Increased security in Rome

Rome is the eternal city, and without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Here you can walk and enjoy the sight of some of the most famous historical buildings in the world. But, with great treasures comes great responsibility!

I recently spoke with someone who visited Rome some 10-15 years ago. He was amazed by the big changes in town. Last time he visited Rome, he could enter and leave the churches and the famous sights as he wished. Now he had to stand in line for several minutes (and maybe much more) just to pass through the security line to enter into just any church in Rome. And of course, as he wanted to visit the St. Peter’s Church, he had to wait for even more time. He was amazed, and a bit annoyed by all the security controls. Is it really necessary?

Watching out for the beautiful buildings!
The security in Rome is there to keep you safe – Source: Pixabay

The security in Rome

It is really unfortunate that there are so many security controls in Rome. If anyone finds this to be disturbing and annoying, it is us working and walking the streets of Rome regularly. But, there is a price you have to pay if you want to keep the city as amazing as it is today… and that is the price of the security. Unfortunately, there have been several terror attacks worldwide on popular locations and around tourist attractions. In Rome such an attack wouldn’t just be an attack on the people in the area, it would also mean the destruction of some of the most beautiful historical buildings and areas we have left in history. In other words, the security in Rome isn’t only there to protect the people, it is also there to protect the buildings the people visit.

It might be hard to understand this and cope with it, especially as you have to wait for a long time out in the sun on a warm summer day, but the fear of not having a building to visit at all is even worse.

In other words, try to keep your spirit high, and rather be grateful that you have the chance to visit such historical buildings and areas at all! Be grateful for having the money to fly to Rome, to order an airport transfer, and to live in a nice hotel. And later, go home and watch a movie about Rome in the old days, and see the buildings and areas you have visited during the daytime come alive on the screen in the evening.

Take care of your own safety

If we first write about safety and security, make sure to watch out for your belongings and your own security while in Rome. The city is packed with police, so you shouldn’t have to fear for your own health, but your wealth might suffer if someone steals your wallet or credit cards. In other words, watch out for your wallet and important documents. Keep them safe, and do not be an easy prey to anyone looking for a tourist to fool.

Another thing to watch out for is your confidential information and pictures on your laptop and mobile devices. If you connect to the Internet using open WiFi connections in the hotel or in a restaurant, it is very easy to steal data, pictures, and passwords if you do not watch out. A way to solve the problem is to not connect to the Internet using open WiFi networks, to only use your 3G/4G connection, or to use a VPN that will encrypt your online data and keep you safe, also when using a free open WiFi network. You can read more about some good VPN providers in the VPN reviews section in the IP Address Guide.

Are you ready for Rome?

Rome is waiting for you, and even though all this information might be hard to digest, you have a lot to look forward to. Do not come to Rome fearing the worst, but be prepared, and have a wonderful time in the eternal city. It is better to take care and get home safely than to mess around and suffer the consequences!

Thank you for reading, and if you have anything you would like to add, please write a comment and let me know whatever is on your heart!

How to get an Italian IP address?

We have earlier written an article about how to watch Italian TV from outside Italy, and the principle of that article is very much the same as the principle behind how to get an Italian IP address. In fact the answer is the same!

There might be various reasons for you needing an Italian IP address, but the answer to your question and what can help you is a VPN connection to a server in Italy. A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, some sort of a tunnel, which connects you to the given server in Italy, and as of then all your surfing on the internett will look like it origins from Italy, thus also giving you an Italian IP address.

There are quite some services providing such help, but the best one, at least in our eyes based on our own testing and experiences, is HideMyAss. They offer you a subscription lasting for a month, 6 months or maybe even a year, and the prices are not high. They also offer you a software which you can use to easily connect to a server in the country you request. Thus you will not only be able to get an Italian IP address, but also a Spanish IP address, a Hungarian IP address, a Norwegian IP address or whatever sort of IP address you are in need of.

How to get an Italian IP address
Italian IP address

Yet another bonus is the fact that the connection is encrypted, meaning that others will not be able to spy on your internet activity. This is especially useful if you use open WiFi connections around which are easy to track and get your info. With this solution you will stay safe, and your private information will be kept private.

For more information, visit HideMyAss.

As mentioned earlier this is for example ideal if you need to visit some webpage which have content limited to visitors located in Italy. Connecting from abroad this is then unavailable, but if you connect using your username and password from HideMyAss you will easily be able to connect to the Italian server, and in five minutes from now you can get your hands on all the content only available to those in Italy!

Ps: In many cases you need to restart your browser after connecting to the server, so make sure to do that if it does not work on first try! If you want to check out whether you have succeeded in achieving an Italian IP address or not you can check your IP address here.