In most cases, passports get lost when travelers carry them in their handbags or frequently used pockets.  While it is necessary to carry a valid government issued ID for credit card use and basic identity purposes, it is not absolutely necessary to carry your passport around with you all day unless you plan to specifically use it.

Hotels offer safe boxes to place your valuables, and your passport IS valuable. You are less likely to lose if it you keep it safely locked inside your hotel room (just don’t forget to take it with you when you leave!)

If you must carry your passport with you during the day, try to use the practical and inexpensive money belts. Sure, during the hot summer months money belts are not quite comfortable to wear under your clothing, but it’s the safest place to carry your passport and money.

There are other safety measures that help reduce the likelihood of losing your passport.

Ladies:

If you don’t have a money belt or cannot wear one, be sure your handbag stays secured to your body at all times. Long durable straps that go over your shoulder with the handbag resting comfortably at your side is a popular choice. The handbag should have a zipper across and never stay open.

The less you have to remove your handbag from your person the better, especially in public places such as buses, trains, taxis, restaurants and cafes. Italy is a safe country, but even at home you must take precautions….even more so when you’re traveling.

Never remove your handbag and place it on the back of your chair in cafes and restaurants, place it on the floor by your feet, or set it anywhere that anyone can grab it and run. Never leave your handbag open or unattended. Be careful not to leave it behind in public toilets or dressing rooms. 

If you carry your passport inside your handbag, first place it inside a sealed ziplock bag to protect it from accidental spillage ( sometimes people get water or drinks spilled on their handbags).

 Never store your passport in the main pocket that you often reach into for your wallet, sunglasses, or other items throughout the day. Your passport should be in the safest possible pocket inside your handbag.

Gentlemen:

Carrying wallets and passports in your back pockets is highly discouraged because it’s the easiest way to have them lost or stolen. Deep front pockets or side pockets (as in cargo pants) are safer. For added measure, you may safety pin or velcro your pockets together to avoid accidental opening or unauthorized hands dipping into your pockets.

Again, Italy is a safe country, but things can get stolen anywhere you are, even in your home town.

Fanny packs are also popular to carry wallets and ID in. However, they can easily be snatched off or accidentally left behind if removed in public bathrooms or dressing rooms. If you prefer to carry a fanny pack a few preventive measures go a long way. If it’s possible, pull the fanny pack strap through you pant belt hoops to ensure it will not fall off if it snaps open, and no one can grab it and run. If you are already wearing a belt and it’s not possible to add the fanny pack strap through the belt hoops, you may secure the fanny pack strap to your belt hoops with safety pins(safety pins may not be stylish, but better safe than sorry!). You may also safety pin the zipper of your fanny pack shut to prevent anyone from opening it.

Safety pins may be flimsy, but the idea is to first deter petty thieves from making an easy run with your fanny pack, and to keep it secure to your body so it doesn’t fall off. Always store your passport inside a sealed ziplock bag and placed securely in a pocket you least use and closest to your body. Never keep your valuables in the main pocket that you reach into throughout the day.

Always make several copies of your passport (as well as all your ID’s and credit cards) and store them inside your luggage (which you should always keep locked in your hotel room when you are out and about) in case you do lose your passport and need a replacement.  Be sure to leave a copy of your passport with trusted friends or family so they can quickly scan it and e-mail it to you if necessary.

Another costly mistake that is quite common is forgetting to retrieve your passport from the hotel concierge. Worst case scenario this can cause you to miss your flight or your cruise. It pays to be extra diligent to wait a few extra minutes and not leave the front desk until you have your passport back in hand. It’s very easy to get distracted and forget to go back to the concierge to retrieve your passport, and the concierge can not be relied upon to make sure you don’t don’t leave your passport behind when you check out.

