Advice for Rome on Sunday, April 27
Jan 1st, 2014, 09:25 PM
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Advice for Rome on Sunday, April 27
Hello,
We will be in Rome on Sunday April 27 and just learned from a family member that the late pope John Paul will be canonized on this day. I had planned to post and ask advice on what to do on a Sunday in Rome but this is a new wrinkle which I suspect could bring crowds to Rome. On Monday we will be on a tour of St Peter's and the Sistine chapel with sometime in the Vatican museums.
We arrive on Saturday the 26th so Sunday will be our first full day in Rome. We'll likely be jet lagged so won't want to over plan. We enjoy exploring neighborhoods, we like art museums and gardens. I would love to hear your suggestions as to how DH and I might spend this day. DH has never been to Rome and my only visit was 30 years ago. Thank you.
We will be in Rome on Sunday April 27 and just learned from a family member that the late pope John Paul will be canonized on this day. I had planned to post and ask advice on what to do on a Sunday in Rome but this is a new wrinkle which I suspect could bring crowds to Rome. On Monday we will be on a tour of St Peter's and the Sistine chapel with sometime in the Vatican museums.
We arrive on Saturday the 26th so Sunday will be our first full day in Rome. We'll likely be jet lagged so won't want to over plan. We enjoy exploring neighborhoods, we like art museums and gardens. I would love to hear your suggestions as to how DH and I might spend this day. DH has never been to Rome and my only visit was 30 years ago. Thank you.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 01:25 AM
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As long as you stay away from the Vatican area, you should have no problem with crowds on the Sunday. After all, almost all of them will be in St. Peter's Square. Almost all museums in Rome are open on Sundays, as well as all the major archaeological sites.
On the other hand, I suspect that the Vatican Museums will be even more unbearably crowded than usual on the Monday.
Some of my favorite museums in Rome, which are almost never crowded, are the Barberini Gallery (Italian paintings from medieval to early modern times); the National Roman Museum at Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (spectacular collection of ancient sculpture, mosaics, jewelry, and very rare ancient frescoes); Galleria Doria Pamphilj (privately owned Renaissance palazzo with family art collection and beautiful period rooms); Villa Farnesina (Renaissance villa with lovely garden and some beautiful frescoes by Raphael; Corsini Gallery (small but excellent art collection, across the street from the Villa Farnesina, which offers a joint ticket with the Barberini Gallery for a mere 9 euros); and the Capitoline Museums (a first-class collection of ancient sculpture on Piazza del Campidoglio, above the Roman Forum).
The Borghese Gallery, which, to be honest isn't one of my personal favorites, is also very popular for its collection of Bernini sculpture; if you want to go there, you should reserve a space in advance, as admissions are limited and usually sell out well in advance. You get a two-hour time slot, and have to show up half an hour before your entrance time. For this reason, and also because it's a bit out of the center of Rome, I don't advise a visit there if you'll be in Rome only for a few days; it really can muck up your schedule because of its rigid entry times, and there are plenty of other great art museums in Rome.
All of the above museums, with the exception of the Doria Pamphilj Gallery and the Villa Farnesina, are closed on Mondays. The Villa Farnesina is open only in the morning and early afternoon each day. It's usually closed on Sundays, but on some Sundays they have early music concerts combined with art tours. The Doria Pamphilj Gallery also has some musical entertainments.
There is also a lot of world-class art displayed in churches in Rome. A few of the more important are Santa Maria del Popolo, in Piazza del Popolo, which has many great works of art; San Luigi dei Francesi, near Piazza Navona, with three Caravaggios; Santa Maria della Vittoria, with Bernini's Saint Teresa in Ecstasy sculpture; and San Pietro in Vincoli, with Michelangelo's Moses sculpture. All churches in Rome are free to enter, but you usually have to pay a small sum to turn on the lights that illuminate the works of art. Several churches, such as the basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria in Trastevere have beautiful early Christian golden mosaics. Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill has very rare ancient Roman carved wooden doors showing Biblical scenes.
All of the above churches are open every day, but in some of them it may not be possible to visit during religious functions.
On the other hand, I suspect that the Vatican Museums will be even more unbearably crowded than usual on the Monday.
Some of my favorite museums in Rome, which are almost never crowded, are the Barberini Gallery (Italian paintings from medieval to early modern times); the National Roman Museum at Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (spectacular collection of ancient sculpture, mosaics, jewelry, and very rare ancient frescoes); Galleria Doria Pamphilj (privately owned Renaissance palazzo with family art collection and beautiful period rooms); Villa Farnesina (Renaissance villa with lovely garden and some beautiful frescoes by Raphael; Corsini Gallery (small but excellent art collection, across the street from the Villa Farnesina, which offers a joint ticket with the Barberini Gallery for a mere 9 euros); and the Capitoline Museums (a first-class collection of ancient sculpture on Piazza del Campidoglio, above the Roman Forum).
