Anne's Place | News Archive

Birthdays, anniversaries, honeymooners, the young and the old - spend time in Italy, in Rome, at Anne's Place. Be cared for, be pampered, be a part of our house, our hospitality. Enjoy the tranquillity, the fresh air, the real Italy. You will love it ! Better still, if you would like to marry in Italy - we have the experience of setting it all up !!

Rome Fumicino Airport (FCO) or Leonardo da Vinci, has, in its infinite wisdom, renamed its Terminals

Terminal A has renamed Terminal 1.
Terminal AA has become Terminal 2,
B and C – together - has become Terminal 3.

This was expected, but they have not quite dome it as everyone expected. We has Terminal A, AA, B, C and Terminal 5. We all expected a to become 1, AA to become 2, B to 3, C to 4 and 5 was already there. but now we have no Terminal 4.

The reason for writing this is so that when we meet our guests at the airport, we meet you in the right place, so we have amended our airport transfers page to reflect this.

25th March 2009 We have just become affiliated with Carrentals.co.uk who are offering some good deals for this area. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the link. We use Colleferro as the base, all the biggies are there, it's ten minutes down the road, and straight onto the A1 for direct connections north or south. And, best of all, it avoids the airports.....

28th February 2009 - A very quiet start to the year, we are not alone though; Rome generally has seen a decline in visitors of over 20%. It's still a wonderful place to visit, and with care it need not cost more than previous years.

6th January 2009 - Here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

25 November 2008 - It's surprising how quickly this year has passed, and as we look back at the year, we think of all the lovely people we have had to stay. 2009 could be a more difficult year for us, with the economic downturn; but we look forward to offering our hospitality to any that do need a break away from the hussle and bustle of life

10 October 2008 - It's time again for the International Festival of Choral Music, held each year in Palestrina, and this year we have the Westminster Cathedral Choir as well as the Tallis Scholars in our Cathedral performing.

19 September 2008 - We are extending our Assisi trip to include (optionally) Spello and Spoleto, but to definitely include Santa Maria Degli Angeli. We are also adding Bracciano to include a conducted tour of the Odescalchi Castle and lunch on the lake. Another new trip will be our Archaeologists day out, to include The Naples National Archaeological Museum, the Herculaneum and Pompeii. For details of these trips, and others see our tours web page

6 August 2008 - In two weeks time Palestrina celebrates the festival, which includes the Palio (horses through the town) This year both the Germans and the French will be represented by the twin towns of Fussen and Bievres. We give a warm welcome to both.

5 August 2008 - It is amazing how quickly time flies. Over halfway through 2008, it has been a successful year. We have had some wonderful people to stay, and we have enjoyed sharing experiences with our guests. Palestrina has just been twinned with Bievres in France, and we had the pleasure of the French staying with us. The celebrations for the twinning lasted all weekend and there is a good gallery at the Palestrina site http://www.comune.palestrina.rm.it/immagini/Gemellaggio2008/album/

3 June 2008 - We are looking at offering self catering apartments as well as bed and breakfast (still on the outskirts of Rome). If you would be interested just drop me a mail.

11 May 2008 - The original bar at Zagarolo station has now reopened, and is run by a lovely Dutch lady called Chantel (who also speaks good English). You can go to her (or still the Caffè Europe) to have them call us when you arrive.

10 May 2008 - Due to tightened security at the port of Civitavecchia, we are unable to enter the port. We can still deliver you or collect you from the port gates (you take the shuttle bus from the ship to the gate), or we have now reached a deal with a local taxi driver who can deliver you (or collect you) to and from the ship. This does cost a bit more.

31 March 2008 - For those who take advantage of our airport transfer service, Roma Fumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) Airport has combined the exit for both Terminals B & C. It is now even more crowded as you leave the customs area and come into the main concourse. Simply turn left, and look for the bar ahead of you, and we will be there with a sign with your name on.

28 March 2008 - We have many requests from visitors to be fully accompanied on trip and tours, and we have been looking at establishing ourselves in the "exclusive vacations" market. We will set aside a few weeks of each year where we will tailor vacations. Take a look at CQO (Comoda Qualità Ospitalità). The site still needs a lot of work, especially in developing the trips and tours, but it is being worked on

26 March 2008 - The bar at Zagarolo station that we have in the past recommended guests to go to for calling Anne's Place has closed, so we now recommend using the Caffè Europe, which is on the right as you exit the station.