Wallets, cell phones, cameras, credit cards, jackets and yes, even ID’s and passports sometimes get left behind in taxis, buses, trains and private driver vehicles. If you book RomeCabs for your transfers and tours, you have the security of knowing you can contact us and let us know what you left behind and we will return it to you as quickly as possible. If you realize you lost something after your plane has left Rome, we will gladly mail them back to you. If you lose your items inside a taxi cab, train, or bus, chances are you may never see them again.

What other safety measures have you used or recommend??  Let us know by leaving a comment in the box below, we’d love to hear from you!

Sharing is fun: If you found this article helpful, please pass it along to anyone who might benefit from it.

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

A popular question many people visiting rome for the first time ask is what to wear in Rome?

Our answer is: first and foremost, be comfortable!

Shoes

Many streets in Rome (and Italy alike) are made of cobblestone, are sometimes uneven, and other times uphill. Comfortable shoes  are key. We do not suggest flipflops because they don’t offer any  support, exposes your bare feet to accidents (think stubbing your  toe, cuts from sharp objects, getting stepped on in busy buses and  Metros), as well as infection should you experience a cut.

White sneakers can and will get dirty, and if you want to pack less by being able to mix and match as many things as possible, white sneakers may not match everything or transit well from day to night. Comfortable walking shoes, preferably dark in color to withstand dirt, are the most practical way to go. During the summer sandals are more popular due to the heat, so make sure your sandals cover and protect your feet as much as possible and have comfortable soles. If your walking shoes and sandals are not overly casual, you can continue to wear them from day to night (unless you choose to dress up for a special evening). Please do not try to break in new shoes on your vacation; you’ll be walking a lot and your feet will suffer if your shoes don’t fit properly.

Shorts, tank tops, and other summer attire:

There’s no fashion police in Rome that will stop you for wearing tank tops, shorts, or mini skirts, but many churches will prevent you from walking in under-dressed. Under no circumstance can you walk inside the major churches like St Peter’s without your shoulders and knees covered. Yes, there is the Vatican “fashion police” who will measure you up and down to see if you’re dressed properly. It’s worse than Project Runway, and equally embarrassing when you’re told to leave because you’re showing too much shoulder and leg. And it’s quite irritating if you just spent 40 minutes under the hot sun of the piazza waiting in line to enter the piazza.

Lesser known churches are often understaffed, and they may not prevent under-dressed visitors from entering, but it’s a matter of respect and it’s nice to cooperate. If you plan to visit churches on any given day, dress accordingly in advance, or bring a shawl to cover your shoulders (ladies), and wear shorts and skirts that at least cover your knees. Convertible pants are great because you can switch from shorts to long as needed.

Jeans:

Yes, Italians wear jeans, especially younger people given the wide variety of denim styles available. Middle age Italian men and women wear jeans too, although less often. If in doubt, slacks and dockers are a great choice because they are light, great for any occasion, and easy to mix and match.

Casual or dressy?

What can we say? It’s Italy, the land of Armani, Prada, Versaci and Valentino, so Italians know style. It’s in their DNA it seems. But it doesn’t mean you have to spend your vacation dressed up in the latest style. While we advise you NOT to worry about being stylish, we do recommend you dress in whatever way makes you feel good about yourself, you’re comfortable in, and you like being photographed with because you’ll want to take a lot of photos on your trip and show them to everyone!

If you’d like a more specific example of what to wear, one of our clients had her rule of thumb: dress like you’re going to lunch at a nice restaurant with your in-laws.

If you’d like to transform from a day of sightseeing to a dinner out afterwards without changing wardrobe, for men a sports jacket goes a long way. For ladies, a nice shawl over the shoulders or a nice jacket are also great for dinner out…and practical for the cooler Mediterranean evenings.

Hats

We love hats! Winter, summer, and everything in between, there’s never a wrong time to wear hats. In the winter hats keep your warm, in the summer it keeps the sun off your head and face. Don’t worry about baseball hats. If you love them, wear them! And if you don’t want to bring your own hat, there are plenty to be found in Rome in all sorts of colors and styles. At the time this article is written, fedoras are a huge hit in Rome with tourists and locals alike. Ladies, hats are also great if you’re not having a particularly great hair day. Hats are both functional and fashion accessories!

