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March 12, 2008
The Saddest Site/Sight in Rome this Week
Just this week the Forum Romanum went on the list of ticketed attractions (thanks, TF, for reminding me!). The people to the left are checking the price list on the gate. There are a two more pictures of the entryway on Flickr.
*€ 9 for EU adults and non-EU citizens
*€ 4.50 reduced price for EU citizens 18-24 and their instructors
*free for EU citizens under 18 and over 65
*and surcharges (no reduction available) for special shows in restricted spaces or to enter buildings like Sta. Maria Antiqua.
I've been four times - twice with classes - this semester. That won't happen any more, I fear. The entrance does combine with the Palatine and the Colosseum, and offers visits over a 3 day period - and I didn't notice, but I don't believe the Forum will close for Mondays.
All in all, we do pretty well. We're not EU citizens, but because the students take Italian at a language school licensed by the Department of Education (or some such) we carry letters with lists of names and a detailed statement to that effect - and seals. You can't forget stamps and seals in Italy.
This always leads to negotiations at the Biglietteria. Sometimes we've gotten nothing but a sneer and the full price (the Museo della Civiltà Romana, which is City owned), sometimes we get the EU student-age price break, sometimes we've gotten in for free after some conversation and then talk among the staff (Palazzo Massimo alle Terme). We can never tell and always go prepared with enough cash to pay the admission. This year I'd say we've gotten in for free more often than not, and gotten reductions to EU citizen levels sometimes.
In a classic example of why the rules don't always work, I just looked up the Soprintendenza's own web page for the Forum. Here's the price list:
Intero € 11,00 ridotto € 6,50: consente l'accesso alle aree archeologiche del Palatino e Foro Romano, al Colosseo ed alla mostra "Trionfi romani".
The sign at the gate says €9 and €4.50 - I swear!
Teaching abroad is often like this - a matter of negotiation, politeness, and being grateful to people who don't interpret their own rules too literally.
Still, the thought that the average 30 year old Roman who just wants to cut through the Forum on a sunny afternoon is now faced with a €9 charge is a little sad.
(prices revised per ADM's comment, complete with cute little € sign, which I couldn't find earlier)
Posted by CrankyProfessor at March 12, 2008 1:45 PM