Viewing Rome
Features
Essence
Time Line
Peace & Quiet
Famous People
Crime
The bag-snatching and pocket-picking sectors of the Roman criminal community pose the biggest threat to visitors. Here there is good news and bad. 1996 saw bag-snatches, called scippi and traditionally committed by masked figures on motor scooters, register a 6 per cent decrease on the year before, at 13,333. But there was a 3 per cent rise in picked pockets, at 85,245.
Population
The city of Rome is roughly 2,700 years old. It has a population of over 3 million - up from 200,000 in 1870 when Italy became a unified nation (although there were well over 1 million people living in the city in the days of the empire). There are about 192,000 foreigners resident in Rome. About 10 million people arrive at Fiumicino airport every year. About two-thirds of the working population are in government administration; few work in industry - 100,000, while 600,000 people work in offices. The city covers about 1,500sq km and 12 hills, having expanded somewhat from the original seven hills of Rome. Climate
The best seasons for visiting are April to June, September and October - also the busiest, although the real peak comes at Easter when pilgrims swell the crowds of tourists who descend on the city. The average annual temperature is 16°C with a high of 38°C and a low of -4°C. In July and August temperatures can reach 40°C and in August a lot of businesses close for the holidays. Early spring and late autumn are the wettest seasons (you can be unlucky at other times as well) - Rome has a similar annual rainfall to London but most falls over a few days. Even in winter the weather can be glorious with maximum daily temperatures around 15 or 16°C but, although it seldom snows, there can be bitingly cold winds in December, January and early February. Churches and Bars
Central Rome has over 400 churches, 600 bars and less than 40 public toilets (but do not panic, most bars will allow you to use theirs). There are also 150km of holes in the road.
| COUNTRY |
| Italy |
| REGION |
| Tuscany & Florence |
| CITIES |
| Rome
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| Florence |
| Naples |
| Venice |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
 |