ChatNoir

Any rants or raves about "Il Verano", Rome' cemetery in San Lorenzo?

I heard it was an impressive place with the most beautiful adorned tombs,sculptures, and small monuments.

I'd also welcome info on how to get there and nearby attractions to combine with it.

Grinisa

As Italian cemetaries go, it's nicer than most. Many important Romans are buried there. It is next to one of the seven pilgrimage churches, San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura and also close to one of my favorite restaurants, Tram Tram. I usually take the tram that stops in front of the Church of Santa Croce in Gerusaleme, or take the metro to the Policlino stop and walk down Viale Regina Elena. There is a Museum of Anatomy at the hospital (Policlinico Umberto 1)and the campus of the University of Rome but not much else in the neighborhood. You could take a tram up Viale XXI Aprile to Via Nomentana and visit the chuch and catacombs of St. Agnese Fuori le Mura and the church of Santa Costanza.

ChatNoir

Thank you Grinisa, I was hoping you would see this one and comment.

I'm a third time visitor and looking for off-the-beaten-track places and things to do.

kismetchimera

Chat Noir, it is an impressive place, it is worth visiting it..Both my parents and my Relatives are buried there..

ChatNoir

Thanks kismetchimera.

BATUFFOLINA

Also my relatives are buried at the Verano and yes it is a monumental cementery where many famous italian actors are buried (like the great comedian Alberto Sordi for example). It is not like Pere Lachaise in Paris though, where fans from all over the world go and have a tour of the famous tombs and which is a touristic attraction. I personally will not go and visit the Verano if I were a tourist, because in Rome there are soooo many other things to see that visiting a cementery would be my very last choice, but that depends on personal tastes.
If you would like to visit it, the cementery has 2 entrances: one is at the Piazzale del Verano and the other one is near San Giovanni. I usually take tram number 3 near Manzoni subway station (near Hotel President) and get off near the high bridge in order to go to the secondary entrance (not the main one in Piazzale del Verano). The same tram stops is Piazzale del Verano too, just ask the conductor.
Near the Verano there is the University , but it is not that interesting unless you want to see the Anatomy Museum.

ChatNoir

I'm glad you three smart Rome experts commented on this one.

I was not going to do this one in isolation. Here was the rough inital plan, crazy as it might be to someone who actually knows the area. Okay, here goes, so don't laugh too hard:

Take metro to the Policlino stop and walk down Viale Regina Elena to view San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura and wander around the cemetery a bit.

Then walk south to see Basilica Di Porta Maggiore (Via Prenestina, just outside the Porta Maggiore)

Then walk south again to see Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (viale Carlo Felice) which holds the treasures that St. Helena brought back from the Holy Land a thorn from Christ's Crown of Thorns, wood from the true cross and actual nails that crucified Christ.

Then walk west to see San Giovanni in Laterano and the holy stairs leading up to the Scala Santa Church.

Then walk northwest via dei Santi Quattro Coronatito to Santi Quattro Coronati

Then walk walk north to San Clemente

Then walk walk northwest to Domus Aurea

The walk to S Pietro in Vincoli

Then drop in my tracks from total over exertion! That would be one long day.

What do you think?

Reverse the order of places?

Where could I catch trams or busses to reduce walking?

Anything else worth a quick peek while on the way?

I was looking for the Aurelian Wall but could not find it.

ChatNoir

TTT

BATUFFOLINA

I hope you are a really good walker ChatNoir because the itinerary is REALLY long! First of all the Aurelian Wall is near the Vatican and I really hope you will NOT include it in THIS itinerary because you will drop dead and we don't want that...
IMO some points along your itinerary are along the route made by TRAM NUMBER 3. Buy a day ticket and hop on and off the tram which stops near your points of interest. Have a look at www.metrebus.it which will give you more info about the bus and tramway lines IN Rome. For your convenience I have copied and pasted the complete list of stops made by TRAM 3 which is as follows:

THORVALDSEN
GALLERIA ARTE MODERNA
ALDROVANDI
BIOPARCO
ROSSINI
LIEGI/UNGHERIA
LIEGI/BELLINI
BUENOS AIRES
V.LE REGINA MARGHERITA/NIZZA
V.LE REGINA MARGHERITA/NOMENTANA
REGINA MARGHERITA/GALENO
V.LE REGINA MARGHERITA/MORGAGNI
POLICLINICO
REGINA ELENA/V.LE UNIVERSITA'
UNIVERSITA' LA SAPIENZA
VERANO
VERANO/DE LOLLIS
RETI
SCALO S. LORENZO/AUSONI
SCALO S. LORENZO/SARDI
SCALO S. LORENZO/TALAMO
SCALO SAN LORENZO
P.ZA DI PORTA MAGGIORE
P.ZA S. CROCE IN GERUSALEMME
CARLO FELICE
PORTA S. GIOVANNI/CARLO FELICE
MANZONI
LABICANA/MERULANA
LABICANA
COLOSSEO/SALVI N.
PARCO CELIO
CIRCO MASSIMO
AVENTINO
AVENTINO/ALBANIA
PORTA S. PAOLO
MARMORATA/GALVANI
MARMORATA/VANVITELLI
EMPORIO
PORTA PORTESE
INDUNO
TRASTEVERE/MIN.P.ISTRUZIONE
TRASTEVERE/BERNARD. DA FELTRE
IPPOLITO NIEVO
TRASTEVERE/PASCARELLA
STAZ. TRASTEVERE/FS

As you can see there are several points that are included in your itinerary. If you are not sure, ask the conductor, they are locals and they know better than anyone.
Just one last advice: this line TRAM 3 tends to be really crowded in some moments of the day, due to students going to the University or people going to the Policlinic or to the Verano. First of all beware of your purse and of pickpockets and then if you can stay as near as possible to the driver so that you don't get mobbed among other people and miss the stop. At least near the driver you can hop off the tram more easily.
I hope this info helps you!

ChatNoir

Batuffolina, I came to my senses and posted a shorter version under Rome: A Long Church Walk. I got the impression that the city is unattractive from
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme to Basilica Di Porta Maggiore and then on to San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura.

The tram idea sounds great.