luigi

As much as I was shocked and appalled that people could say with such abandon that "men don't like Rome" or are afraid or whatever, I have to agree with my fellow Romaphile Ed. You and your husband should avoid Rome like the plague that wiped out several thousands of men there previously. Maybe that's what he's afraid of?

Seriously, as much as I love Rome (been four times in the last six years and going again in October), even I would not go there during the summer! If you want me to try and talk him into going, I would be happy to do that offline. But it would have to be in spring or fall. And quite frankly, while I agree with the other posters that Venice is a great trip (going there for the second time this year in October), I wouldn't be caught dead there during the summer, either.

Hmm, if you want quiet, maybe stay out of the big cities or go during a different time of year. I don't think you can have it both ways.
ciao,
luigi

Jane

We went to Rome in mid June. With the exception of the Sistine Chapel, the crowds were not a problem. We got to the chapel first thing in the morning and avoided the crowds. I did not find Rome dirty or polluted.My husband, who doesn't like to travel much, loved Rome for the ancient ruins. Truly amazing. And not being catholic, he wasn't much interested in seeing the Pope. However, it is quite the sight all the people honoring him, and the way they act.

Rod Hoots

Spending two weeks in Italy without at least three days in Rome is a crime. I've spent a lot of time in Italy and personally prefer Rome over Florence. It is a big city but doesn't feel crowded because of the many large squares and wide streets. If you like history, it is one of the cradles of western civilization. If you like architecture, almost every major historical structure is a wonder of the world, including St. Peters basilica. I'm not Catholic but visiting the Vatican Museum and St. Peters are two of the highlights of my world travels. There are many excellent hotels and restaurants. In the evening, just walking around the Piazza Navonne or sitting in one of its sidewalk cafes is just plain la dolce vita. My only suggestion, that applies to Italy in general, is to try to arrange your vacation in the spring or fall.

Terry

I was there last Feb. I cannot believe some one would not like to see it just once. But if you have to convince someone, go see the movie The Gladiators.I rest my case.

Barbara

There is a wonderful new book by Alan Epstein called As The Romans Do, which is a fascinating read about the flavor of contemporary Rome. Each chapter deals with a different subject, such as Roman cuisine, the women of Rome, attitude, etc. It is funny, informative, and totally charming. It made me want to spend time in Rome more than any guide book or history-oriented material. You will enjoy it immensely.

james wyatt

If your husband enjoys his food and drink, he'll love Rome. But best of all the women are incredibly chic and pretty -it's like living in the biggest catwalk on this planet all around you. If this fails to get his attention, I suggest you book him in for some therapy!

gardenbabe

Rome is too special to be intentionaly missed! Whether your husband's anxiety is crowds, Faith, or different language, this is one of the Europe's "heart" cities. You would always be sorry you missed seeing it, & blame him for missing it. He will discover some things in Rome he never exxpected to see ---no matter what! Compromise---the name of the GREAT GAME!

Paciano Diaz

My wife and I honeymooned for a month and saw Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan Lisbon, Barcelona, Palma, Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Euphesus, Athens and Santorini. I must say, overall, Rome was definitely my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with Rome and dissapointed in Florence.

jacquie

I'm not sure how to convince your husband to actually go, but once you get him there I'm sure he'll love it. My husband & I visited for the first time 6 weeks ago and, despite his low expectations (of just another big city like Milano), he loved it and was very quickly won over. He asked me if I thought the buildings etc were genuinely as old as they looked and said that if they were, then he was impressed. I too was pleasantly surprised by Rome, as I thought every street, piazza in the historic centre was a work of art. We both loved it and will return very soon. Moral of the story, just get him there and then let the city speak for itself. As we flew into Rome, I told my husband we may as well stay a couple of days while we were there, just to check it out. I said that if we didn't like it, we could always move on. Maybe try that and see how he likes it. Before the end of our 3-week trip starting from Rome and heading south to Sicily, we wished we'd spent more time in Rome. (If you're interested in what we got up to, see my 3-part trip report posted yesterday entitled "Italia in November - trip report Part 1-3".)

Diane

Hey, Barbara, I just read the Epstein book last week! Very enjoyable. I always like to fantasize about living in places I visit. The Epsteins figured out a way to do it.