicago O Hare. Since all the major carriers fly here, you can use miles on your preferred alliance.
Unless you re an adrenaline junkie, renting a car and driving yourself into some of the world s craziest traffic should be avoided; your  three best options for getting into town are a local train, bus or taxi .
The   Rome Metro s FR1 line  (also known as Sabina-Fiumicino) takes you from FCO to the Tiburtina, Tuscolana, Ostiense, and Trastevere stations in Rome; at Tiburtina, Tuscolana and Ostiense, you can transfer to either Metro line A or Metro line B to reach other stations in the city center. Trains leave every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes on holidays), and one-way trips average €8-10 ($10-12.50) per person.
Cotral buses   connect FCO with Rome’s Termini and Tiburtina stations (which are right after one another). Buses run eight times a day to and from the airport, and a €5 ($6.25) ticket hyatt hotel in albuquerque for the approximately 30-minute trip can be purchased directly on the bus.
To avoid being fare-gouged by an independent cab driver, line up at the taxi areas near FCO s A, B and C exits and look for a white car with a TAXI sign on the roof; an official Roman cab will have an ID number on its doors, hyatt hotel in albuquerque rear and interior. An official taxi s fixed fare between FCO and the city center is €40 ($50) one-way (inclusive of luggage, and allowing a maximum hyatt hotel in albuquerque of 4 people);  see a a map of the covered area here .
Known as the Eternal City, Rome is a vibrant mix of new and very old, an enormous metropolis unlike any other in Italy. Its thriving restaurant culture, art scene, and even its modest subway, invite comparisons to New York City, but ancient treasures on every corner hyatt hotel in albuquerque scatter these similarities like dust on an urban dig.
The Vatican Museums and St. Peter s Basilica. It s best to explore these vast buildings, which are crammed with priceless hyatt hotel in albuquerque art, in the company hyatt hotel in albuquerque a knowledgeable, engaging guide who will provide you with headsets to better hear the tour; it s easy to get overwhelmed or even lost amidst the constant crowds. Viator offers several excellent tours, including a three-hour, small-group tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Raphael s Rooms and St. Peter s , generally led by art history graduate students. You ll start at about 8am, and even if you choose to climb to the dome of St. Peter s, you ll be finished by lunchtime.
The Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum . Note: You can purchase a combination ticket for all three of these attractions . Historically considered the birthplace of Rome, Palatine Hill was where ancient Rome s wealthiest citizens built their palaces. Today, the Palatine is an outdoor museum of ornate, mosaic-tiled ruins which overlook the Forum and Colosseum. Built between 72-80 AD and originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum was the site of bloody gladiator battles, hyatt hotel in albuquerque while the nearby Forum, with its ruins of temples, a marketplace and great halls, was the center of ancient Roman life and government.
The Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Set beside the Forum and free to enter, this enormous white wedding cake of a building (considered an eyesore by most Romans) honors the first king of a united Italy. Regardless of your feelings about its architectural aesthetics, know that the rooftop Quadrighe Terrace offers thrilling views of thousands of years worth of Roman history; feel free to hoof your way there, hyatt hotel in albuquerque or spend €7 ($8.75) on Rome from the Sky, the monument s glass elevator.
The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Via dei Condotti. hyatt hotel in albuquerque All three attractions lie within easy walking distance of each other, and provide great opportunities for people-watching. The 138-step scalinata takes you from the Piazza di Spagna to the Piazza Trinità dei Monti, where in a quirk of history, hyatt hotel in albuquerque the Renaissance-era Trinità dei Monti church is the property of France, not Italy. The Trevi Fountain is generally a mob scene of lingering tourists, souvenir-hawkers and price-gouging snacks, hyatt hotel in albuquerque but it still manages to be a spectacular display of water and snow-white marble. If you choose to throw a customary coin in the fountain, be sure to toss with your right hand over your left shoulder when in Rome! The Via Dei Condotti is Rome s fanciest shopping street, rife with well-heeled hyatt hotel in albuquerque fans of Prada, Gucci, Valentino and more. Depending on your budget, this lineup of boutiques could be considered a goldmine or a museum.