11 March 2008 - Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities are now available for our guests in the lounge area. We have also included a variety of snacks in the honesty bar for anyone who feels peckish.

4 March 2008 - After many requests from guests to provide a more comprehensive wine list, David has set about selecting some of his favourites and guests with a penchant for something different will appreciate these wines. At the moment is is only red wines. Take a look at the wine list.

3 March 2008 - Great news, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel now open their doors at 0830, last tickets 1600, and they close at 1800. It might not be the complete end to queues and lines, but it will go a long way. Take a look at their opening hours on the Vatican site

18 February 2008 - It has been dry and sunny, but below freezing at night. There have been fewer visitors in Rome, the tour buses are half empty, the galleries quite quiet.

2 February 2008 - 10.8% increase in visitors to the Eternal City in 2007, the local paper said yesterday. That's in the order of 2 million extra visitors. It really is a great city to visit, and we can offer all the help you need to make your visit one to remember

25 January 2008 - one thing the Italians do well (apart from food, wine and dress style) is confusion. Last night Prodi resigned. Everybody was surprised that he had lasted that long. Berlusconi grinned like a Cheshire cat at the news..... Napolitano has to think again. But another area of confusion is the Roma & Più Pass. When it was introduced back last July, the press release was positive about one key factor, you could travel from Fumicino airport to Rome on it. Now you cannot. We have amended our site, and thanks to Rick for pointing this out.

14 January 2008 - Here's wishing you all a very happy new year. We had a wonderful trip and we are now back. We are catching up on the mail, and looking forward to being of service to you all.

27 November 2007 - Anne's Place will be closed from the beginning of December until the middle of January 2008. As we are travelling, it is unlikely that mail will be answered, and there will be an "out of office" message on the normal email address. If you have an urgent request please SMS Anne's Mobile (cell) phone, which is +39 347 415 6013. Everything will be back to normal from 14th January 2008.

26 November 2007 - November turned out to be a beautiful month, a couple of days rain, a couple of very cold nights, but all in all, the sun shone, the temperatures were in the upper teens, even into the twenties. The crowds in Rome did not diminish, the queues (lines) were just as long.

25 November 2007 - We have started using Angel Tours in earnest this last two months, particularly their 9am Vatican Tour. Our guests have been very happy with them.

9 October 2007 - We will meet you at the airports, we have expanded the explanation here This way, hopefully, you won't be kept waiting or bewildered by the mêlée of visitors, guides and drivers.

6 September 2007 - with all the questions on the Roma & Più Pass, I have created a page explaining what it is. As far as Anne's Place is concerned, it will get from the airport to Zagarolo, and into Roma for three days. It includes the museum in Palestrina, as well as the Villas in Tivoli.

20 August 2007 - A lot can happen in a month. Anne's Place has a new permanent driver, handyman, cook, bottlewasher as the webmaster has given up the full time paid employment to help with the B&B. To those that understand, David has left work and is now at home full time. We are going to extend the tours to incorporate an fully accompanied tour of the Castelli Romani - Take a look at the details on the Tours and Trips page

26 July 2007 - Unfortunately our belief in the honesty of visitors has been shattered this last week, with three cancellations at very short notice. We have amended the cancellation policy.

23 Jul 2007 - We've upgraded the Internet access and the wireless capability - and it's all FREE !

19 Jul 2007 -The Vatican City State today opened a new Internet portal http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/homepage.jsp in order to meet the needs of the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims and tourists in the Vatican, and to respond to the continuous requests for information reaching the various offices of Vatican State though the traditional channels. A communique made public yesterday afternoon explains that the new website, which will run alongside the official Holy See website has been implemented in five languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German) with Portuguese soon to be added. Through its five sections (State and Government, Services, Other Institutions, Monuments and Shop) the portal "presents the State's bodies, the key monuments with descriptions and images, and useful time schedules for the public" reads the English-language communique.

