Pompi

1. Pompi Bar (Via Albalonga, 11 – metro: Re di Roma)
Probably one of the best places ever! This restaurant is known for its fantastic tiramisu. With a variety of types ranging from classic to strawberry or banana, this typical Italian dessert is truly mouthwatering. This spot is also great for a little aperitivo before a late night out as you can grab a plate of food from the buffet along with a cocktail for the bargain price of 8 euros!

2. picnic in Villa Borghese
Sure, you can pay an arm and a leg for a nice meal in Piazza Navona but grabbing some bread and cheese and chilling with some friends in the park is just as nice. Meet up with some friends at Termini Station, grab a blanket and some tidbits to eat in the Conad supermarket in the station, head to the park, and you are good to go. A great, casual way to relax and dine with some friends from school.

Carlo Menta Pizza

3. Carlo Menta (Piazza Giuditta Tavani Arquati – bus: H, first Trastevere stop)
Trastevere is literally restaurant heaven. If you hop off the H bus and follow your nose, one of the first things you are going to stumble across is this fantastic restaurant. With pizzas as low as 3 euros (and this is a big pizza, full plate, and absolutely to die for!), it is not only a nice atmosphere but good for your money. Make sure to save room for dessert – the tiramisu and chocolate truffle here are supreme.

4. Gelateria Giovanni Fassi (Via Principe Eugenio, 65 – metro: Vittorio Emanuele)
This oversized ice cream parlor is a genius creation. The gelateria has been around for over 200 years serving Romans and tourists alike the best gelato in town. With a massive variety of flavors and lots of places to sit down, this is an ideal place to go to with a large group of friends after a nice dinner in the city.

Gelateria Giovanni Fassi

5. Fluid Bar (Via del Governo Vecchio 46 – near Piazza Navona)
If you are looking for something a little more “night out-ish”, then head to the Fluid Bar near Piazza Navona. With a unique ambiance of ice cube shaped chairs and an interesting layout, this is another great spot for an aperitivo. Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, range from about 6-7 euros a piece and include all you can eat from the buffet. Great first stop on a night out on the town.

Rome is a great city for Football fans, whether you want to watch AS Roma or S.S. Lazio at home in Stadio Olympico, or Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich on TV. It’s all possible, you just have to know how.

To make your stadium visit or the search for a place to watch your favorite club live, here is a little tour of the city’s Football spots.

Live Games at the Stadium

First: Where can I buy my ticket?

Keep in mind: To buy a ticket, you must present a government issued form of identification. After purchase, the ticket will have your name printed on it, which means that only you can enter the Stadium with that ticket. It’s best to buy your ticket at the official stores of each club. There are several locations of each, but the most central are the AS Roma store in Piazza Colonna and the S.S. Lazio store on Via G. Amendola.

In which section should I get my ticket?

AS Roma

When Roma is playing, everything revolves around the Curva Sud. This is the only section where it is practically impossible to get a ticket , as most of the seats are taken by season ticket holders. I recommend that you ask for a seat in the Curva Nord. This is also an important fan section, but a bit quieter and more tourist friendly than the Curva Sud. The only thing you should be aware of in this area is that the visiting fans section is just to the right of the Curva Nord. If it comes to blows between the home and away supporters, you’re going to be right in the middle. For the most part this shouldn’t worry you though, and it gives you a unique view from a fan section with a lively atmosphere.

S.S. Lazio

When Lazio is playing at home, everything is exactly the opposite. The serious supporters sit in the Curva Nord, where it is almost impossible to get a ticket, and the Curva Sud, which you’ll probably find a bit more pleasant, is right next to the visitor’s section.

Step Two: How do I get to the Stadium?

From Termini:

Take Metro A toward Battistini and get off at Ottaviano. From here, take Bus 32 (direction: Tor di Quinto) or Bus 271 (direction: A. Dis. Giuliano) until the stop Bosello. Hint: if you can’t figure out when to get off the bus, just do what the other fans on the bus do. They will definitely know where to go.

