ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 903

fidence while making eye contact with approaching drivers—they won't hit you if they
can tell where you intend to go.
Staying/Getting Healthy: The siesta is a key to survival in summertime Rome. Lie down
and contemplate the extraordinary power of gravity in the Eternal City. I drink lots of
cold, refreshing water from Rome's many drinking fountains (the Forum has three).
There's a pharmacy (marked by a green cross) in every neighborhood. Pharmacies stay
open late in Termini Station (daily 7:30-22:00) and at Piazza dei Cinquecento 51 (open
24 hours daily, next to Termini Station on the corner of Via Cavour, tel. [phone]).
Embassies can recommend English-speaking doctors. Consider MEDline, a 24-hour
home-medical service; doctors speak English and make calls at hotels for €150 (tel.
06-808-0995). Anyone is entitled to free emergency treatment at public hospitals. The
hospital closest to Termini Station is Policlinico Umberto 1 (entrance for emergency
treatment on Via Lancisi, translators available, Metro: Policlinico). Readers report that
the staff at Santa Susanna Church, home of the American Catholic Church in Rome, of-
fers useful advice and medical referrals (see here ) .
Getting Around Rome
Sightsee on foot, by city bus, by Metro, or by taxi. I've grouped your sightseeing into walk-
able neighborhoods. Make it a point to visit sights in a logical order. Needless backtracking
wastes precious time.
The public transportation system, which is cheap and efficient, consists primarily of
buses, a few trams, and the two underground subway (Metro) lines. Consider it part of your
Roman experience.
The walking-tour company, Rome Walks, has produced an orientation video to Rome's
transportation system; find it on YouTube by searching for “Understanding Rome's Public
Transport.”
For information, visit www.atac.roma.it , which has a useful route planner in English, or
call 06-57003.
Buying Tickets
All public transportation uses the same ticket. It costs €1.50 and is valid for one Metro
ride—including transfersunderground—plusunlimited citybusesand elettrico busesduring
a 100-minute period. Passes good on buses and the Metro are sold in increments of one day
(€6, good until midnight), three days (€16.50), one week (€24, about the cost of three taxi
rides), and one month (€35, valid for a calendar month).
You can purchase tickets and passes at some newsstands, tobacco shops ( tabacchi ,
marked by a black-and-white T sign), and major Metro stations and bus stops, but not on