I’ve mentioned before that my husband and his family, seventh-generation Roman Romans Residing in Rome, have managed to retain their citizenship without having actually seen much of their own hometown. Any true inhabitant of the Eternal City can tell you how to get to the Borghese Galleries or to Santa Maria Maggiore – he just can’t tell you what those places look like inside. It seems to be sort of a boast for a Roman to be able to list the seven hills of Rome while admitting that he has managed to avoid four of them for his entire life.
I was an enigma to these people; I who had visited the Vatican Museums nine times in one summer; I who, that same summer, used to slip into every church I passed on my route home from my Italian classes, checking them off and marking the dates in my guide book. Continue reading Whirlwind Tour of St Peter’s Basilica→
Most of us have the dress-code rules when visiting a church in Italy: no shorts, bare shoulders, or mini-skirts. Bare shoulders would include sleeveless tops for women and men (yes, if he’s wearing a tank top, you can be sure he’s American.) I’ve heard of men being admitted in long, cargo-style shorts (not that anyone should be admitted anywhere in cargo shorts,) but you’re better off not taking any chances.
I’ve found the dress code to be pretty consistent throughout the country, however, many cities in Italy have very different customs and rules for church visitations particularly in heavily touristed cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Christmas in Italy is a wonderful time to visit for many reasons, but don’t expect that you will have the whole place to yourself. Au contraire! You’re not the only one who would rather travel than go through the trouble of decking your own halls but the experience far outweighs any little inconveniences you may encounter, be they crowded airports, crowded piazzas and museums, or the cold weather.
Christmas Decorations
I know you’ve heard it before, but Italians just have a flair for style which is usually understated and never overbearing. In big cities and small towns lights are strung across the streets, evergreen garlands are draped over doorways, and the churches are adorned with poinsettias.