Climate

Before leaving for your trip, it’s always a good idea to check the weather in advance. It’s not always accurate, but it gives you a general idea of what to expect so you can bring appropriate clothing. During the spring, summer and fall months, the Mediterranean climate allows for cool mornings and evenings, and much warmer during the day. If you plan to be out throughout the day including morning or evening, a good rule of thumb is to dress like an onion: in layers. This way you can take off layers as it gets warmer, and add them as it gets cooler.

With so many luxurious as well as affordable shops in Rome, you can always add to your vacation wardrobe and create your own style.

So next time you worry about looking touristy in Italy, here’s a secret: Italians already know you are a tourist, so forget about it, have fun, and embrace being a tourist because we love you no matter what!

Do you have any fashion tips and ideas to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments box below.

Sharing is fun: If you found this article helpful, please pass it along to anyone who might benefit from it.

 Thank you for visiting our blog.

With love,

The Stefano Rome Tours Team

Though the order of the rooms does not reflect  the chronology of when Raphael created the frescos, viewers can appreciate the ever changing  style of Raphael as executed into each scene. Influences of great artists such as Bramante, Michelangelo and Leonardo are evident while still maintaining the artist’s personal touch.

The first room that can be visited is the Room of Costantine, dedicated to the life of the first Christian Emperor who symbolically donated the city of Rome to the Pope in charge during his time, Pope Sylvester I and his successors . Even if this room carries an important meaning, it is the last room that Raphael painted, therefore only the preparatory cartoons were executed by the artist himself while the majority of the painting was carried out by his pupils due to Raphael’s premature death.

The second room is the Room of Heliodorus. The frescos were created towards the end of his career between 1511-1514, about 6 years before his death. The most impressive artistic achievement in this room is the Liberation of S. Peter. In this scene Raphael masters his ability to depict glowing and moving light, working in a medium that  does not allow the gradual manipulation of colors.

Effects of this kind were unparallel by Raphael’s contemporaries until the arrival of Caravaggio almost 100 years later. The frescos in this room also reflects Raphael’s observation of Michelangelo’s style in the Sistine Chapel. In fact the two artists were working in the Vatican at the same time.

The muscular density and powerful solidarity that classifies Michelangelo’s figures are borrowed by Raphael beginning with the School of Athens in the following room.

The Room of the Signature is perhaps the most celebrated works of Raphael’s career. With respect to the chronology of the artist, we are actually moving back in time, viewing the first room that he was commissioned to paint at the young age of 25.

A clear transition  in Raphael’s style is evident in viewing the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament and the School of Athens side by side.  In the latter painting is where we also see an homage to Raphael’s biggest rival. The representation of a philosopher, Heraclitus with the resemblance of  Michelangelo is prove of Raphael’s admiration for his contemporary. After seeing his masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo became an idol for the young artist.

The last part of the tour shows the forth room, which lends its name to a fire that broke out in the 9th Century in a neighborhood of the Vatican called the Borgo.

Let StefanoRomeTours and their team of licensed tour guides take you back in time to relive the crucial moments that marked Raphael’s career. This description only scratches the surface of the many historically nuances that are present in Raphael’s frescos.

Do you have any favorite artists or pieces of art inside the Vatican Museum? We’d love to hear from you in the comments box below.

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team 

Visit our Vatican Tour

From Milan to Rome and from Sicily to Malta, Caravaggio went from artistic residences to various prisons during his adventurous life that tragically ended in 1610 at the young age of 39. Even if he lived a short life, this gifted artist started a revolutionary art, influencing the majority of European painters.

