I wil be in Rome the nights of June 4,5,6,and7th. I want to use some sort of walking tour because I know basically nothing about all the details of Rome History.The compny highly recommended on this site Scale Reale(spelling) has proposed a one hour oriention tour the first day. The second day a 3-4 hor tour of major sites Colliseum etc. THe next day they have recommened the tour of the Vatican and St Peters at 12:30p.m. I have the Scavi tour already booked earlier that morning. Then they suggested another one the last day there. I know they are only a few hours each and I will probably learn alot, but I'm not sure how many tour most first-timers do. I want to walk around and enjoy too. Any opinions on which tours are not to be missed and which are no big deal. Thanks Karen

Good question you pose. I am not prone to taking tours, though I think a good walking tour can be worthwhile. To give you maximum flexibility I, and if I had to give you an exact answer, I would say no more than two tours.<BR><BR>I think the first day orientation tour is a waste, even though on paper it may sound great. I don't know if this is a bus tour or walking tour. Either way, in one hour, it cannot really orient you, logistically speaking, to Rome. If it gives you a general historic/architectural overview, you can learn this yourself in any guidebook. If its a bus tour, you will just be driving by sites you will be revisiting later..I see no gain.<BR><BR>A tour of the Vatican, if its a good tour, may be worth it. It is focused on a particular subject, so a good tour will go into a lot of detail that you may not figure out by yourself.<BR><BR>The three hour tour of major sites to me seems mostly like a waste also. I am focusing on the plural "siteS" here. If you are spending just a bit of time at a bunch of places, it will not give you a chance to decide for yourself how much time to spend at each place. <BR><BR>One place in Rome where I think that a tour would be worthwhile, would be a tour of the Forum. Much of the ruins are jsut pieces of buildings here and there...as opposed to major structures still standing. If you are interested in how it was all orgainized, a walking tour would be helpful. Most guuidebooks would give an overview, and talk about some structures, but would not be great for deciphering "what buidling was this column athat I am standing in front of part of?"<BR><BR>I don't know what the scavi tour is of, but I would not recommend taking two tours that fill up the afternoon and morning of the same day.<BR><BR>In general, I think you said it correctly at the end, you want time just to walk around on your own. I think that one or two tours, both moderate in duration, would fill the bill. I put the number at two, since jsut by asking, you seem inclined to want to be on some tours, rather than going it alone. <BR><BR>The historic center of Rome (from the Spanish steps to the Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, Jewish ghetto, and on to the Tiber River) is eminently walkable for most people and invites just wandering around, combining sightseeing, shopping, people watching and eating/drinking. Perhaps you will take me along as a guide to this area??????

I felt the same way you did when we were planning our Rome trip. So much history, so little time. Procrastinated making arrangements, found the "perfect" guide but found he was booked, and then decided we'd just have to go with the flow.<BR><BR>It worked out. We took the free tour of the Forum. It was a great way to remove the irritation involved with which building was what in what century. The sun was blazing hot and the guide kept moving us into shade to give us any extensive bits about some building. I cannot imagine doing this area justice without a guide--even with my 10 guidebooks!<BR><BR>While I enjoyed our next tour of the Vatican, I think we could have done well with just the Rick Steve's guide (I'm not always a fan, but his tour was essentially the same). I liked our tour guide; I hated waiting for other people.<BR><BR>With my sense of impatience in mind during our second tour, I wonder just how much "touring" you can take. We had seven days there--you only have four. I think two tours in four days is the max.<BR><BR>