From Piazza Venezia:

Take bus 271 (direction: A. Dis. Giuliano) and get of at the stop Boselli. As before, if you are unsure of when to get off, there will definitely be other fans on the bus who’s example you can follow.

Third Step: How do I behave?

Supporting the Team

Most importantly, it is a good idea to know how strong a rivalry exists between the two teams. Italy still has incidents of hooliganism and occasional fan violence, so use caution if you choose to wear team memorabilia, regardless if it’s of the home or away side.

Photos

It’s always alright to take photos. When you do, try to only take pictures of the supporters from behind them. It’s rare, but some hapless tourists have had their cameras broken by other supporters just for taking a photo at an inopportune (aka potentially incriminating) moment, like when torches are lit. To avoid trouble, just focus on the match and take pictures of Totti and co.

Be a Fan, not a Tourist

Whether a supporter of AS Roma or S.S. Lazio, everyone at the games is passionate and emotional. For the fans, their teams game is the highlight of the week, and the anticipation has been building in advance. So it’s important that you as a “Football-Tourists” don’t act too much like tourists, and try to blend in with the crowd. Maybe learn the fan song that is always played right before the match starts (for Roma, Roma Roma Roma, for Lazio, Vola Lazio Vola) so you can sign along. It makes a good impression, and you’ll have more fun, too!

Live Matches at a Pub

Where can I watch the important matches of my club?

You can find the most important games of the 4 biggest European leagues (England, Italy, Spain, Germany) as well as Champions League and Europa Cup matches is a number of pubs around the city. Especially if you are a fan of England’s Big Four, you have nothing to worry about. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’m in England when I sit in these pubs- the bar staff usually speak fluent English, which I wasn’t expecting in Rome. For me, it’s always a bit like being in another world, which also has its moments.

Pubs

I’ve been to a few pubs around the city to watch games, but only two really stand out. One is the Abbey Theatre and the other the Scholar’s Lounge. Both are Irish pubs with a great atmosphere.

Abbey Theatre
www.abbey-rome.com

The Abbey Theatre is centrally located, only about three minutes walk from Piazza Navona on Via Governo Vecchio. It’s divided into five rooms, with three or four TV screens in each. When you get there you just need to figure out what game is being show where and find yourself a spot in that room. It’s a bit more difficult if you go with a big group and everyone wants to watch a different game, you’ll often have to split up for 90 minutes.

Scholar’s Lounge
www.scholarsloungerome.com

Like the Abbey, the Scholar’s Lounge is also very well located. You can find it at Via del Plebiscito 101, about five minutes from Piazza Venezia. It seems perfect at first glance, since it is just one big room with three huge screens and about five or six normal sized tvs, and you can almost always find a table where everyone can sit together and still see the game they want. But it can get a bit chaotic. I was there for the second Champions League match day, and with everyone paying attention and cheering for different games, it can be a bit hard to concentrate on one.

There are pros and cons to both pubs, and personally the Abbey is my favorite.

Have fun with football in Rome, and I hope I made your experience a little bit easier!

A little bit of an inside scoop is always beneficial when trying to save your money, so here is a list of some of the free things you can enjoy while strolling through the eternal city:

Roma' n' Bike

• Roma’n Bike: a bike sharing service that has stations scattered throughout the city. With spots in multiple places including Via Nazionale, Piazza di Spagna, and Termini station, it is quite easy to find a place to grab a bike. The first 30 minutes are free and any additional time comes with a small charge.

