KMS

I have done lots of research here and am SO excited for our trip in 2 weeks!! For the Rome portion of our trip (too short - I know!!), I would love help planning our days so we can experience as much as possible in this short amount of time.

Day 1: Arrive in Rome around lunchtime - no plans until our Scala Reale Orientation hike that evening.

Day 2: 9:00 AM Scala Reale Antica Roma tour.
No additional plans that day

Day 3: 1:00 PM Scala Reale Vatican Tour
No additonal plans that day


We would really like to fit in Borghese Gallery, a morning at Campo di Fiori, strolling around Piazza Navonna, Spanish Steps, etc. Based on locations and times it takes to do these things, when should we fit these in?

Also, sorry for this silly question, but is the Pantheon part of the area that we might cover on our Roma Antica tour, or is it a very separate sight?

Thanks so much!!

Grinisa

The Pantheon is seperate from the Forum and Colosseum but still may be included in that tour. It also may be included in your orientation hike, but depending on the time you take that, the Pantheon may be closed (6:30). If your hotel is in the historic center, you could walk over to the Pantheon on your first afternoon, see that, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and some of the beautiful churches near them: Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, San Ignazio, La Maddelena, Il Gesu, San Agnese in Argone and San Luigi dei Francesi with its Caravaggios. Make reservations for the Borghese for the afternoon of your second day and see Campo dei Fiori and the Ghetto and Trastevere the morning of your third day.

elaine

Hi
with such a short stay, I would very reluctantly say, skip the Borghese.
I'm afraid you will burn yourself out.
The two Scala Reale tours are 4 hours each and very detailed. To spend another 2 hours at the Borghese admiring more fabulous art would be too much for me.

Day three in the morning would be ideal to go to Campo dei Fiori and the Pantheon. The latter is a marvel, but can be explored within an hour, or less.
The Sopra Minerva church is a block or two away. The San Luigi church is quite near the Campo dei Fiori.

Day 2 in the afternoon, have lunch after the Forum and Colosseum, head for the Spanish Steps (there's a Colosseum metro stop, and also a Sp Steps metro stop) and then walk the shopping area, Trevi fountain, etc.

The Orientation Hike should give you a peak at the Bernini sculpture of Saint Teresa in the Maria Vittoria church. It is a marvel. There are more awesome Berninis in the Borghese Gallery; that's the tough decision you'll have to make.

KMS

I was also thinking of seeing Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps at night. Will this do them justice?

The_Pixies

Seeing those two at night is a great idea. I think they are both more interesting and beautiful then. Both sights also don't really require much time if you are in a rush - on the other hand you can linger at them if the mood strikes you!