Rome is a holiday destination that is easy to fall in love with.  There are so many landmarks in the heart of the city and so much beauty in its surroundings.  Now, with 12.5% off car rental, courtesy of Holiday Autos, hiring a car might just be the best way to enjoy both sides of the Italian capital.

Leonardo da Vinci Airport is located on the outskirts of Rome – connected to the city via the Autostrada Flumicino-Roma highway.  If you take advantage of the Holiday Autos deal today, then you can set straight off into the centre of the Rome once you arrive – no waiting around for coaches!

The discount explained…

Holiday Autos are offering holidaymakers the opportunity to save up to 20% on car hire in selected destinations, with car hire Rome discounted by 12.5%.  All you need to do is book before Monday June 17^th 2012.  The offer is applicable for picks-ups until Saturday June 30^th 2012.

Save money by booking the car today and you can start looking forward to a Rome holiday like no other.  You have the luxury of visiting the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps and Vatican City on any day you like but you also have the freedom to venture out into the picturesque Italian countryside.

A road trip through Rome…  

If you love your food, then a road trip through Rome is going to more than satisfy your appetite.  Start your day with a quality Italian breakfast at Tazza d’Oro – a cappuccino and brioche is highly recommended.  Navigating through the cobbled streets to get there is all part of the fun and the cafe is just 10 minutes away from Villa Borghese.

The Villa Borghese Gardens provide the perfect setting for some Italian brunch and there is plenty to do while you are there.  The park is home to a number of museums and art galleries, a large manmade lake, a horse riding school, an amphitheatre and even a zoo!  From there, just another 10 minute drive takes you across the River Tiber to Stadio Olimpico – the home ground of football clubs AS Roma and SS Lazio.

The stadium is enormous and is used for a variety of entertainment purposes.  If you can catch a show here during your holiday then definitely snap up the opportunity – it is pretty much the modern equivalent of the Colosseum.

Keep driving northwards past the stadium and in under an hour you will see a completely different side of Rome.  Set up a picnic at the side of Lake Bracciano and take it easy for the afternoon.  You can even swim in the lake if you fancy it! That’s the beauty of hire cars – you can always pack some towels and a change of clothes in the boot.

Also with a car you know you can head straight back to the city for some proper Italian pizza!  Li Rioni is one of the nicest pizzerias in the shadow of the Colosseum.  Cooked on a wood-burning oven,the delicious Roman pizzas attract hundreds of hungry locals every night.

This is just one day’s road trip in Rome – there really is so much more to see in the city and without a car, it can be difficult to see enough.  My advice is experience as much of Rome as you can and take it all back home with you – experience everything and fall in love with every corner of the ‘Eternal City’.

I don’t know about you but I have made it a life’s mission to see and witness with my own eyes the grandeur that was Rome as it still can be reflected through the remnants of its glorious past, that until now have made preserved for people to see.

There is so much about this city that will enthrall you to come back. Once you have set your feet on its ground and have laid your eyes on its view, for some reason; time will just stop as it takes you back in history when many things have happened that actually helped on paving the way of where we are today.

I’m writing this hoping it will serve you as a guide on the things that you should do and see when in Rome. And as your first activity, checking out the Colosseum where gladiators used to fight to give live entertainment to the mob and to the emperor will make you relive the moment when you can hear the sound of the crowd cheering for that battle. You’ll realize that you are actually standing on what used to be the flat screen TV of the people back in those days. They had a very different and interesting kind of living that will trigger your curiosity as you stand on the very ground of this city.

Rome has defined history and legacy like no other and one of the proofs is the Vatican City where its influence can dominate a massive part of the world. Coming here won’t just bombard you with things of the past, but surprisingly despite of the old scenery that you will see; the inevitable touch of the modern world has made its mark on this ancient city.

See the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica and be amazed on the architecture of this church. You can go next to the Vatican Museum to marvel on the different collections they made over the history of this country.

Like I said, Rome is not just about the ancient past; it has pretty much adapted very well the modern day lifestyle. When it comes to the nightlife, this city is very much awake and since Rome has this romantic ambiance; expect to see lovers on the streets taking a walk and enjoying the cool breeze of the night.

And unlike centuries ago, fortunately you won’t see any blood spills and other morbid acts anymore if you’re up looking for some entertainment. The locals actually enjoy the normal and totally legal ways to be entertained like clubbing and dancing in bars.

But you know what’s the best thing to do when in Rome so you get the real atmosphere of their culture? I say go outside and have a table in one of their sidewalk cafes (I recommend Via Veneto) as you wine and dine and have a conversation with your friend underneath the starry skies. I think you just made history by having that very moment.

Coming to Rome is never complete without making a wish on the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that anyone who will throw a coin on this fountain will get to come back to Rome. You can prove that it’s true if you tried throwing a coin and eventually come back. But seriously, who wouldn’t want to return to this lovely place?

And one of the reasons you will come back is their amazing Italian dishes especially if you visit Sapori del Lord Byron, which is one of the best restaurants in town! If you are looking for the finest Italian gourmet, then do whatever it is to experience their delicacies.

Being a fan of Italian food, coming to Rome will make you feel like some expert as you taste each of their dishes and act like you’re in a cooking reality show savoring the words Magnifico, Al dente and Bravo, as you eat your heart out. This is indeed the perfect place to eat your pasta!

Walking on the streets of Rome is effortless because of the nice and cool weather of this city. Coming to Rome will give you a blissful moment of pausing for a while as you look around and see things in sepia and in slow motion.

Photo credit: Giampaolo Macorig