TRAVELLING. Avoid public transport during the rush hour if at all possible. And remember when you take the metro that etiquette and manners (see below) are very different in Italy. On the Metro expect to be pushed and squashed by travellers desperate to reach the doors (while the train is still in motion) or to force themselves into the packed carriage.
MANNERS. Some Romans may strike you as very rude, even those employed by the tourist industry. Try to ignore their manner, stay charming and polite and use as much Italian as you can (even if it’s terrible), and many of them will melt. Just tell yourself they don’t mean anything by it.
LANGUAGE: Buy a phrasebook and make an attempt to communicate in Italian. It’s the polite thing to do, and it will always be appreciated. It will only take a few minutes to learn the correct pronunciation.
At the very least, memorise the following:
- Buongiorno - Good day
- Buonasera - Good evening (after about 3pm)
- Arrivaderci - Goodbye
- Per favore - Please
- Grazie - Thank you
- Scusi - Excuse me
- Parla inglese? - Do you speak English
- Non parlo italiano - I don't speak Italian.
For football-specific vocabulary, see under See a Match.
WALKING. Wear comfortable shoes. The best (and cheapest) way to see Rome is by foot. Get a good map (the tourist ones given away at the Stazione Termini information centres aren’t bad) and set off to explore. It could also be worth buying a handful of travel tickets (see travel section) and hopping on and off buses and trams. Stops are pretty well labelled (minus timetables, but they’d be pretty redundant anyway).
LAZIO COLOURS. Be wary of sporting Lazio colours publicly. Click here
for more tips on Being a Fan.
FOOTBALL SHOPPING. Rome is dotted with stalls and shops where you can buy
cheap shirts and scarfs. The quality won’t be high, but prices are cheap
and they’ll make good souvenirs. Better Lazio stuff can be bought at
Lazio Point and around the stadium on match days. There are also plenty
of sports shops around the main shopping areas where you can buy full price official replica kits of all the Italian sides
EATING. Most restaurants in the centre of Rome are cheap, and good. Try
leaving the main piazzas and heading a few yards down smaller streets
for the best value. Almost all will have menus in English.
DRINKING. The two things to remember are that (a) drinks other than wine are often more expensive
than in the UK, and (b) spirit measures are much larger. Being drunk is not as acceptable as it is in Britain, and fans don't drink at
the stadium.
SECURITY. I’ve always found Rome to be a much more honest place than it
is painted. However, be careful of valuables (especially around Stazione
Termini, on the Metro and in crowds), check your change, and don’t be
afraid to argue about the bill.