The Village is a shopping mall type complex in the Parco de Medici area, combining several…read moreestablishments under the same roof, including the Space Cinema movie theaters and a gaming arcade the Joy Village, several fast-casual and fast food restaurants like Jack Bullet burgers, Arthurland pub, That's Amore pizza, Sushi Koi Parco de Medici, a hobby and model shop Palazzoli Modellismo, a Mondadori bookstore, and a bunch of others, plus a business office park nearby. There is plenty of parking available usually on the surrounding lots, which look deserted most of the time, especially in the off peak show times. The nearest hotel complex is Sheraton, consisting of three large buildings scattered around the golf course area. There are also several other chains not far away, Holiday Inn and Marriott Park compounds included, each of which has its own on-site restaurant and other amenities. The entire area is about forty minutes away from the historical center of Rome, Centro Storico. Most hotels run shuttle service at a reasonable price. A taxi ride to the city center or the other way to the Fiumicino airport should cost you €30. Stazione Muratella is the nearest train station. The Village looks and feels to me like it's stuck in the 70s or 80s, in a way, giving an older development vibe. At the same time, I'm just glad that it's here and available to grab a quick bite or some window shopping when your time allows. Otherwise, there would only be an office park and a golf course, plus some residential condo towers, dating back to the same timeframe in their development - doesn't look like it's been updated much since then.

if you love italian cinema, this is a great place to hit…read more Many years ago I went to Cinecitta from the Colosseum by rail. I got off the train and before long I found a sidewalk with Anna Magnani's star on it. I zoomed off, but It took me a while to find the front gate as I ended up walking around the parameter of Cinecitta. When I got to the gate I asked if there was a tour, but no one understood what I meant. I was eventually helped by an English speaking employee, and she was able to translate what I meant when I asked if they had a tour, "like they have at Universal Studios." No such tour existed, and we all had a laugh when they were told what Universal Studios's tour was like. I am harpy to say that the tour now exists, and that it is amazing. It is thankfully not like Universal Studios, by the way. Be prepared to walk. And enjoy all of the sets from the great Italian cinema.

There are times when I love children and times when I dislike them. Coming to Cinecittà on a day…read morewhen the tour group was full of children brought me to the latter. Please, for the sake of goodness and truth, leave your frantic kids at the arcade or mall or with your local fruittivendolo if they are easily bored and prefer to jump around things and run around people. But I digress. A visit to Cinecittà is a MUST for anyone who loves film. I happen to be completely obsessed with film (more so than music, surprisingly), so I found Rome's premier movie studio thoroughly enchanting, passionate and even romantic. The sets for 'Gangs of New York,' a film I love from one of my favorite directors of all time, and the multi-million dollar recreation of Ancient Rome for HBO's 'Rome' were definite highlights of this trip. Then there's the famous balcony from 'Romeo and Juliet' that warmed our hears like few architectural structures could. The exhibition Cinecittà Si Mostra (Cinecittà Shows Off) was quite brilliant as well, though I wouldn't come here just for that. With music and lighting effects, lots of props and first-hand accounts from actors and directors, it's an exhibit full of movie history. The only downside (besides the children, if they should be there) is that the tour is only in Italian, making it difficult for foreigners to follow along, and you cannot visit the sets without participating in a guided tour. Even if you don't understand the language, you can still follow along ('Gangs of New York' in italiano e' anche 'Gangs of New York' - cosi' conveniente). I would recommend that everyone opt for the tour (show your Metro ticket for two euros off). It was film that inspired me to change careers, fall in love and live life to its fullest. This is where so much of it is made.

I was excited about this place going by their website and the basic premise of a video game museum…read morebut in reality it's four or five shoddy rooms with some games (not many) hooked up to some old TVs. They had some old arcade games but not in their original cabinets, you get to play Pac Man on a screen but with a playstation control pad.. They have all the old consoles in display cabinets and some rare games on display but you can't play them. Nothing here is anything a gamer of a certain age (I'm 38) hasn't owned or played before. The big attraction is the Oculus Rift but you literally get ONE shot and it last 5 minutes and you don't get to play what you want from a small selection, you get to choose one of three on any particular day. It really is a good exerience however if you haven't tried it before. When I did ask for second go I was told I couldn't, despite the place being empty. This was a bit mean and not in the spirit of sharing the love of video gaming. To summarise, for 8 Euro's, it's really not worth it. Luckily, I was staying in the neighbourhood so it didn't really waste my time as well as my money.

We were looking for something to do near our hotel on our last night in Rome and this was nearby!…read more It was challenging to find the entrance and when we did it was still confusing since there is a museum integrated with the ruins and we didn't have time to see a museum....the staff member working there pointed us to the kiosks to buy tickets and there was an option for the archeological site only so we bought those. There were no signs saying where we were supposed to go and no one to ask...we walked around a bit and kind of figured things out, but almost missed the main hall as the sign was very small...hint...walk straight after scanning your tickets and then turn left right after the gift shop which looks like you're exiting, but there is a tiny sign that says "to halls" or something like that. The areas to the right include a nice courtyard and the museum. The ruins were interesting, but with the minimal signage, and no one around to answer questions, it was a little frustrating.

This is one huge complex that offers so much to be seen. The Baths of Diocletian were the largest…read morein Rome when they were built in AD 298-306; and able to accommodate 3,000 people at a time. Today, it houses not only the museum, but also the Basilica of Maria degli Angeli. This museum was opened in 1889. Although the museum contains many interesting exhibits, it gives little insight into the original baths themselves. Michelangelo's cloister has about 400 sculptural objects - including statues, sarcophagi, altarpieces, and architectural decorative elements which can be viewed under the open arcades. There are several floors of exhibitions which include memorial inscriptions, bas-reliefs and archaeological artefacts, which provide a fascinating insight into Roman life. Cipressi di Michelangelo - The building surrounding this courtyard were designed by Michelangelo. It includes a 107,600-square-feet cloister known as Michelangelo's Cloister, which was built in 1565. The arcades are supported by 100 travertine columns. The fountain in the garden dates from 1695 and is surrounded by four cypresses of which one is thought to be planted by Michelangelo, and seven colossal heads of animals. The garden has an enormous marble fountain; and the large cloister, where a section of lesser statues and various archaeological materials are exhibited, are part of the complex of the National Roman Museum of Diocletian Bath.