Piazza Navona and the Campo dei Fiori. Respectively one of Rome s most romantic and most exciting spots, these two squares are set within blocks of each other. The elaborate fountains of the Piazza Navona share the same water source as the Trevi, and the square s windowboxes offer some of the city s most beautiful flower displays. Nearby, the bustling market stalls of the Fiori are where locals shop for food and flowers, and they provide a vibrant glimpse of contemporary Roman society, fashion and recipe ingredients.
Villa Borghese and the Borghese Gardens . Originally a vineyard and then the palatial home of Pope Paul V s wealthy nephew (both members of the powerful Borghese family), this haven of public green space includes secret gardens, an orange orchard, a lake, an aviary and more. The parkland houses the Galleria Borghese , where you ll find the artwork of masters like Titian, Caravaggio and Bernini.
hyatt hotel in albuquerque The Tiber River. hyatt hotel in albuquerque At 252 murky miles, Italy s third-longest river provides a relaxing means of acquainting yourself with the meandering layout of Rome. Much like the Seine in Paris, you can take stone steps down to the river all along its quiet paths, where you ll have a unique perspective hyatt hotel in albuquerque on building details you might otherwise hyatt hotel in albuquerque miss. Or, if you d prefer a break from walking, try a €16 ($20) hop-on-hop-off cruise via Batelli di Roma , which includes an audio tour.
If you find yourself hyatt hotel in albuquerque with some extra time, you might want to wander the cobblestone hyatt hotel in albuquerque streets of the quiet Trastavere neighborhood hyatt hotel in albuquerque for a daytime break from crowds, traffic, and expensive food, or check out some of the more unique museums of Rome (e.g., the Capuchin Crypt, Pasta Museum, or Museum of Purgatory).
Ordered ahead of your trip or purchased at the Colosseum, the €30 Roma Pass ($37.50)  gives you automatic entrance to two museums of your choice and discounts on many others. Note that most museums in Rome, with the exception of the Colosseum, are closed on Mondays.
As elsewhere in Italy, food is all but sacred to Romans . Before you travel, you might want to pick up The Hungry Traveler: Italy , an excellent resource for learning about and finding local Roman specialties like cacio e pepe, fresh pasta with pecorino romano and black pepper. Or, if you d rather not slog through Rome with a book in tow, find suggestions for great restaurants in every neighborhood with the Parla Food App .
Radisson Blu : Perched atop Esquiline Hill, this sleek, glassy hotel takes full advantage of its sprawling city views with two Italian restaurants and a 20-meter-long rooftop pool. It has 232 rooms and suites, hyatt hotel in albuquerque a full-service spa and health center with a sauna and Jacuzzis, and internet service is free throughout the hotel. Rates in September begin at $176 a night or 50,000 Gold Points.
Rome Cavalieri : The first European hotel to be included in the Waldorf Astoria collection, this luxurious 5-star property is set on 15 parkland acres. hyatt hotel in albuquerque The Imperial Club offers a view of St. Peter s Basilica, all rooms have private hyatt hotel in albuquerque balconies, and all seven suites have a different theme; the Petronius has a fiber-optic-studded ceiling designed to mimic a starry sky. The Grand Spa offers La Prairie treatments and a solarium separating outdoor and indoor pools. With five on-site eateries, guests can have everything from a poolside snack to afternoon tea, including a multi-course meal at La Pergola, the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Rome. Rates in September begin at $400 a night, 60,000 Hilton Honors Points, or $184 + 30,000 Hilton HHonors Points. The hotel is also a member of Amex Fine Hotels Resorts and Visa Signature Hotels (see below).
Hilton Garden Inn Claridge : Situated in the Parioli neighborhood near the Villa Borghese, roughly 10 minutes walk from the city center, this hotel offers a relatively quiet, residential experience of Rome. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, there s an on-site restaurant serving three daily meals, and the wellness center has a sauna and Turkish bath.  Rates in September begin at $190 a night or 40,000 Hilton Honors Points.
Hilton Rome Airport Hotel : Offering free shuttle service to and from the city center 8 times a day, this 517-room hotel is a 5-minute covered walk from FCO. All rooms are soundproofed and provide free Wi-Fi access, and there are two on-site Italian restaurants, a bar, and an indoor rooftop pool with an outdoor deck.  Rates in September begin at $283 a night or 40,000 Hilton Honors Points since this is a Category 6 property.
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