june-2011

Rome
www.wantedinrome.com Euro Wizz Air: 899 018 874 /875
Getting to the centre
We provide point-to-point bus
transfers between the airports (both
Ciampino and Fiumicino) and Rome
centre (termini Station). It’s €8.50
(€17 return) to/from Fiumicino and €6
(€12 return) to/from Ciampino.
A slice of the city
Rome celebrates summer with
festivities along the Tiber featuring
stalls offering local handicrafts and
food. Around town the Estate Romana
arts festival is in full swing.
Eating out
Popular but worth the crowds,
Ristorante Crispi 19 (19
Via Francesco Crispi, www.
ristorantecrispi19.com) boasts a
quality dining experience. Signature
plates include tuna carpaccio and
home made pasta dishes. Or for
a more local flavour, Flavio Al
Velavevodetto (99 Via di Monte
Testaccio, +39 06 574 4194) is a
friendly, good value trattoria in
Testaccio. Frequented by locals, it
offers regional Roman dishes.
Diners should check out the basement
which was an ancient Roman pottery
pit – vases and amphoras are
displayed behind glass.
City suggestions
You can’t come to Rome without
sampling some ice cream. W il
Gelato (168 Luna di Rom, Via Gallia,
+39 067 720 1192). As the summer
sun cracks the Roman cobblestones
the best way to cool down is an ice
cream. Slightly off the beaten track,
but with local gelato aficionados
approval, it is also known for its
frozen yoghurt. For later on… Piper
Club (9 Via Tagliamento, www.
piperclub.it). Swinging since the ’60s,
this legendary nightclub is a favourite
for dance nights and concerts.
And finally…
When Rome starts to heat up, I like
to head to the cool gardens of Villa
Borghese. The large English-style
park also has some great museums.
Words Marc Zakian
Sofia
Getting to the centre
In Sofia we provide a personalised
Wizz taxi service between the airport
and any address within Sofia city
centre. The cost is €16/€32 (return).
A slice of the city
Summer is where it all starts
happening in Sofia. Music lovers
can experience international dance
festival SeeMe Sofia in June, or
attend the Folklore Festival for more
traditional performances in July.
Eating out
A Sofia institution for bohemian sorts,
a traditional restaurant housed in
a yellow corner house, Under the
Linden Trees (1 ul. Elin Perin +359
(0)21 866 5053, www.podlipitebg.
com) serves Bulgarian food, with
superb mains from 4-8 lev (€2-4).
Trovatore Wine Bar (23 Midjur Str,
www.trovatore23.com) Blue lights
and cool styling showcase this perfect
little Italian eatery as the ideal place
for meat and cheese plates with a
Bulgarian twist. There are about 230
[ destinations ]
ROME-SOFIA
www.inyourpocket.com Lev Wizz Air: 0900 126 03 (17603 if calling from mobile)
different wines. It also does jazz and
karaoke. Mains from 6 lev (€3). Open
from 4pm to midnight.
City suggestions
Literally translated as ‘lipstick’ the
high-end establishment Chevilo (9
Tsar Osvoboditel blvd, +369 (0)2 981
66 33, www.chervilo.com) attracts
the most sophisticated of Sofia’s club
bunnies. Halbite (72 Neofit Rilski,
+359 (0)2 980 4147, www.halbite.
com) is a cross between a restaurant
and a Bulgarian beer hall, with a
great informal atmosphere, serving
regional brews from 4 lev (€2).
And finally…
Sofia’s atmospheric communist train
station, with its huge murals, makes
a great quirky spot to visit, especially
Sofia’s answer to an amusement
arcade. Head upstairs to see placing
bets and punching in coins into the
distinctly Bulgarian slot machines.
It’s a cultural insight you won’t get
anywhere else.
Words Catherine Quinn
JUNE/JULY 2011 // WIZZ MAGAZINE 87