Park and ride public car parks near the city centre offer parking with good bus and metro connections to the historic centre for Christmas shoppers. There are facilities at Stazione S. Pietro in Via della Stazione 5; Cipro in Via Angelo Emo; and S. Maria del Soccorso in Via Tiburtina.

Parking is 2 for 12 hrs and 3 for 17 hrs and on the busiest shopping days public transport to and from the car parks is free. Cars can be left in all car parks from 22.00 to 06.00 for 2. For those with a monthly or annual metrobus card, parking is free. Further information is available from STA, tel. 0657118333, or at www.sta.roma.it. For details of public transport services see www.atac.roma.it.

Below are details of some of Romes privately-owned parking facilities, which have easy connections to the historic centre via public transport.

ES Park

Via G. Giolitti 267 (Termini station), tel. 0644704053. 450 cars. Open 05.30-02.00 to deposit cars though vehicles can be collected 24 hrs a day. 1.50 per hr for the first five hrs, then 1.30 per hr. Buses to centre from Piazza dei Cinquecento.

Parking Ludovisi

Via Ludovisi 60 (Via Veneto), tel. 064740632. 400 cars. Open 05.30-01.30. 2 per hr for the first five hrs, then 1 per hr. Electric cars, usable in historic centre, for rent. (see www.freerome.it for details), plus link to centre from Via Veneto by electric bus 116.

Parking dellAuditorium

Viale Pilsudsky 21 (Flaminio/Paroili), tel. 068081646. 682 cars. Open 07.30-01.00. 1 per hr for the first two hrs, then daily rate of 2.55 applies (until 21.00). From 21.00, 1 per hr for the first two hrs, then 1.55 per hr. 21.00-07.00 7.75. Connection to Piazzale Flaminio by tram 2, to Piazza S. Silvestro by bus 53, to Termini by line M (through Villa Borghese) or bus 217 (through Parioli).

Park S

Villa Borghese, Viale del Galoppatoio 33, tel. 063225934. 1,800 cars. Open 24 hrs. 1.30 per hr for the first three hrs, then 1 per hr. Daily rate 16. Access to historic centre via electric bus 116.

Terminal Gianicolo

Piazza delle Rovere (Vatican/Aurelio), tel. 066840331. 723 cars. Open 07.00-01.30. 1.40 per hr for the first five hrs, then 1.10 per hr. Connection to centre and Trastevere by electric buses 116 and 115 respectively.