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in Rome ... chilling poolside at All'Ombra del Colosseo
The pool in the shadow of the ColosseumRome fries in the summer, but there is a place to cool off slap bang in the city centre that only the locals appear to know about
(11)Tweet this (17)Amanda Ruggeri
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 6 July 2010 15.36 BST Article history
When in Rome ... chilling poolside at All'Ombra del Colosseo. Photograph: Amanda Ruggeri
Thousands of tourists shuffle through Rome's Colosseum each summer day, sweating and struggling in the 33C heat. Little do they know that relief is just around the corner – albeit at a price.

The All'Ombra del Colosseo summer festival is sited at the top of the Caelian Hill, a three-minute walk from the Colosseum, and features a bar, restaurant, club, and night concerts. But that's not why most locals have heard of it. They head to All'Ombra for its pièce-de-résistance: the swimming pool.

Since ancient times, Rome has been renowned for its water, which flows easily from fountains both small and monumental, all over the city. (And yes, the water that runs from the nasoni, or little fountains, is perfectly safe to drink). For those looking to cool off, though, those fountains can seem more of a tease than relief. Take the Trevi. As tempting as it might be to dip a toe in, doing so can result in a stiff fine from the police. Meanwhile, outdoor swimming pools are all but unheard of in Rome, particularly in the historic centre.

That makes the pool at All'Ombra del Colosseo a rare find. So rare that you'd expect it to be packed with travellers in search of the offbeat and refreshing. But on a recent, sweltering Sunday, not a tourist was to be seen. Instead, local couples and young families stretched out on chairs and sipped soft drinks or beers, while swimmers splashed and squealed in the cool water.

By early evening, the pool area was emptying out while, upstairs, workers set out the restaurant tables and readied the bar for aperitivo. In other words, the same scene you'd see at any outdoor resort, anywhere in the world. Especially since - despite the festival's name, "In the Shade of the Colosseum" - you can't even see the Colosseum from the pool, thanks to a thick fringe of trees. The pool snacks were predictable and overpriced – €5 fries, €10 caprese salad); the rules predictably Italian: anyone who wants to so much as wade into the pool must wear - and, if they don't own one, purchase for €1.50 - a bathing cap.

Even so, there is something to be said for being able to relax, poolside, on a hill renowned for its ancient ruins. Although archaeologists and conservationists might, quite reasonably, disagree. And for being able to exit, beach tote in hand, while crossing the paths of nuns on their way up to the sixth-century church of San Gregorio Magno al Celio.

At the end of the day, it's just a pool, and a pricey one at that. But you can't beat its location for novelty - or convenience.

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We all have the desire to travel and explore new places. And in tourism is now the world’s fastest growing industry, but of course with that comes the increased responsibility on us to try to reduce any negative impact our journeys may have on the environment.

With millions of trips taken each year, that's a lot of flights, car journeys, overnight stays and money spent. But that doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your summer holiday and sit at home looking at pictures. There’s lots you can do to travel responsibly and counterbalance the environmental effects of travelling.

Respect the local environment & culture
It might sound like obvious stuff, but sometimes when we’re travelling we forget simple things like picking up our rubbish after a picnic and recycling it. Remember wherever you go, you should respect the natural balance of the environment and take care to support and respect the local culture.

Why not participate in a local activity like a carnival or a fête? This way you really get the chance to understand local cultures and traditions – not to mention have a great day out! Remember, there are so many ways you can get to know and add value to the local environment and culture. Try anything from visiting local farmers’ markets, ensuring you use bio-degradable products during your trip, you could even talk to local accommodation owners about what they are doing to help – who knows? You could even give them some tips of your own!

Save energy
Hotels and B&Bs consume large amounts of energy to heat and air condition rooms, wash laundry, power TVs, radios and mini bars, and light rooms and hallways. When at your accommodation, make the same considerations you would at home; turn off lights and stand-by on appliances, take short showers instead of baths. And do you really need your towels and sheets washed every day?

Change our travel habits
Above all we have to change our travel habits if we want to reduce the negative impact on the environment. When we’re on holiday, we tend to be more laid-back about things like reusing plastic bags and water bottles or turning off lights. If we can adjust our attitudes and general habits regarding responsible travel so that we incorporate things like using local products and ‘car-free’ days naturally into holiday arrangements, we can make a real difference.

Sustainable travel tips
For ideas and tips on how to be a more responsible traveller, see our page with sustainable travel tips.
from:enjoyengland.com