Italy... Not Just a Land of Pizza and Pasta

When we talk of Italy, pizza and pasta always comes to mind.  But more than that, Italy is also a land of art and architecture.  It is evident in structures, even just in Rome.

It was already late when we got to FCO (Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport) via Vueling Airlines.  We were just in time to catch some of the last bus trips to the city (Roma Termini station).  We took the Terravision bus for Euro5/person to city center.  I think when you buy online, it'll just cost Euro4.  We got to the city in about an hour, there's no more traffic at that time.  We looked for our accommodation for the night which is just walking distance from the Roma Termini station.  There are some personnel in the station that you could ask for directions of hotels.  Actually, if you still don't have any, they'll offer you one.

Terravision bus tickets

Below is our day-to-day itinerary in Italy.

Day 1:
- Check in at Affittacamere Fanti B&B

Day 2:
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
- Moved to San Peter Angels
- Vatican Museum
- St. Peter's Square / St. Peter's Basilica
- Castel Sant Angelo
- Santa Maria Del Carmelo In Traspontina

Day 3:
- Colosseum
- Piazza del Popolo
- Piazza Spagna / Spanish Steps / Trinita dei Monti
- Triton Fountain / Piazza Barberini
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona

Day 4:
- Pisa and Florence
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Day 5:
- Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square

* I'll update itinerary links as it becomes available

Our last day coincides with Palm Sunday and since we're attending the mass at St. Peter's Square, we went to Roma Termini to leave our luggage (left luggage in Roma Termini).  Cost is Euro 6 for every piece of baggage for the first 5 hours, 6th to 12th hour is Euro 0.90/hour, and Euro 0.40 for each additional hour after the 12th hour.

We took the Leonardo Express train from Roma Termini to FCO for Euro 14/person.  We could have taken the bus to save on cost but we're worried about traffic.  There's no specific time indicated in the tickets that we bought at the station.  We were told that it can be used at any time.  As with other trains, just be sure to have it validated in one of the machines in the station before boarding the train.

Roma Termini

Leonardo Express train tickets

Ticket Validation Machine [image from source]

Dichiarazione di Presenza (Declaration of Presence)

When I got my passport (with visa) back from the Italian Embassy, it came with the notice below.  It was stated that "upon entry, you are required to declare your presence in Italy to the border authorities (ensuring that the passport is stamped) or, if you are entering Italy from another Schengen country, to the territorially competent Questura (Police Station) within 8 working days from the date of entry in Italy".  My friend, who applied for her visa in Singapore, didn't have this notice when she received her passport back.

Notice from the Italian Embassy

I did some research on this and found out that this is called Dichiarazione di Presenza (Declaration of Presence).  More information on this site.

"For those staying in hotels and other reception facilities, the declaration of presence is handled by the reception facility upon check-in, a copy of which is supplied to the guest to be displayed to authorities upon eventual request."

Based on the statement above, it seems that this should be handled by our accommodation.  Hopefully, they have done this as I'm not sure what to show the authorities when asked for this document.  I've seen a sample of the form from a website but I haven't gotten any document that looks like it.  Our hosts did copy some information from my passport and my friend's passport though but we only got a receipt from both accommodations, which I kept hoping it will serve as declaration of presence when asked.  Well, I don't know if that would work but I'm thankful we were not asked by any police/authority for it.

Receipt from both accommodations