nnolen

I can hear it. Rome is whispering from across the ocean....time for a voyage. Time to find myself again.

Anything new I need to know about or should try?

crckwc1

Is this your first trip to Italy? Or are you asking what is new since you were there last? If so, when were you there last? When are you planning this trip? How long will you be there? Driving or train or tour group? What are your likes/dislikes? (history, art, religion, scenery, wine, etc.)
Please give us more information and I'm sure lots of fodorites can help.

kybourbon

The underground tour at the Colosseum is new as is the scaffolding tour at Santa Croce in Florence.

bilboburgler

Try and get into the cocktail bar on top of the typewriter (National Unity Monument)

nnolen

I can't even count what number trip this is to Italy and I lived there for two years, but I haven't been since April of 2010.

I'll be in Rome for 5 days. I will not be driving or taking the train and I would never be in a tour group (sorry).

I like wine, food, coffee, art, music, museums, history, everything. I'm looking specifically for Rome suggestions - kybourbon and bilboburgler are on the right track.

Jean

We've been to Rome several times, so when we spent a few days there earlier this month, we were trying to avoid the crowds and see a few things we'd skipped/missed before.

One stop was the Keats-Shelley House which contains a surprising amount of information and memorabilia in a small space. Keats only lived in the house for a few months before dying of TB in his corner bedroom overlooking the Spanish Steps, and Shelley never lived in the house. We weren't English lit majors but found the museum interesting.

http://www.keats-shelley-house.org/

We also took an English tour of the Villa Medici (now the French Academy) which is located a short walk from the top of the Spanish Steps in the direction of Pincio. The tour concentrated on the exterior and garden and did not include much of the villa's interior, but we were given access to the main salon with its beautiful tapestries and wonderful views of the city from the balconies.

http://www.villamedici.it/en/visits/

On an entirely different note, we rented Segways in Parco Pincio and zoomed all over the Borghese Gardens.

kybourbon

The mini bus tour of the Vatican Gardens is new as is the combo pass for the Vatican and Rome (Omnia Vatican & Rome 85€).

http://www.turismoroma.it/news-in-ev...ticani?lang=en

TDudette

Will it be only Rome? If you lived there for 2 years, you probably got hooked on Bernini. If memory serves, there are 3 churches with "Ecstasy" statuary: the one I do remember is Santa Maria della Vittoria. So amazing. The 2nd one was in Trestevere-I'll check my notes. If there's a third, my memory is failing me.

All of Italy whispers to me. DH (RIP) and I wanted to own a place but could never choose a favorite. All cities and towns loved.

Our last Italy trip together ended in Rome and we felt like we were coming home. We searched out the restaurant where we had celebrated our 20th and they fixed the same meal for us. Just perfect. La Fiorentina, via Andrea Doria 20/22, 06 39737019.

We re-visit St. Ignatius every time with it's faux dome. Did you get to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj? Very ornate and excellent art collection. Not open every day though. We visited Ostia (I preferred Pompeii) and Tivoli Gardens/Villa Estes. Expect you did also.

Hope your trip is wonderful.

TDudette

I can't find my notes but here's another Bernini:

Ecstacy of Beata Ludovica Albertoni


I found that on a Slow Travel site.

Also, did you get to Villa Farnesino (?)-Raphael and/or his students did much art there.

easytraveler

"Gelato! Gelato! Gelato!"

A_Brit_In_Ischia

I think these three are all newish, or "improved" at the very least!

Year round, the opening to the public of the excavations under the Provincia of Rome's HQ at Palazzo Valentini (English language tour at 13:15 daily):

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ome_Lazio.html

Probably only seasonal - the studios of Cinecitta, said to run until November 30th:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ome_Lazio.html

http://www.cinecittashowsoff.com/default.asp?lang=en

- and, similarly, tours of the underground parts (and perhaps some upper areas) at the Colosseum? Sorry, no link to hand for that, but last year they ended before the weather got too bad!

An easy way to keep up with what's on and what's new is the handy monthly magazine that's given away in hotels and the like, called "Un Ospite a Roma - A guest in Rome". Download the current edition or previous ones in PDF format by clicking on the picture of its cover, over to the right of the screen, here:

http://www.unospitearoma.it

Peter

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Ooops - almost forgot:

http://en.turismoroma.it/oggi_a_roma...ggiorno_a_roma

P

nnolen

Wow, thanks everyone!


I already know I must go back to eat at Cul de Sac, and I want to try Da Tonnino. I thought about revisiting the museo nazionale near termini, but I'm getting plenty of other great ideas here that I haven't done before.

I have been meaning to go to the Villa Farnesina for quite some time but haven't made it. It's officially on the list!

TDudette

nnolen, when DH and I visited Villa Farnesina, he wondered why there aren't more famous Italian tap dancers-so many marble floors there.

Peter, I'm going to check out that e-zine now. Thanks.

annhig

nnolen,

I 2nd the suggestion of the dory pamphilji - some great art and so few people looking at it.

and I'd love to do the tour of the vatican gardens - so far I've only managed to cat a glimpse from the Dome of St. Peter's.

annhig

dory pamphilji>>

doria, obviously!

nnolen

I went to the galleria doria pamphilj last time in Rome and it was indeed fantastic and almost completely empty.