His masterpieces changed the history of painting giving the spectators the new role of eye witnesses who are engaged in the action occurring right in front of them. Standing in front of one of his paintings, one can feel alone in a crowded room surrounded only by the beauty of his art.

No other artist of the past has been able to communicate so intensively with its audience.
Even though writers of his time always struggled with praising his talent in light of his tainted past; today it’s hard to distinguish the two souls of this man and artist.

His tragic death was almost seen at the time as a divine punishment for a sinful life, but today it is just considered a mystery behind the life of one of the greatest artist in history.

He was an honest artist communicating through his art both artistic style and biography with no filters nor obstacles.

Discover the masterpieces of Caravaggio that are scattered around Rome on a guided tour that will surprise you! From Santa Maria del Popolo Church to Doria Pamphilj and Borghese Gallery you can retrace this artist’s fascinating life.

Stefano Rome Tours offers daily shore excursions from Civitavecchia Port  to take you to the most important galleries and churches of Rome that proudly display her most treasured pieces.

Do you have a favorite artist whose art you admire? We’d love to hear from you in the comments box below.

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

With love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

In the 16^th century under Pope Gregory XIII, Venetian  mosaic craftsmen were called to Rome to teach the mosaic technique to the locals . By doing so they helped establish the first permanent team of Roman mosaic craftsmen.

Originally the mosaic studio was created to decorate parts of the Basilica such as the Gregorian Chapel and the Dome of Michelangelo, however the technique proved to be one of the most successful decorative styles and was extended to all the cupolas of the Basilica.

After two centuries of hard work, the Roman studio surpassed the Venetian production by creating over 26,000 color tonalities. In order to obtain a vast variety of shades, the craftsmen melted pre-existing colors together in a kiln built in the 1700’s inside the Vatican and that’s when the Studio became a permanent installation.

Around 1770 another revolutionary discovery reaffirmed the importance of the Studio worldwide. Two of the most prominent mosaic painters, Raffaelli and Aguatti, invented the “filate enamels”. This technique consists of re-melting the tiles, creating a malleable substance that can be stretched very thin to form minuscule pieces, sometimes smaller than 1 millimeter.

From that moment on, the mosaics produced in the Vatican were more beautiful and elegant than ever before. These small tiles could also be used to decorate jewelry and small everyday objects, setting off the commissions of the high aristocracy of Rome and the world to create one of a  kind gifts.

In fact to this day, the Studio of the Mosaics still executes works of any size on private commissions, many of which come from the United States.

The same exclusive group of artisans who work on commission from the pope also create unique mosaics  for the public which of course come with a hefty price tag.

If you want to   be one of the few people that discovers the beauty of this fascinating art studio join the exclusive private tour of the Vatican offered by StefanoRomeTours!

You can see the artisans at work and ask them questions, touch the precious pieces of glass kept in the laboratory chromatically organized, see the kiln of the 1700’s and visit the unique show room of some of the best works of the private collection. If you can’t afford a commission work this tour will at least give you a once in a lifetime experience at a much lower price!

Do you have a favorite piece of Mosaic Art you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you in the comments box below.

Sharing is fun! If you enjoyed this article, please share with others who would enjoy it as well.

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

With love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

Our personal service means that you will be picked up by our professional driver at your hotel at 9.00 AM and then you will be returned home, after an exciting day, at around 5.00 PM.

Our first stop on the tour is one of the best preserved medieval hill towns in the country, the quaint village of Calcata, which lies perched high upon a volcanic rock. The village is a now a bustling center for artisans and creative intellectuals, and it is hard to believe that the village was condemned in the 1930′s for fear of landslides. With its cobbled streets, great collection of art galleries, craft shops and ancient relics, this truly is a unique location.

