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Location
Lazio region, western central Italy.

Dialling code
39.

Population
2,817,000 (2005).

Time zone
GMT +1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin or three-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
8°C (46°F).

Average July temperatures
28°C (82°F).

Annual rainfall
760mm (30 inches).

Language
Introduction
The purest Italian is found in Florence, home of Dante and Boccaccio, whose writings were the basis for standard Italian. Rome, however, is the center for one of Italy’s two most distinctive dialects (the other is in Naples). Even the Romans will admit to the harshness of their accent, but the sound of the language is made up for by the liveliness of the local expressions, many of which are too rude to find a place in this guide. There is even a restaurant in Rome, La Parolaccia in the Trastevere district, where insults in dialect are exchanged after the repast.

There are plenty of local terms – the metropolitan police are referred to as ‘pizzardone’, and the name of the Rome football team ‘Lazio’ is often used as a strong term of abuse. Even without the wealth of confusing expressions, Roman dialect is hard to understand, as not all syllables are pronounced. Fortunately, most professionals will minimize their use of dialect for the sake of foreigners (including Italians from other regions) and some speak French or English.

Phrases

Yes - Si
No - No
Hello - Buon giorno / Buona sera (after 1500)
Goodbye - Arrivederla (formal) / Arrivederci (informal)
Please - Per favore
Thank you - Grazie
My name is … - Mi chiamo …
How are you? - Come sta?
I’m very well - Sto molto bene
I feel ill - Non mi sento bene
How much does it cost? - Quanto costa?
Do you speak English? - Parla inglese?
I don’t understand - Non capisco
Where is …? - Dov’è …?
Entrance - Entrata
Exit - Uscita
Danger - Pericolo
Open - Aperto
Closed - Chiuso
Toilets - Bagno / Servizio
Doctor - Medico
Hotel - Albergo
Restaurant - Ristorante
Beer - Birra
Wine - Vino
Menu - Menù
Today - Oggi
Tomorrow - Domanì
Monday - Lunedì
Tuesday - Martedì
Wednesday - Mercoledì
Thursday - Giovedì
Friday - Venerdì
Saturday - Sabato
Sunday - Domenica
One - Uno
Two - Due
Three - Tre
Four - Quattro
Five - Cinque
Six - Sei
Seven - Sette
Eight - Otto
Nine - Nove
Ten - Dieci
Twenty - Venti
Thirty - Trenta
Forty - Quaranta
Fifty - Cinquanta
Sixty - Sessanta
Seventy - Settanta
Eighty - Ottanta
Ninety - Novanta
One Hundred - Cento
One Thousand - Mille


Cost of Living:

1 Euro (€1) = £0.94; US$1.37; C$1.66; A$1.93
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Epifania - La Befana (Epiphany), 6 Jan, day of present-giving to Roman children, throughout the city
AltaRomaAltaModa, end of Jan and mid-Jul, haute couture collections, various historic venues (website: www.altaroma.it)
Carnevale, week before Lent, children dress up and throw confetti around; nightclubs put on special parties, various venues
Mostra delle Azalee, late Mar, 3,000 vases of azaleas adorn the Spanish Steps to mark the arrival of Spring
Maratona di Roma (Rome Marathon), mid-Mar (website: www.maratonadiroma.it)
Giornate FAI, on one weekend in early spring the Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (the Italian equivalent of the National Trust) organizes free guided tours of usually-closed churches, monuments and archaeological sites (website: www.fondoambiente.it)
Settimana Santa & Pasqua (Holy Week and Easter), late-Mar-Apr, Mass in St Peter’s Square on Saturday before Palm Sunday, Pope’s Via Crucis on Good Friday at the Colosseum, Easter Sunday and Monday
Natale di Roma (Rome’s Birthday), 21 Apr, fireworks on the Aventine Hill
Festa della Liberazione, 25 Apr, sombre festivities celebrate the Allies’ liberation of Italy in WWII, Mausoleum of the Ardeatine Caves and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Piazza Venezia
Settimana dei Beni Culturali (Week of Culture), Apr, free entry to all state-owned museums, public monuments and excavation sites (website: www.beniculturali.it)FotoGrafia, Apr-May, an international photography festival, various museums around the city (website: www.fotografiafestival.it)
Festa del Lavoro (Labor Day), 1 May, free rock concert, outside basilica of San Giovanni
Italian Open Tennis championships, first two weeks of May (website: www.internazionalibnlditalia.it)
Concorso Ippico Internazionale, end May, international show-jumping event, Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese (website: www.fise.it)
Roseto Comunale (municipal rose garden), open May-Jun, over 1,200 roses displayed in the 10,000sq m (32,808 sq ft) gardens on the Aventine Hill
Rome Literature Festival, mid-May to mid-Jun, free readings and concerts in the atmospheric Basilica of Maxentius (website: www.festivaldelleletterature.it)
Anniversary of the proclamation of the Italian Republic, 2 Jun, only day of the year when it is possible to visit the Quirinal Gardens, belonging to the President’s Residence
Festa della Repubblica, first Sun in Jun, military Parade, Via dei Fori Imperiali
Estate Romana (Roman Summer), Jun-Sep, music, dance, literature and film events, Rome’s parks, archaeological sites, villas and courtyards (website: www.comune.roma.it)
Festa di San Giovanni, 23 Jun, Pope leads the way in candle-lit procession to the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano,
San Pietro e San Paolo, 29 Jun, public holiday in honor of Rome’s two patron saints, church service at Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura
Festa di Noantri, two weeks mid-Jul, market stalls and fireworks in honor of Madonna del Carmine, Trastevere
Ferragosto, 15 Aug, feast of the Assumption, shops and restaurants closed
Notte Bianca, second Sat in Sep, free events, museum-openings and concerts right through the night, throughout the city, website: www.lanottebianca.it
RomaEuropa Festival, late Sep to end Nov (website: www.romaeuropa.net)
Festa del Cinema (Rome International Film Festival), mid-Oct, created in 2006 and proved very successful, held in the city’s auditorium and other venues (website: www.romacinemafest.org)
Mostra dell’Antiquariato, end Oct for two weeks, antique fair, Via dei Coronari, near Piazza Navona
Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day), 1 Nov
Giornata dei Defunti (‘The Day of the Dead’), 2 Nov, Pope celebrates Mass at the Verano cemetery and families go and visit the graves of relatives and friends
Mercato di Piazza Navona, mid-Dec-6 Jan, market stalls selling food and craft items in Piazza Navona
Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception), 8 Dec, Mass by the Pope, Santa Maria Maggiore
Midnight Mass, 24 Dec, Pope delivers mass, St Peter’s Basilica
Messa di Natale (Christmas Mass) and ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing, 25 Dec, St Peter’s Basilica
Veglia di Preghiera (Prayer Vigil), 31 Dec, midnight mass, St Peter’s Basilica
San Silvestro/Capdanno (New Year’s Eve), 31 Dec, festivities throughout the city

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