The Borghese Gallery, which, to be honest isn't one of my personal favorites, is also very popular for its collection of Bernini sculpture; if you want to go there, you should reserve a space in advance, as admissions are limited and usually sell out well in advance. You get a two-hour time slot, and have to show up half an hour before your entrance time. For this reason, and also because it's a bit out of the center of Rome, I don't advise a visit there if you'll be in Rome only for a few days; it really can muck up your schedule because of its rigid entry times, and there are plenty of other great art museums in Rome.
All of the above museums, with the exception of the Doria Pamphilj Gallery and the Villa Farnesina, are closed on Mondays. The Villa Farnesina is open only in the morning and early afternoon each day. It's usually closed on Sundays, but on some Sundays they have early music concerts combined with art tours. The Doria Pamphilj Gallery also has some musical entertainments.
There is also a lot of world-class art displayed in churches in Rome. A few of the more important are Santa Maria del Popolo, in Piazza del Popolo, which has many great works of art; San Luigi dei Francesi, near Piazza Navona, with three Caravaggios; Santa Maria della Vittoria, with Bernini's Saint Teresa in Ecstasy sculpture; and San Pietro in Vincoli, with Michelangelo's Moses sculpture. All churches in Rome are free to enter, but you usually have to pay a small sum to turn on the lights that illuminate the works of art. Several churches, such as the basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria in Trastevere have beautiful early Christian golden mosaics. Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill has very rare ancient Roman carved wooden doors showing Biblical scenes.
All of the above churches are open every day, but in some of them it may not be possible to visit during religious functions.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 11:30 AM
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Thank you for the quick responses.
bvienci I will have to do more research on the Borghese Gallery. I have wanted to see Bernini's Apollo & Daphne. We do love to visit churches which we might do on Sunday afternoon.
I misspoke, our tour of the Vatican is scheduled for Tuesday morning. I still expect it to be busy so we'll be ready for crowds and plan an afternoon of strolling, picture taking, gelato and perhaps a little shopping.
bvienci I will have to do more research on the Borghese Gallery. I have wanted to see Bernini's Apollo & Daphne. We do love to visit churches which we might do on Sunday afternoon.
I misspoke, our tour of the Vatican is scheduled for Tuesday morning. I still expect it to be busy so we'll be ready for crowds and plan an afternoon of strolling, picture taking, gelato and perhaps a little shopping.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 05:28 PM
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I second bvlenci's suggestions, which are spot on. I especially endorse the Capitoline sculpture museum and Palazzo Massimo. I differ about the Borghese Gallery, however - I think it is stunning and worth planning around. There are several Bernini masterpieces, Caravaggios (Caravaggii?) and wonderful ancient items too. But it is certainly not in the central center and getting there and back could eat up precious time.
With such a short visit, I would plan walks that make geographical sense. For instance, San Luigi dei Francesi, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon (all must-see sites) are practically adjacent to one another, and Santa Maria del Popolo is just a nice walk up the Corso. Trevi Fountain too is not far, and that is fun.
With such a short visit, I would plan walks that make geographical sense. For instance, San Luigi dei Francesi, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon (all must-see sites) are practically adjacent to one another, and Santa Maria del Popolo is just a nice walk up the Corso. Trevi Fountain too is not far, and that is fun.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 05:52 PM
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I was in Rome for the funeral of Blessed John Paul II, and while the Vatican area and roads leading to it were madly crowded, the rest of the city was business as usual. They are expecting over a million pilgrims/visitors for the canonisation of two former Popes.
Jan 3rd, 2014, 07:23 PM
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Oh my, a million visitors--glad we have our hotel booked. Sounds like we would be wise to make dinner reservations Sunday night.
We have 4 full days in Rome, enough to sample the city. I will definitely be mapping sights so we make efficient use of our time. The Forum appears to be an easy walk from our hotel so that might be a good first stop on Sunday. Or walk a loop to the Trevi Fountain in the morning then the Pantheon and the Forum.
We have 4 full days in Rome, enough to sample the city. I will definitely be mapping sights so we make efficient use of our time. The Forum appears to be an easy walk from our hotel so that might be a good first stop on Sunday. Or walk a loop to the Trevi Fountain in the morning then the Pantheon and the Forum.