Our next stop is Sutri, about a 30-minute drive north west of Calcata and it’s an Etruscan archaeological site. This beautiful village has around 5,000 inhabitants and attractions include an Etruscan necropolis, an excavated Roman amphitheatre with dozens of rock-cut tombs, a Mithraeum found in the crypt of the village’s church, the Church of the Madonna del Parto, as well as a Romanesque cathedral, which has seven naves divided by twenty columns, all of a different origin. The cathedral was built over the ruins of an early Christian basilica and was consecrated by Pope Innocent III in 1207. After visiting the attractions of Sutri, we head north to the ancient city of Viterbo.

A charming ancient city, Viterbo is also the capital of the provincial area and lies between Lake Bolsena and Lake Vico. First of all we will luncheon in the city and after settling with a full stomach of tasty Italian food, we will be well prepared for visiting the city’s best sights, including churches, palaces, castles and ruins.

In fact, Viterbo is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval towns of central Italy, and on entering the historic centre, via the ancient gates of the 13 Century city walls, you will be able to see why for yourself. Places of interest on the route include the Papal Palace, the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo, Piazza del Gesù and the square’s simple but quaint 11th Century church, and the Fontana Grande, to name but just a few.

This is an ideal tour for those who wish to follow a splendid and varied itinerary that lasts a good day!

Don’t forget: In order to be able to enter any of the churches, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry! Furthermore, we are glad to inform you that on this tour there are no additional fees for entrance tickets.

Tour Highlights
Calcata :: Sutri :: Viterbo
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Return time: approximately 5.00pm
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/viterbocalcatasutri/

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

The Stefano Rome Tours team

We highly recommend the Rome Day From Civitavecchia Tour. This is a hassle-free way of visiting the city directly from Civitavecchia, without having to worry about how to get to Rome, or what you should see and visit when you actually reach the Eternal City. This is because you will be picked up at the ports’ pier at 8.30 AM and then driven to Rome, where you will be provided with an excellent day’s itinerary, before being retuned to the pier at around 5.30 PM.

This tour from Stefano Rome Tours will take you through the highlights of the city, and even before reaching Rome you will be able to enjoy the beautiful and ancient Etruscan landscape  en route.

The comfortable drive to the capital takes just over an hour on the Roman countryside highway, and your personal driver will point out to you all the places of interest on the way, as well as answer any questions you may have about the tour.

Rome has numerous sights and attractions to visit, from ancient Roman ruins to baroque churches and much, much more. As you can see below in the ‘Tour Highlights’, you will in fact be covering the city’s most famous sights, such as the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, so you can be rest assured that you will get the most out of your one day tour of Rome!

As always, remember that there is a dress code on entering churches in Italy, so please make sure that your shoulders and knees are all covered.

Tour Highlights
Pyramid of Caius Cestio :: Circus Maximus :: Colosseum :: Roman Forum :: Vittorio Emanuele Monument :: Vatican Museum :: Sistine Chapel :: St. Peter’s Basilica :: Pantheon :: Trevi Fountain

Pick up time: approximately 8.00am
Return time: approximately 5.30pm

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

A short bio on St. Francis of Assisi: He was born in 1182 or 1183 to a wealthy family, his father being a rich cloth merchant and his mother was originally from France. Throughout his early life there were signs of the man he was later to become, the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, or the Franciscans.

There are many stories of his kindness to animals and fellow human beings, and of his fondness of the environment. It was around 1209 that St. Francis totally gave up all his worldly goods and took up a life of poverty. He wore just a woollen robe, which was fastened only by a knotted rope and went about rebuilding churches and ministering to people. Others followed him and also vowed to a life of poverty, and the new order was borne.

St. Francis died on October 3, 1226 and every year on the 4th of October his Feast Day takes place, honouring the saint’s charitable life and achievements.

The tour starts off by picking you up at your hotel and then we will head to Assisi via the beautiful countryside of Lazio and Umbria. Your professional driver will of course also point out the the major points of interest en route.

Our first stop will be the Church of St. Maria degli Angeli, the place where St. Francis passed away in 1226.

