What to do in Rome on August 2012
Rome in August is hot, sticky and surprisingly empty. August is the month in which Romans decamp en masse and head for the seashore or the mountains, searching for a welcome respite from the scorching city heat. Many shopkeepers and restaurant owners take part in the exodus as well, so shuttered shop windows and the ubiquitous chiuso per ferie (closed for the holidays) signs are a common sight.
Here are few tips on how to get the best out of Rome during this time:
1) Stick to the center:
The neighborhoods on the fringe of the city are naturally th e most deserted. If you’re looking for a place to chow or buy a new pair of sandals, stay in the more touristy areas of Piazza Navona, Trevi and the Spanish Steps, where merchants are more likely to stay in town.
2) Head to the beach:
You’d probably think that August would be the most crowded month of the summer at the seaside, and in the resort towns this is definitely the case, but the beaches around Rome are actually less overrun now than in June or July, exactly because so many Roman residents are far away.
3) Take in an exhibit:
One thing that you can count on staying open all month are the city’s museums. Enjoy the air-conditioning as you admire the works of arrt in museums much emptier than you would find in other months. And bonus is less lines!!!
4) Go out at night:
There’s something special about traipsing through the deserted city in the middle of the night. It’s a relatively safe city after dark 8just steer clear of Termini Station), so wander the crooked cobblestone streets to the Trevi Fountain. If you get there late enough, you’ll have the whole thing to yourself. Better yet, rent a scooter and whiz through the empty streets and up to Gianicolo hill where you can smooch your sweetheart with all of Rome at your feet.
5) Take an early morning stroll:
Poets have written about the glorious way that the afternoon sun lights up the buildings in Rome. But the same is true of dawn’s gentle light. In August, without the noise, traffic and pollution of the city’s commuters, at 7am walk will make you feel like you have the entire, golden city to yourself. Take a camera and capture Rome’s most famous sights with out a single other person to mar the shot.
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