Transportation

Air Travel

Student airfares are available from travel agents such as Council on the Ave. They can issue student discount travel cards (bring a photo and UW student ID).

• August is peak travel time so book your flight as soon as you can.

• Italy is served by two major international airports: Rome's "Leonardo da Vinci Airport", also called "Fiumicino" (airport code "FCO") as it is located in the town of Fiumicino. If you are arriving from another European destination, you may arrive at Rome's other airport, Ciampino. Ciampino is served from almost all major European cities by some discount airlines, such as RyanAir and EasyJet.

• Airlines occasionally lose luggage for a few days. Come prepared for 3 days without your bags.

• There are ATMs ("Bancomats") in airports, train stations, banks, and many other places where you can get Euros. Most U.S. debit cards work in 2/3 of the ATMs in Italy. ATMs are a far better way to get cash than the money exchange booths, especially in airports and train stations.

Train Travel

• Long distance train travel between major cities is easiest on "Eurostar"-class trains. These ultrafast trains are super fast and cost a bit more than other trains. Tickets are good only for a specific seat on a designated train on the date of travel, just like a plane ticket with a reserved seat.

• Tickets for other trains (e.g., intercity, diretto, rapido in order of speed) are sold undated. Tickets can be purchased at stations and from travel agents, but they are NOT sold on the train. They can be used any time. If you want a reserved seat then you must request and buy it separately.

• You **must** buy and date-stamp your ticket BEFORE boarding the train using yellow machines near the head of the tracks. The conductor can issue a large fine (approx the fare to most distant station on the route + 25 Eu) if you board a train without a stamped and dated ticket.

• Mind your bags carefully. Have someone watch them if you leave your seat. Students in my class in 2004 never once had a theft problem on trains except one student who fell asleep while travelling alone on an overnight train in France.

• pdf map of the Rome area railway lines

• English-language Trenitalia train service

• Note: Smoking is prohibited on all train cars and classes of service effective 12/2004.

City Buses and Trams

• Rome has an extensive system of subways and busses. Warning! You cannot buy Rome bus tickets on the bus.

• Step 1. Buy tickets for busses at tobacco ("tabacchi") shops, train stations, and some newsstands. Tickets cost 1 Eu each (2004) and are sold undated and unstamped.
  
  Step 2. Stamp the ticket on the bus. You **must** date-stamp your ticket AFTER boarding the bus using yellow machines near the doors. If a fare-inspector finds you traveling on the bus without a stamped ticket, you will receive a 101-euro fine -- on the spot.

• Buses can be jam packed with people and pick pocketing is possible. So mind your wallet and valuables, hide zippers on backpacks, and keep packages in hand and preferably in front of you at all times.

• Lewd behavior can happen. If it does, step back, point, shout "HELP!", and have others join with you.

Cabs & Shuttles

• Cabs are safe, reliable, and surprisingly inexpensive in most cities. They charge by the distance and the number of bags. NEVER get in an unmetered cab.

• If you're taking a cab from the airport or train station, ignore the annoying fake cab drivers inside the airport (they're illegal, unregulated "gypsy" cab drivers) and walk outside to a cab stand.

• The cost of a cab skyrockets at night (after about 10 PM). From FCO to Rome is 50 Eu during the day and about twice as high at night.

• Fixed-price airport shuttle van service is available. See the UWRC documents for details.

Getting to the Rome Center

• Trains from FCO to Rome leave about every half hour. One of these is an express train to Rome's major train station, "Termini". The other is an inexpensive "local" train which stops at Trastevere (4th stop from the airport). Trastevere is much nearer to the U.W. Rome Center and your apartment than Termini. (Click here for local train map; airport is near the lower left corner.)

• The train terminal in FCO is located adjacent to parking lot C, across the street in front of Terminal C.

• If you get off the train at Trastevere you can take the number-8 tram ("Largo Argentina"; 1 Eu) or a taxi (about 15 Eu) to the UWRC where you normally get your apartment key (see below). The tram runs frequently; however, you must buy a ticket (see above) before you board and then stamp the ticket once you get on with your bags. Take the tram to the end of the line and haul your bags 5 blocks on cobblestone streets to the UWRC. Bottom line: share a cab if you can!

• For more information on getting from the Fiumicino airport to the UW Rome Center, see the instructions at the UW Rome Center website.

• The UW Rome Center (map 1) is your first destination in Italy unless you overnight in a hotel. It is located on the Campo dei Fiori ("field of flowers") near the Tiber River ("Fiume Tevere") in one of the best locations for exploring and enjoying the major sites inside the old city walls and the Vatican. It's a short walk to the lovely Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

• If you need to stay overnight in Rome, here's a list of inexpensive places to stay (thanks to the Rome Center). Albergo (Hotel) del Sole and Albergo Lunetta are both about a block from the Rome Center. Another useful source of hotels is Venere

• The UW Rome Center is located on the third floor of the Palazzo Pio

• You're on your own as soon as the last class ends.

• The UWRC is happy to store your bags for a week or so if you wish to travel around before leaving.

• The leases on some apartments end on the morning of the last day of class. You can crash at someone else's apartment for a night or two if necessary.

• If your plane leaves from Rome's FCO (Fiumicino a.k.a. Da Vinci) Airport then consider staying in the town of Fiumicono or Lido di Ostia the evening before (see map above). Both are seaside towns with lots of small hotels and retaurants a short taxi ride to the airport. There is easy, cheap, frequent train service from Rome to both towns. Lido di Ostia has miles of beach.

• A delightful attraction near the airport is the ancient Roman city of Ostia Antica ("OA"). OA was ancient Rome's seaport, sort of Rome's own Seattle. It's as well preserved as Pompeii, almost as large, and few people ever go there (modest adm. charge). OA is lovely in the late afternoon (closes an hour before sunset).

• There are many Etruscan ruins about 30 km or more north of the airport. You may need a car.