jill_h

Hi All - On an American Airlines flight back from Nice in April, I ran across an article on Rome in one of the flight magazines. It mentioned a tethered "hot air" balloon in the Borghese Gardens that you could go up in to view the city from above. However, I cannot find anything else about it. Was this bogus? Does anyone know about it? Thanks for your help!

Eloise

This should give you the information you need:

http://www.initaly.com/regions/latium/hotair.htm

mermaid_

No, not bogus. My husband and I would have gone up on it when we were in Rome but it was overcast on the day we had time available. The observation balloon fits about 20 people or so, goes up for 15 minutes and then straight down again. Here's another website:

http://www.romanhomes.com/why_rome/current_events.htm

jill_h

Eloise and Mermaid
I KNEW SOMEONE ON FODORS WOULD KNOW!!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!

mermaid_

No problem, Jill. It's pretty much a safe bet that no matter how obscure the question, someone on Fodor's will have info about it. If you ever go up on it, report back!

SusanP

The website mermaid gave states that it will only be there through April 2005. Anyone know if it's still running?

Cassandra

Not bogus -- we saw it every day we were there and by the time we figured it out, we were out of time to try it. It's very pretty blue -- wish I could cut-and-paste the photo of it here.

Eloise

I don't know how your Italian is, but here's the official Web site:

http://www.aerophile.it/ita/roma.htm

I understand it to say that they fly every day until sunset (which in the period between October and March is at about 6:00 p.m.; in the summer months, it would be quite a bit later). That is, it seems to me that they operate on a year-round basis.

On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, they also offer flights until two hours after sunset for a view of "Rome by night."

The Web site also has the prices; click on "Tariffe."

jill_h

Anyone else been there more recently than April 2005 to know whether the balloon is still in operation? Thanks.

Lily

Yes we saw it in mid-May still running.

Eloise

For heaven's sake, a trip takes 15 minutes. Think how many they do a day! You can wait until you get to Rome and call the telephone number.