Can I find myself in Rome?

OK, you asked for it! I've been to Italy seven times by myself and loved every minute. I will go again this July if the flight prices come down! All the trips included Rome, my favorite place. Here are my reports:

Venice/Florence/Siena/Pienza/Rome Sept 2005:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-trip-to-italyor-i-never-met-a-limoncello-i-didnt-like.cfm?87

Rome March 2006 (this one in particular for running away from real life...):
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-trip-to-romeand-i-still-never-met-a-limoncello-i-didnt-like.cfm?56

Rome Xmas/New Year's 2006:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/9-nights-in-rome-over-christmas-new-years-with-no-luggagebut-plenty-of-limoncello.cfm?63

Venice/Bologna/Rome July 2007:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/italy-was-hotbut-the-limoncellow-was-cold.cfm?81

Rome Feb 2008:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-wonderful-8-nights-in-romeincluding-my-usual-limoncello.cfm?62

Capri/Sorrento/Rome July 2008:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-trip-to-italy-including-the-home-of-limoncello.cfm?91

Rome Feb 2009 (I never finished this one, I really should):
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-trip-to-rome-wjaunts-to-florence-frascati-of-course-limoncello.cfm?24

Thanks so much - this is great!

Did SusanP mention you need to drink some limoncello? lol

Don;t know where you've been or not but if you haven;t seen San Clemente or the Etruscan exhibits art the Villa Giulia don;t miss them.

bookmarking! Thanks! (We leave in 5 weeks!)

I've seen san clemente but not been to Villa Giulia. Thanks! I've also already pulled several recommendations on things to visit from susanp's trip reports.

Wow, a treasure trove of great info. Thanks!

kybourbon:

Bookmark for future reference

Anyone else? SusanP's info was great, but I wouldn't mind a second (or third, or fourth, or.... ) perspective. I'm in my early 30s and wouldn't mind some nightlife recommendations, either. If you like trip reports and have time and want to see what I have already done before you reply, I have written several (two exclusively on Rome), but it was always with others.

Some things I think I'll have to redo on my own even if I've already done them.

I am so glad that I took adavantage of last year's slump in prices for Italy-bound travel! I felt in love with Italy again! This year the great deals are nowhere near as abundatnt as last'!

What kind of nightlife are you looking for? The historic center is full of bars and cafes that are filled with people until late at night.

As for finding yourself, bear in mind the quotation attributed to Confucius: "No matter where you go, there you are."

<bear in mind the quotation attributed to Confucius: "No matter where you go, there you are.">

Not exactly - that one is directly attributed to Earl Mac Rauch, from "Buckaroo Bonzai"

FYI - Under the "Travel Tips and Trip Ideas" forum there is a solo travel selection in the drop down box. You might try checking there and also reposting on that forum.
http://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-trip-ideas/

bookmarking for next years trip

nnolen...

Although not solo trips, I've visited Rome 4 times in the last 3 years and on my most recent trip (last October) I discovered the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
(http://www.doriapamphilj.it/ukhome.asp ). There is quite an art collection and you can walk through several of the apartment rooms. The audioguide was included in the admission price and there were very few people when we were there.

We also found a nice little trattoria called Da Tonino at Via del Governo Vecchio, 18. We had a lunch and a dinner there. It's a small place and when we were there it seemed like most patrons were locals, we were the only non-Italian speakers there at that time.

Thanks, all. Lowcountry, the Doria Pamphilj was already on my list. I'm also really wanting to hit up the Domus Aurea if its open.

Do a search for SeaUrchin's reports. She has been to Italy, including Rome, solo and has written some great reports.

nnolen,

My last trip, sadly a whole 5 years ago!, was solo and my days in Rome were wonderful. I did visit the Domus Aurea and took an English speaking, archeologist lead tour. It was good, but you really have to use your imagination. Not a lot to see and very little (compared to the estimated extent) of the palace is excavated.

I especially enjoyed a day trip out to Tivoli to visit Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este. The fountains and garden at the Villa d' Este were a wonderful, delightful surprise! You may have already visited, but if not, I highly recommend.

Buon viaggio! Have some gellati for me!

Thanks, Dayle. A day trip might be possible - I will be day-tripping to Naples for one day to see some old friends.

And don't worry - I will most definitely have gelato. Possibly every day. Maybe even twice a day if I can squeeze it in.

I've visited the Domus Aurea (2003)and as Dayle said, very little to see. Perhaps they've excavated more since my visit.

The Domus Aurea is closed indefinitely due to flood damage.

SusanP, I read your trip reports this weekend and they were absolutely lovely! Thank you for takking the time to write them.

Tiggy, thanks, glad you enjoyed them!

Nuts - I just saw that it was closed. Thanks, Zerlina, for the heads up on that.

Of course, as usual, food is my focus. Reservations already made at L'Eau Vive, L'Orso 80 and Pizza Re' (my fave for Neapolitan style pizza in Rome).

I've been trying to reserve for Villa Borghese but I'm having trouble with the online ticketing - it won't go through the final process.

Oh, and I'm trying to find somewhere to do Italian karaoke. I think I found a place for Saturday night....it looks a little crazy!

kmvldmn - since you only ever post the link to this website and really give no other information, I'm not sure how constructive I find your advice. Advertise much? E visto che parlo l'italiano, non credo di avere problemi nel trovare un ristorante "non-turistico"....

Have you tried the Borghese telephone reservation system. The phone call is free; you enter your phone number and they call you back. We booked with that a few weeks ago.

BTW: I was surprised that most of the visitors to the Borghese left BEFORE their 2 hours were up. In the last 20 minutes of our time, we were the only people in some rooms.

A mind-blowing place that few NA tourists ever see is the Villa Torlonia, on the via Nomentana -- really like 3 museums in one. The main villa is a beautifully restored neoclassical gem. The adjacent Casa delle Civette, built around 1900 by a nutty Prince Torlonia, is the most perfect Art Nouveau house I have ever seen and a SHRINE to lovers of Art Nouveau stained-glass. Then there's the art gallery in the casino/ outbuilding...

I took about 100 photos in the course of an hour or so.

tedgale - thanks for the recommend on Villa Torlonia. I checked out the website - I'm fascinated and will definitely be going.

I haven't tried the borghese telephone system - I hate the phone - but I might have to give it a try. I'm thinking about calling on some of these once I arrive in Rome from my Italian cell phone just because it will be cheaper...

tedgale, thanks for that idea of the Villa Torlonia. I'm always looking for new things in Rome!