18 June 2007 - Getting the train out to Anne's Place is quite simple. Just follow the advice given here . We have also updated the timetable here . There is no longer the 00.10 train.

18 June 2007 - We do very early morning airport transfers, so you can stay your last night with us, and we'll take you to the airport (unfortunately you'll miss breakfast !) Look at our Airports link for prices and distances.

13 June 2007 - Many visitors to Anne's Place in the last couple of years would not have met Peds, our black and white cat. He'd become a bit of a recluse in these last years, preferring the safety of our kitchen to the outdoors. He died yesterday and we miss him a lot

7 June 2007 - Antonio, our builder, tells us that the authorisation for the pool is imminent. Now you have to consider that imminent has a different meaning in Italy, in that the application may have reached the top of the pile, but there will still be a bit of shuffling as previously unknown forces may just remove some of the applications further down, which may get priority. Can't help but love them though (the Italians, that is !)

31 May 2007 - We are having the kitchen modified right now so that you can make yourself a cup of tea or coffee at any time of the day (or night - just don't make too much noise !). We will also extend the bar system to give a greater choice of beers, wines and soft drinks.

6 May 2007 - For information - the last reliable train to Zagarolo leaves Rome at 22:20. We are always there to meet this train

5 May 2007 - We run a shuttle to the local restaurants, they call us when you have finished, and we bring you home. No fuss, no worries, and you can imbibe the local wine without having to worry about how to getting home

24 April 2007 - Learn to cook, in true Italian style, in Nonna's Kitchen. You can decide what it is you'd like to cook, or leave it to the chef. You help source the victuals, prepare everything, cook and eat. Wine is included. Ask for details.

22 April 2007 - For those of you who have been to Papa's, we learned today that his wife has died. Our sincere condolences to the whole family.

19 March 2007 - We have a laundry service available for guests at very reasonable rates

14 March 2007 - Spring has come (although the local paper says that we will have a cold snap at the weekend.) Papa told us yesterday he had planted out all of his vegetables, but being 80, he wouldn't take any advice about covering them this weekend. They will be part of the wonderful menu at Papa's (the Baficchio) this summer.

26 Feb 2007 A whole month has gone by, with no news ? In that month the weather has been good, so good that the almond tree has blossomed, and now all of the Irises are out, and it's almost as if spring has arrived.

22 Jan 2007 You might think we are paranoid about the showers, but, following a couple of comments, we have, finally, had the showers replaced. Look at the pictures.

11 Jan 2007 Another 1st for Anne's Place - Chris proposed to Sam on the terrace and she accepted. We wish you both every happiness for your future life together.

4 Jan 2007 The other showers have arrived, now all will be replaced with hydro massage units - might have to upgrade the water system ?

2 Jan 2007 A very happy new year to all, and a special thanks to all who have written to wish us continued success. To those who have stayed, and posted something on tripadvisor, thank you. To all the others that have stayed, you'll still be welcomed back! 2007 promises to be a good year.

11 Dec 2006 I have added a new page of links you might like to look at for information on Rome and thereabouts.

30 Nov 2006 Duster dies. Finally, after the diabetes, the blindness, Cushing's syndrome, the peritonitis, his heart finally gave up. We'll miss him.

27 Nov 2006 The first of the showers have arrived, and will be installed this week. The rest we have to wait for. Having ordered them from Leroy Merlin, it appears that their entire shipment of these particular showers ended up in Spain instead of Italy. They are now promised for January.

17 Nov 2006 Rome hit a record for visitors this October (over 3.3 million passengers came through the two airports).

2 Nov 2006 Telecom Italia is a law unto itself, both our telephone and ADSL lines have been "poorly" for quite some time now. But they seem to have fixed it. But it'll be an Italian fix, might work, might not.

31 Oct 06 We have received planning permission for the swimming pool, which will be installed for the summer of 2007. The trouble is you won't want to go into Rome ??

30 Oct 06 Someone who has never even made contact with us posted a negative comment on tripadvisor. Fortunately TA has had to commonsense to remove it.

24 Oct 06 We listen to our guests and have ordered new hydro massage shower cubicles for all rooms. We expect to have them finished by mid November.