Seems we might be going to Rome this fall. If so, I'd dearly love to complete my Roman Holiday locations pages. So, two or three things need to be done.

1. Need to drive the entire circuit of the Aurelian walls, slowly, to find the indisputable Wall of Wishes. (Of course, only certain stretches are candidates, but there's too many to walk.) What would it cost to hire a driver for a day, or half day, and does anyone have recommendations for one?

2. To whom can I speak at the Palazzo Brancaccio and Palazzo Margherita to see about getting inside to scout possible locations?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

quote:

What would it cost to hire a driver for a day, or half day, and does anyone have recommendations for one?

In the spirit of Roman Holiday, I think you should rent a scooter, preferably a Vespa. (They are exempt from the ZTL regulations)

Bill

Palazzo Brancaccio seems to be used primarily as a venue for special events. There is contact information on this page.

Palazzo Margherita is now the American Embassy. It may prove more difficult to get into. This page has contact information for the Office of Public Affairs.

Ooo goody another Roman Holiday fan!! I have a Roman Holiday question. The boat scene, where they dance? I've seen the boats along the rivers edge but never been able to figure out what time of the year they operate. Obviously not the dead of winter which is when we go but since my next trip is going to be June of 09 would they be open then? Are they a members only type thing? How do you get on? How much do they cost? Are they worth it? Besides re-living a Roman Holiday moment.

Neato! Please keep the info coming. As we might be a party of four, the scooter idea is probably not practical. It would be the totally romantic way to go, though.

I don't know anything about the "boats." In the movie, there is a boathouse, dock and probably other structures that are obviously now gone. The dancing takes place, I think, on a dock, not on a boat, right?

quote:

Originally posted by BuckyE:
Neato! Please keep the info coming. As we might be a party of four, the scooter idea is probably not practical. It would be the totally romantic way to go, though.

I don't know anything about the "boats." In the movie, there is a boathouse, dock and probably other structures that are obviously now gone. The dancing takes place, I think, on a dock, not on a boat, right?

Nope - Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck go dancing on the top of a boat, there is a band, there are tables, the police raid the boat. Check your DVD.

Gregory Peck's apartment is on magical Via Margutta. (across from Fellini's apartment, and down the street from a good and stylish vegetarian restaurant).

Audrey's "press conference" is in Villa Barbarini. (interesting museum, interesting architecture with a staircase by Borromini and another by archrival Bernin).

Have fun!

Lisa

To Rome addict:
Why is a scooter not practical? I do it every year, although I rent in Milan and only scootered Rome last year. The new scooters are all automatic, unlike the vespa that Gregory Peck drove in the movie, and hence, very easy to drive. They get great mileage and you only need a small one (perhaps a 90 or 125cc)for city use, which requires no motorcycle endorsement in Italy, unlike most venues in the USA.Best of all, you can park them anywhere.They are so much fun you will never see Italy any other way. I started doing it after I saw Rock Hudson take Gina Lollobrigida and Sandra Dee on a vespa tour of the Italian riviera in "Come, September". I got hooked and have scootered for the last seven years. Try it, you'll like it!

Lisa, I also love the Palazzo Barberini!

But I believe the closing news conference in "Roman Holiday" was actually filmed in the Palazzo Colonna, in the Galleria degli Specchi. A very beautiful site, I think it's only open to the public Saturday mornings. I finally was able to get in there in January, and was dazzled!

Cheers,
Sandra

Robert:

I think you have me confused with Buckye. I love the Vespas. I had a Vespa here in the US years ago and probably could ride one with a shift even at my age and infirmity. I don't think Vespas are at all impractical in Rome. The only thing impractical is they are dang expensive to rent in Rome at $50/day.

Don't know how I missed this one before...
From TCM.com (quoted text in bold):
Paramount production files indicate that the following Roman locations were used in the picture: [assuming this web site knows what it's talking about]
Via Ruggero Fauro; [what was filmed there?]
Ciampino Airport; [OK, confirms a suggestion by a non-member]
Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Colonna, which were used for the embassy scenes; [some of them identified, yes; but some Embassy scenes still have not been IDed]
Piazza Venezia, where the motorscooter scene was filmed; [got that]
Via Morgangni, the location of the wishing wall; [!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Roman Forum; the Colosseum; the Bocca della Verità; [of course]
Via Nuova; [can't even find a "Via Nuova" in Rome on Google Maps or Earth; could this refer to via Appia Nuova? The Ciampino airport is on via Appia Nuova, right?]
the Spanish Steps; [got that]
Via dei Giardini; [got that, but a nice confirmation]
Palazzo Brancaccio, which provided the princess' embassy bedroom; [!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Piazza Ungheria, [Huh? What was filmed there?]
Via IV Fontane; [got it]
Castel St. Angelo; Ponte Vittorio; [yep]
Piazza de Trevi; [got it]
Piazza Quirinale, where the police station scene was recorded; [wonder if this could mean the interiors for the police station were actually in the Palazzo della Pantanella?]
Piazza del Pantheon; and Via Margutta, the site of "Joe's" apartment. [of course]

There is a police station in the Palazzo Quirinale - you only get to see it (drive by) if you are on the "handicap" tour. I see it regularly whenever we go because of the wheelchair. It is the one real bonus to being in a wheelchair in Rome - you get to go through the back hallways of the Quirinale. Which BTW also have the originals of all those gorgeous 18th and 19th century pen and ink drawings of Rome.

Well, I think these "notes" are either misinformed, or taken from notes made before the fact. Of course the "police station" scenes are of:
1. an unidentified interior;
2. the portico of the Palazzo della Pantanella on Piazza della Bocca della Verita, looking out onto the piazza, where one can glimpse the little temples. So how the Piazza Quirinale (or Palazzo Quirinale) comes into that --or any other-- scene I can't imagine.