Rome the second time around
Sep 18th, 2010, 01:37 PM
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Rome the second time around
This will be our second time visiting Rome. The first time it was part of a larger Italy trip. We visited the obligitory sites and loved every minute of it. This trip we will only be in Rome. We have four full days and nights to soak up more of this wonderful city. My wife and I love wallking and exploring different neighborhoods, shops, piazzas, markets and churches. Big fans of the enoteca. We are not big into the museum scene although we have gone to plenty of them. We love to ROME and discover, especially the second time around. Any ideas or suggestions to plug into our itinerary would be appreciated. Thanks.
Sept. 28th- Arrive in Rome at 10am. Staying at Marriott Grand Flora. We will be attending an AS Roma football match at 8:45pm. Always wanted to see a European football match. Need something to in between. Hotel is close to Villa Borghese and we didn't see it on first trip.
Sept. 29th- Want to spend time in Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto.
Sept. 30th- Context Tour from 1pm-4pm of St. Peter's and Sistine Chapel.
Oct.1st- Testaccio Market.
Would like to see some great views. Daytime/Nightime. Also, some churches- Santa Maria Maggiore, San Clemente, San Giovanni in Laterno. Some gelato places in Prati we want to try.
Sept. 28th- Arrive in Rome at 10am. Staying at Marriott Grand Flora. We will be attending an AS Roma football match at 8:45pm. Always wanted to see a European football match. Need something to in between. Hotel is close to Villa Borghese and we didn't see it on first trip.
Sept. 29th- Want to spend time in Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto.
Sept. 30th- Context Tour from 1pm-4pm of St. Peter's and Sistine Chapel.
Oct.1st- Testaccio Market.
Would like to see some great views. Daytime/Nightime. Also, some churches- Santa Maria Maggiore, San Clemente, San Giovanni in Laterno. Some gelato places in Prati we want to try.
Sep 18th, 2010, 02:17 PM
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Even though you're not so much into the museum scene, I'd say some of the best views of the city of Rome will be from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo (I was there at sunset one winter day and it was one of the best days of my life, the view was spectacular, and I had some moments to watch the lights of the city and the Vatican come on.) and the view from the top of the Vittorio Emanuelle (the "wedding cake") is also very good. The view from the top of the Spanish Steps, of course, is well-known.
There is a really phenomenal restaurant, Casa Valadier in Villa Borghese. (It's definitely a "date night" type of place.) There's also another restaurant (the food isn't bad, but it's not a gourmet experience) called Zodiac. You may have to take a taxi to get there, but again, views of Rome at night are really wonderful:
http://www.zodiacoroma.it/public/IT/
There are a couple of enoteca you may want to check out. One is on via di Ripetta, and is called Buccone:
http://www.enotecabuccone.com/Sito_B...ng/homeeng.htm
and L'Enoteca Antica di Via della Croce on, of course, via della Croce:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ome_Lazio.html
I have always enjoyed just wandering through Parco Borghese, and of course the delightful cobblestone streets of Rome.
Buon Viaggio,
BC
There is a really phenomenal restaurant, Casa Valadier in Villa Borghese. (It's definitely a "date night" type of place.) There's also another restaurant (the food isn't bad, but it's not a gourmet experience) called Zodiac. You may have to take a taxi to get there, but again, views of Rome at night are really wonderful:
http://www.zodiacoroma.it/public/IT/
There are a couple of enoteca you may want to check out. One is on via di Ripetta, and is called Buccone:
http://www.enotecabuccone.com/Sito_B...ng/homeeng.htm
and L'Enoteca Antica di Via della Croce on, of course, via della Croce:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ome_Lazio.html
I have always enjoyed just wandering through Parco Borghese, and of course the delightful cobblestone streets of Rome.
Buon Viaggio,
BC
Sep 18th, 2010, 04:56 PM
#3
I second the suggestion of Castello Sant'Angelo not just for the views but also for the interesting evolution/history of the building over the centuries.
We enjoyed Ara Pacis on the banks of the river (not far from the Spanish Steps). It's a "museum" for only artifact, although there's usually an interesting exhibit on display in the basement of the building. IMO, the origins, purpose and design of the Altar of Peace are fascinating.
http://en.arapacis.it/
We enjoyed Ara Pacis on the banks of the river (not far from the Spanish Steps). It's a "museum" for only artifact, although there's usually an interesting exhibit on display in the basement of the building. IMO, the origins, purpose and design of the Altar of Peace are fascinating.
http://en.arapacis.it/
Sep 18th, 2010, 05:06 PM
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Agree Castel Sant'Angelo is fascinating - and much more of a historical sight than a museum. The Villa Guilia isfaily small and has a great Etruscancollection including a lot of everyday objects that are 2500+ years old.
Of the churches we found San Clements the most intersting - be sure to allow enought time to really exploreallthe various levels.
Of the churches we found San Clements the most intersting - be sure to allow enought time to really exploreallthe various levels.
Sep 18th, 2010, 07:24 PM
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sgny, I am glad that St. John Lateran is on your list. I found that, next to St. Peter's, it was the most beautiful church (cathedral) in Rome. "Breathtaking" is the word that comes to mind.
You can also "kill two birds (actually, several) with one stone" by spending some time in the Pantheon area. There are a number of phenomenal churches within a 10-minute radius of the Pantheon. Right next door is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva with its stunning blue ceiling; Il Jesu, St. Agnes in Agony, Sant'Andrea della Valle, and Sant'Ignazio di Loyola are all a stone's throw. I highly recommend getting in as many of these as you can.
If I recall correctly, it is about a 20-minute hike from the Colosseum to St. John Lateran. Don't miss the Scala Santa.
I highly recommend DK Eyewitness Travel guide to Rome, fyi.
Buon viaggio! Roma è il mio cuore.
You can also "kill two birds (actually, several) with one stone" by spending some time in the Pantheon area. There are a number of phenomenal churches within a 10-minute radius of the Pantheon. Right next door is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva with its stunning blue ceiling; Il Jesu, St. Agnes in Agony, Sant'Andrea della Valle, and Sant'Ignazio di Loyola are all a stone's throw. I highly recommend getting in as many of these as you can.
If I recall correctly, it is about a 20-minute hike from the Colosseum to St. John Lateran. Don't miss the Scala Santa.
I highly recommend DK Eyewitness Travel guide to Rome, fyi.
Buon viaggio! Roma è il mio cuore.
Sep 19th, 2010, 05:35 AM
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One quick idea - considering seeing something you loved the first time again. We did this on our 2nd trip to Rome with a few of our favorites. You'll end up seeing things you didn't see before and you'll have all of those wonderful memories all over again.
Just like at home - I'll go to certain museums/attractions again and again, discovering something new each time.
Just like at home - I'll go to certain museums/attractions again and again, discovering something new each time.
Sep 20th, 2010, 12:50 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions guys. We will be checking out the "wedding cake" again now that you could go to the top for the view. Too bad we will not be there for that video exhibit at the Colosseum. Saw it on the news and it looked pretty wild.
