Why you don't want to try to drive in Rome
 

This is for real. A friend on another forum sent me her extensive file for Rome, as that is where we'll spend the first 8 days of a month in Italy this fall. I followed the link for one of the restaurants she recommended, and checked the "map" they provided, which was a Google map. Although it was the Italian Google site (with instructions in Italian) I recognized that I could get directions so I thought I'd see where it was located in relation to our hotel. I can't upload the map Google gave me here, but I could at this site, so I hope you can follow the link to see what I learned: http://europetogo.yuku.com/topic/945...-drive-in-Rome

That's because the walking map is going through a pedestrian only area. You aren't allowed to drive in the areas on the first map either as it's part of the ZTL. Here's a map of the ZTL.
http://www.agenziamobilita.roma.it/ztl/ztl.html

:) I suspected that could have been a reason for that first graphically hysterical map. And it really drives home the point that Rome isn't meant for the casual tourist to attempt driving in or through.

driving is ok in Rome its parking that is tough

So that's you, never made the connection.

I'm ready to take that walk following either map.

I'm afraid we'd get truly lost on the twisty path after a meal and bottle of wine...

I'm in Rome right now, fantastic time as I'm the guest of a good friend who won the trip. Private car in from airport, had it been a taxi, I would have thought I was being "taken for a ride" but it is only the circuitous route required due to the one-way "systems" and pedestrian streets.

I would never attempt to drive here, my driver kept trying to create a third lane on two-lane streets.

Will try to do a mini report when I get home. So far, not impressed by the food but love everything else. Lots of walking today, objective was the area around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, but something diverting around every corner.