Next we will visit the burial place of St. Francis, namely the Basilica of St. Francis which was built straight after his canonisation in 1228.

We will then make our way down to the town’s main square, Piazza del Comune, which is also home to a very interesting Roman archaeological site, and the Temple of Minerva
that once was a 1st century BC pagan temple and later converted into a church.

Our last stop in Assisi itself will be the Basilica of St. Clare (Santa Chiara). St. Clare was one of the first women to join St. Francis’ ministry in 1212. Her preserved body is on display in a crypt in the basilica, along with garments worn by both St. Francis and St. Clare, as well as some locks of St. Clare’s hair that St. Francis cut off when she joined his ministry.

Our final stop is just outside Assisi, the small and simple Church of San Damiano. This is where St. Francis had his calling; after hearing a voice telling him to ‘rebuild my church’, he did exactly that. St. Clare spent most of her life until she died there in 1253.

Important to know: To enter any of the churches, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry!

Tour Highlights
Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli :: Basilica of St. Frances :: Piazza della Minerva :: Church of Santa Chiara

Pick up time: approximately 8.00am

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

The tour first takes us to Orvieto, which has been producing wine since the Middle Ages. We will first visit the Cantina Foresi at the Piazza Duomo. Here you will be able to taste the town’s most famous wine, the ‘Orvieto Classico‘, along with other fine white wines and some delicious local foods, such as wild boar and pork salamis, porchetta colonnata and an excellent range of cheeses.

After the tasting you can take a tour of the cellar and then you will have the opportunity to buy any of the wines that you just tasted. Orvieto is also worth visiting for its tourist sights, especially the 14th century cathedral, and you will have time to admire the building, as well as stroll around the town’s shops, many of which sell Orvieto’s other famous product, namely ceramics.

We now continue to the charming hill-town of Montepulciano in the beautiful Chianti region of Tuscany. This town is great for walking, as the centre is almost free of traffic.

Here we will taste both red and white wines, the most famous being Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano, and we will follow this with a visit to a vineyard and olive grove.

After tasting some of the palatable delights that Montepulciano offers, you will have time to discover the town itself, including the shops and attractions. There is the 17th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Palazzo Comunale, which was designed by Michelozzo in the same tradition as the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence, and also the town’s impressive castle, which was the site of many a battle between the locals and the Republic of Siena.

One of our most popular tours, the Wine Tour is both relaxing and interesting, and with the added bonus of trying some authentic regional food and wine!

Tour Highlights

Orvieto :: Montepulciano

Pick up time: approximately 8.00am

Return time: around 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/winetasting/

Thank you for stopping by and reading our blog.

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team

There are no less than two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city and our Tivoli Villas Tour is an enjoyable way of visiting them. As the name of the tour suggests, we will be visiting two villas, the Roman Villa Adriana and the Renaissance Villa d’Este.

Villa Adriana was a gigantic complex initiated and used by Emperor Hadrian as his countryside retreat. In fact it was as large as many towns of the day with an area of about 250 acres and comprising of several palaces, thermae, temples, libraries, state rooms, slave quarters and even a theatre.

Underground, there is an extensive network of tunnels, which were mainly used for the transportation of both servants and goods from one area of the complex to the other. Due to its enormity, Hadrian himself probably needed to have a guide himself to get around the villa!

Villa d’Este is also a UNSECO site, but being of Renaissance architecture, it is not as old as Villa Adriana and dates back “only” to the late 1500s. The villa was originally commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, grandson of Pope Alexander VI and has undergone many improvements throughout the years. The villa is most famous for its beautiful gardens and water features, which later had an enormous influence on landscape design throughout Europe and beyond.

After the tour you can enjoy a typical meal in the trattoria near to the villa, before we continue our jorney back to Rome.

Tour Highlights
Villa Adriana :: Villa d’Este
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/tivolivillas/

We look forward to seeing you in Rome!

with love,

the Stefano Rome Tours team