• Tours: while you could take those overly expensive tours with non-native English speakers, it makes a lot more sense to do a free tour. Rome Free Tours offers at guide of the famous spots in the city starting at 5pm in Piazza di Spagna by the fountain every day – rain or shine. The guides are professional and very informative. Angels Tours also offers a free tour that focuses on the Pantheon. The guides show the group around the inside of the Pantheon (with the exception of Sundays) and give lots of tidbits of information that really brings this building to life. However, for these guides, a small tip is generally appreciated.
• Sites: sure, some of the sight entrance fees come with a hefty price tag, but there are also lots of free things to do. Dedicate one morning to a walk through Rome and you can see a myriad of important spots:

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, the Spanish Steps, Piazza di Popolo, Bocca della Verita, St. Peter’s Basilica, San Clemente, Villa Borghese, Gianicolo, the list goes on. Always keep your eyes open as you walk because the streets are filled with unique statues and hidden artistic beauties. Street artists are also incredibly talented whether they are creating spray paint art or replicating a famous painting using chalk on the sidewalk.
• Famous keyhole view of the Vatican: St. Peter’s can be seen across the city. However, if you are looking for a unique way to see the basilica, head up to Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta in the Aventino height and peek through the keyhole to get a great view. A little difficult to get to but worth the trek.

Fontanella Romana "IL NASONE"

• Water: while I would usually drop dead from thirst before sipping out of a city tap, the Rome fountains are famous for their cleanliness and great water. Just carry around an empty bottle (not recommended to use the wine bottle from last night though!) and you will be able to quench your thirst without opening your wallet all day long.
• If you are feeling super fit, you can walk everywhere, but everyone has their lazy days, so the public transport is always a good option if you want to see everything without dropping dead from exhaustion. The metro, buses, and trams, while not free, are dirt cheap (1 euro=1trip, 4 euros=1 day, 16 euros=1 week, 30 euros=1 month) and a great way to get around.

And while you are walking the city, be sure to take advantage of the free Italian practice. While you can learn a lot of grammar in class, the best way to build fluency is by talking to real Italians, developing an accent, observing how they form sentences, and understanding the general gist of their conversations. Don’t be worried about making a fool of yourself – you probably won’t see them again!

So good luck all you penny pinchers, and may all your free pursuits be successful ones!

Ob die AS Roma und S. S. Lazio im Stadion, oder Liverpool, Real Madrid und Bayern Muenchen im TV, alle Spiele kann man hier in Rom sehen. Man muss nur wissen wie.

Um euch den Stadionbesuch oder die Suche nach einer Liveübertragung eurer Lieblingsmannschaft zu erleichtern, findet ihr hier einen kleinen Fussballstadtführer.

Die Spiele der beiden Stadtclubs live im Stadion

Erster Schritt: Wo kann ich mein Ticket kaufen?

Sehr wichtig: Die Tickets werden nur nach Einsicht eines amtlichen Ausweises verkauft. Auf dem Ticket wird dann auch dein Name stehen, was bedeutet dass nur du mit dem Ticket ins Stadion gehen kannst. Am besten kauft ihr eure Tickets in einem der zahlreichen Fanshops der beiden Clubs. Z.B. AS Roma: Piazza Colonna / S. S. Lazio: via G. Amendola.

In welchem Sektor soll ich mein Ticket kaufen?

AS Roma:
Bei der Roma dreht sich alles um die Curva Sud. Nur da ist es praktisch unmöglich ein Ticket zu bekommen da sie schon voll ist durch die Dauerkartenbesitzer. Darum empfehl ich euch in die Curva Nord auszuweichen. Diese ist auch eine richtige Fankurve nur ein bisschen ruhiger und touristenfreundlicher als die Curva Sud. Was ihr euch aber bewusst sein müsst ist, dass der Gastsektor genau rechts neben der Curva Nord ist. Das heist, falls es zu Ausschreitungen zwischen den Fans kommen sollte, wärt ihr mitten drin. Dafür hat man aber einen einmaligen Ausblick auf eine grandiose Fankurve.

S.S. Lazio:
Bei Lazio ist alles genau umgehert, der harte Fankern ist in der Curva Nord in welcher es auch fast unmöglich ist ein Ticket zu bekommen und die Curva Sud ist direckt neben dem Gastsektor, dafür von den Fans her viel angenehmer.

