emscho

Hi! I'll be traveling to Italy next month and will be spending 4 full days in Rome. I'll be w/my husband and parents (59 and 69 yo) and I'll be 7 months pregnant, so I don't want anything too hectic. How does this look? I welcome any suggestions. Thanks!

Day 1
St. Peters in Chains
Colosseum
Arch of Constantine
Palatine Hill Roman Forum

Day 2
Vatican tour
St. Peter's Basilica
Pantheon & nearby free churches

Day 3
Borghese Gallery & Gardens
Piazza del Popolo
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Victor Emmanuel Monument

Day 4
Capitol Hill area
Capitoline Museum
Mamertine Prison
Trojans Market, Column & Forum

PalenQ

seems very manageable and well thought out for your situation - i'd forget the chains in St Peter's as they could hurt the baby

bachslunch

Your itinerary looks fine.

Also, I have no idea what PalenQ is referring to regarding the St. Peter in Chains church. It's a pleasant church not far away from the Forum/Colosseum area, probably best known for housing Michelangelo's "Moses" statue. Well worth a brief look-see.

freeman0819

Seems like PalenQ was making a joke!

I would suggest doing all of your "outside" activities in the morning, and move towards the inside sites by noonish. It's going to be really hot by then, and there might not be too much shade at that point. No need for anyone to get too overheated being outside(especially if there are long lines!)

Dayle

Emscho,

Your plan sounds just about right. You might get tired on Day 2, as the Vatican museums and the basilica can be exhausting. It will depend on your level of interest and how much time you spend in both.

I believe Michelangelos' St. Peter in Chains is IN the Mamertine Prison - which is now a church, or do I have it all wrong?

Buon viaggio!

Oscar_James

I think this church with chains also has Michelangelo's Moses. I visited this church and it was great, not the chains but Moses.

Visit emilyandjim.info to see my plans of my visits.

danon

Having just returned from Rome
I must worn you about huge lineups for most of the places you plan to see.
It was not our first visit so we just gave up on getting into some spots ( it looked like 1-2 hours wait).
I think you are trying to cover a lot ( most of it is walking outside in worm weather!), but you can always adjust your plans.

Dayle

Oscar_James - you are right. The church, now n=know as St. Peter's in Chains, used to be the Mamertine Prison, the sculpture is Moses!

Gads!

smetz

emscho, it really sounds great, I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensely. On your Day 3, you might consider the Capuchin Crypt, which is not far from the Spanish Steps, and is really interesting as long as you don't mind seeing a whole lot of bones in one place.

Also, my wife and I visited a few of the churches in the Pantheon area, and a few we really liked were the Church of the Gesu (incredible ceiling fresco) and the Church of the Santi Apostoli (tomb of Sts. Philip & James). The French National Church is also very beautiful, and has a series of paintings about St. Matthew by Caravaggio.

smetz

Dayle and Oscar, I think you got one thing a bit wrong - the Mamertine Prison existed while Peter and Mark were still alive and imprisoned in Rome - you can see the original prison, a dungeon really, which is almost adjacent to the Roman Forum. The Church of St. Peter in Chains was built later - around 500, I think, specifically to house the chains that held St. Peter while he was at Mamertine Prison. It's close to the Coloseum. I hope I'm correct, anyway, and apologies if I'm not.

Dayle

emscho,

One church I really enjoyed next to the Pantheon was Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. The elephant oblisk outside - the Michelangelo sculpture inside. No crowds, no barriers. One of those wonderful, blue background with gold stars vaulted ceilings.

Castellanese

I'd do Vittorio Emanuele II monument on day 4 since it is practically next to the Capitol Hill.

A nice church near the Pantheon is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. There's another Michelangelo sculpture that it's worth seeing.

After I visited the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's, I was so exhausted that I didn't have the energy to do anhything else.

The rest sounds good, in my opinion.

Vttraveler

your itinerary looks good, logically arranged. I think you are taking into account the fact that many churches close mid-day which is important.
I agree with others that Vatican museums plus St Peter's could be tiring. If you really feel too tired that day I think you could do one of them on day #4. WE enjoyed going up to the top of the Janiculum for the view of Rome after spending morning and early afternoon at the Vatican museums. (Definitely take a bus or cab if you do this--it is a long hot climb up)

You don't specifically mention Piazza Navona but it is close to the Pantheon and a good place to relax and people-watch

emscho

Thanks so much for all the feedback! I should have mentioned that I booked a 2 hour tour through the Vatican museum and I also have an appointment for the Uffizi, so hopefully I won't be spending hours in line.

Has anyone taken the Vatican tour before? If so, what did you think? After the tour, are you welcome to still wander around and explore on your own? Thanks!!