Rome, Italy — City Information
City Facts
- Location
- Lazio region, western central Italy.
- 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).
- Average Annual Rainfall
- 760mm (30 inches).
- Language
- The purest Italian is found in Florence, home of Dante and Boccaccio, whose writings were the basis for standard Italian. Rome, however, is the centre 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 minimise their use of dialect for the sake of foreigners (including Italians from other regions) and some speak French or English. Phrases Yes - SiNo - NoHello - Buon giorno / Buona sera (after 1500)Goodbye - Arrivederla (formal) / Arrivederci (informal)Please - Per favoreThank you - GrazieMy name is … - Mi chiamo …How are you? - Come sta?I’m very well - Sto molto beneI feel ill - Non mi sento beneHow much does it cost? - Quanto costa?Do you speak English? - Parla inglese?I don’t understand - Non capiscoWhere is …? - Dov’è …?Entrance - Entrata Exit - UscitaDanger - PericoloOpen - ApertoClosed - ChiusoToilets - Bagno / ServizioDoctor - MedicoHotel - AlbergoRestaurant - RistoranteBeer - BirraWine - VinoMenu - MenùToday - OggiTomorrow - DomanìMonday - LunedìTuesday - MartedìWednesday - MercoledìThursday - GiovedìFriday - VenerdìSaturday - SabatoSunday - DomenicaOne - UnoTwo - DueThree - TreFour - QuattroFive - CinqueSix - SeiSeven - SetteEight - OttoNine - NoveTen - DieciTwenty - VentiThirty - TrentaForty - QuarantaFifty - CinquantaSixty - SessantaSeventy - SettantaEighty - OttantaNinety - Novanta One Hundred - Cento One Thousand - Mille
Cost of Living
| 1.00 GBP = 1.13 EUR |
| 1.00 USD = 0.7 EUR |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
Special Events
Epifania - La Befana (Epiphany)
6 January
Day of present-giving to Roman children.
Throughout the city
Carnevale
Week before Lent
Children dress up and throw confetti around; nightclubs put on special parties.
Various venues
Mostra delle Azalee
Late March
3,000 vases of azaleas adorn the Spanish Steps to mark the arrival of Spring.
Spanish steps
Settimana Santa & Pasqua (Holy Week and Easter)
Late March-April
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.
St Peter's Square and Colosseum
Natale di Roma (Rome's Birthday)
21 April
Fireworks.
Aventine Hill
Festa del Lavoro (Labor Day)
1 May
Free rock concert.
Outside basilica of San Giovanni
Anniversary of the proclamation of the Italian Republic
2 June
Only day of the year when it is possible to visit the Quirinal Gardens, belonging to the President's Residence.
Estate Romana (Roman Summer)
June-September
Umbrella festival encompassing music, dance, literature and film events.
Rome's parks, archaeological sites, villas and courtyards
Website: www.estateromana.comune.roma.it
Festa di Noantri
Two weeks in mid July
Market stalls and fireworks in honor of Madonna del Carmine.
Trastevere
RomaEuropa Festival
Late September to end of November
Arts festival
Website: www.romaeuropa.net
Festival Internazionale del Film di Roma (Rome International Film Festival)
Mid October
Created in 2006 and proved very successful.
City's auditorium and other venues
Website: www.romacinemafest.org
Mercato di Piazza Navona
Mid December-6 January
Market stalls selling food and craft items.
Piazza Navona
Midnight Mass
24 December
Pope delivers mass.
St Peter's Basilica
Messa di Natale (Christmas Mass) and ‘Urbi et Orbi' Blessing
25 December
St Peter's Basilica
San Silvestro/Capdanno (New Year's Eve)
31 December
Festivities throughout the city