Zweiter Schritt: Wie komm ich zum Stadion?

Von Stazione Termini aus:
Nehmt die Metro A in Richtung Battistini bis zur Haltestelle Ottaviano und von dort aus den Bus Nr. 32 (Tor di Quinto) oder Nr. 271 (A. Dis. Giuliano) bis zur Haltestelle Boselli. (Wenn ihr nicht erkennt wann ihr aussteigen müsst, orientiert euch einfach an den Fans die im Bus sind und sicherlich am richtigen Ort aussteigen werden).

Von Piazza Venezia aus:

Nehmt den Bus Nr. 271 (A. Dis. Giuliano) bis zur Haltestelle Boselli. (auch hier gilt: wenn ihr nicht erkennt wann ihr aussteigen müsst, orientiert euch einfach an den Fans die im Bus sind und sicherlich am richtigen Ort aussteigen werden).

Dritter Schritt: Wie muss ich mich verhalten?

Bekennung zur Mannschaft:
Wichtig ist, dass man sich zuerst genau informiert ob und vorallem wie stark die beiden spielenden Mannschaften verfeindet sind. In Italien ist immer mal wieder mit Fankriegen zu rechnen. Deshalb rate ich allen mit dem Tragen von Fanartikeln vorsichtig zu sein. Egal ob Fanartikel von der Heim- oder Gastmannschaft.

Fotos:
Fotos zu machen ist immer erlaubt. Nur müsst ihr gut aufpassen dass ihr, wenns geht, die Fans nur von hinten fotografiert. Es ist schon vorgekommen dass einem ahnungslosen Tourist die Kamera kaputt gemacht wurde, nur weil er ein foto in einem dummen Moment geschossen hat (z.B. bei Zündung einer Fackel usw.) Am besten konzentriert ihr euch aufs Spiel und schiesst Fotos von Totti & co.

Fan sein, nicht Tourist
Ob die Fans von der AS Roma oder die Fans von der S.S. Lazio, alle sind sehr leidenschaftlich und emotional. Das Spiel ihrer Mannschaft ist der Höhepunkt der Woche und sie freuen sich schon lange im Voraus drauf. Darum ist es wichtig dass wir „Fussball-Touristen“ nicht als Touristen auffallen sondern uns gut in die Fanmänge einfügen können, quasi unsichtbar werden. Vielleicht informiert ihr euch über das Fanlied das immer kurz vor dem Spiel gespielt wird (AS Roma: Roma Roma Roma / S. S. Lazio: vola Lazio vola) wo ihr dann mitsingen könnt. Das macht schon mal einen guten Eindruck und ist einmalig.

Livespiele in einem Pub

Wo kann ich am besten wichtige Spiele meiner Mannschaft sehen?

Ambiente

Die Topspiele der grossen 4 Liegen (England, Italien, Spanien, Deutschland) kann man in diversen Pub’s sehen. Vorallem wenn man ein Fan von von ManU oder Liverpool ist, muss man sich garkeine Sorgen machen. Manchmal komm ich mir vor als wäre ich in England wenn ich in diesen Pub’s sitze. Ist wirklich wizig denn sogar die Kellner sprechen fliessend Englisch und das habe ich in Rom gar nicht erwartet. Für mich ist es immer wie ein Eintauchen in eine andere Welt. Was ja auch mal schön ist.

Pub’s

Ich war schon in verschiedenen Pub’s um Spiele zu sehen, aber nur zwei haben mich richtig überzeugt. Das eine ist das „ABBEY THEATRE“ und das andere die „SCHOLARS LOUNGE“. Es sind beides Irish Pub’s mit einem richtig tollem flair.

Abbey Theatre: www.abby-rome.com

Das Abby Theatre Pub ist sehr zentral gelegen. Ihr findet es in der Via Governo Vecchio nur ca. 3 min von der Piazza Navona entfernt. Es ist in 5 Räume aufgeteilt und in jedem befinden sich ca. drei bis vier Bildschirme. Wenn man das Pub betritt muss man sich einfach zuerst orientieren wo das Spiel läuft welches man sehen will und sich dann in diesen Raum begeben. Es wird aber kompliziert wenn eine Gruppe zusammen hingeht und alle wollen ein anderes Spiel sehen. Das heisst die Gruppe muss damit rechnen sich jenachdem für 90 min zu trennen.

Scholars Lounge: www.scholarsloungerome.com

Wie das Abby ist auch die Scolars Lounge sehr gut gelegen. Ihr findet sie ganz einfach in der via del Plebiscito 101 ca. 5 min von der Piazza Venezia entfernt. Es scheint auf den ersten Blick perfekt zu sein, denn es ist einfach ein einziger Raum mit drei Riesenleinwänden und etwa fünf bis sechs normale Bildschrimen und man kann praktisch von jedem Sitzplatz auf jeden Bildschrim sehen. Doch es täuscht. Ich habe im Scholars z.B. den zweiten CL-Spieltag gesehen und mit der Zeit wurde es sehr anstrengend. Wenn rund herum andere Spiele laufen hast du praktisch keine Chance dich auf eines zu konzentrieren.

Also haben beide Pub’s so ihre Vor- und Nachteile wobei ich aber das Abbey’s bevorzuge.

Jetzt wünsche ich euch ganz viel Spass im fussballverrückten Rom und hoffe ich hab euch die Suche nach einem passenden Ort ein bisschen einfacher gemacht.

I’ve always loved the Marx Brothers’ movies, they’re so funny- so many memorable scenes and one-liners. Surprisingly there aren’t many people under 30 who are fans, and I get excited when actually I come across someone who’s ‘into’ them. The plots and scenes are always unbelievable and far-fetched, as in they couldn’t happen, but that’s part of the humour.

In Rome there are these street vendors walking around with assortments of glittery, shiny, and noisy wares hanging from every extremity… necklaces dangling around their arms, annoying magnetic stones that make a noise and aggravate everybody around, items such as back rubbers that they will use on you without asking… and every kind of useless rubbish in-between. I can hardly believe anybody ever buys that garbage, and I get a sense of ‘unreality’ and being in a different world when thousands of these little street dwellers seem to make a living, and seem to be completely tolerated by Italians at large! I can’t believe or understand how anyone buys that stuff, enough to make a living for all these guys, and how much the Italians will put up with.

To give you an idea: We were in the Pizzeria with Alessandro, eating our tootsie-frootsie ice cream, as you do in Italy, the home of ice-cream. And it was like I had warped into a parallel dimension as impervious street trader after street trader entered the restaurant, greeted by the owner, and proceeded to harass everyone at our table with an assortment of cheap Chinese garbage, including extremely bright lamps that blinded us, and the trader imperviously interrupted any conversation with impunity. I’m reminded of what Chico said in that scene in the movie: “Don’t worry I get us some money, I find us a sucker someplace. Scram, I think I see a sucker coming now!”

I could go into a list of run-ins I’ve had with these street traders, including having a curse being placed on me, being descended on by a large group like a bunch of rats after I told one to politely go away (an English euphemism for something slightly stronger) on the Spanish Steps, and an honest invitation for sexual relations in a nearby dark alley.

So…. the pizza was nice, anyway, and so was the ice cream. And this is San Lorenzo, where apparantly it’s traditional to have street traders walk into a restaurant and harangue and cajole you into buying some flashlight that clips onto your cap. Just so you can see what you’re eating better, you understand. Of course I’m jesting (joking) in this recount of the way of life in Rome. But Rome has always been a trading city, and don’t ever expect to pay the sticker price, you’re supposed to bargain in Rome, otherwise you’ll be paying way over what you should. And it’s always been overrun with immigrants, as it’s so close to Africa, and for other reasons. It’s all part of the atmosphere and cultural life in Rome. I like it for the differences between here and home.