Hi, Karen. First of all, I didn't use Scale Reale, so my comments are about tours in general. I'm not sure from your post, but are you going alone? I travelled alone to Rome last October, and booked an evening tour with Enjoy Rome. It was, in a sense, an orientation. It made me feel a little more secure knowing that I had something planned my first night in Rome and, by the end of the first day, I felt OK about walking around alone at night. (It worked for me and I plan to do the same thing for my trip to London in May.) If those issues aren't a concern, and if you're trying to figure out something to drop, I'd drop the orientation tour. <BR><BR>Similarly, I wouldn't bother with a tour of the Vatican Museums or St. Peter's. You can buy a guide book of St. Peter's that explains a lot of the art work and it will make a nice souvenir. If you don't mind waking up early in the morning, get to St. Peter's when it opens. You'll get to appreciate it in peace and quiet. It was one of my favorite places in Rome (although not technically Rome). I'd definitely do the Scavi Tour. <BR><BR>I think a tour of the Forum would be helpful. I didn't do a tour and it took a while to figure out what was what. I would recommend against the audiotour. I eventually went back to the gift shop and bought a guide book which was helpful.<BR><BR>I did a tour of the Colosseum (offered through the Colosseum) and thought it was a waste of time.

I used Scala Reale last fall and I was on my own. I took their two-hour "Orientation Hike" (SR uses no buses!) and it was great on my first day. First it kept me moving, and besides that it did indeed give me an orientation to the historic center, plus I got to see a couple of churches (with Bernini sculptures), Trajan's Column, etc that were on my must-see list anyway. I also took their Colosseumk/Forum tour and it was one of the highlights of my trip. Very informative, entertaining, and the time just flew by.<BR>My regret is that I did NOT take their Vatican Tour--I certainly will next time. I went on a tour led by a Vatican tour guide, and she spoke incomprehensible English. However, the tour guide at St Peter's was excellent and I also spent time inside St Peter's on my own.<BR><BR>I had booked the Scavi tour on my own for another day, and ended up skipping it just because of lack of time, not wanting to head back over that way, and wanting to do other things.<BR><BR>I have a file on Rome; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR>good luck

We took the Scala Reale orientation hike and loved it. Sounds like the same one Elaine described. Ours went a bit over two hours. We saw places we never would have found on our own. We also took their Vatican tour and found it well worth it. We wanted some time on our own, too, so did not take the Colosseum/Forum tour or any of the specialty tours. But, I'd certainly do one next trip! Still, I think you are wise to want some wandering time to yourself.

I generally take a lot of walking tours (or hire a guide) when I am in a city visiting because I find them to be a more efficient way of seeing sights; however I think it makes a big difference if there are three people or 30 people in the group as generally those tours have to aim at the lowest common denominator with regards to knowledge, timeliness and the like. A good guide can make the sights come alive like no guide book can. Even in my native city I take tours in museums because of the perspective that the graduate students or curators can offer.<BR><BR>Even if I have read a book on a particular monument or museum or area and have a guide book with me the human guide can answer questions regarding location of things, and add a local perspective that cannot be conveyed in writing.

Karen,<BR><BR>To much walking may not be a good idea. The tour of the Forum is the only tour you'll really need. If you are not into reading history then maybe the Colliseum (even though it is a waste of money since this information can be found in any guide book or the web). <BR>I find that the walking in Rome will eventually kill your feet from sightseeing further in the end. Without a tour, you have time to sit and relax in the Piazzas in between going to the next monument,fountain or piazza. This will let you enjoy Roman life and see its history.

Does Scala Reale have a website? Can't find it.

I think the 3-4 hour tour of the sites could be a good idea. If you know nothing about Rome/history then this would probably be a good "101." It would also give you an idea of where things are located. Then you can always go back and spend more time to enjoy the sites.<BR><BR>I highly recommend the scavi tour. I've taken it twice, just because I thought there was so much detail the first time that I found fascinating so the next time I went back I wanted a "refresher" course but found my 2nd guide not as captivating.<BR><BR>As far as other tours go, I would base my decision on how much that particular subject/site might interest me compared to the others and maybe chose another one if I felt like I wanted a guide.<BR><BR>Of course, I think in the end it's always the ability and performance of the tour guide that decides if you made the "right" decision or not.<BR><BR>Rome is great and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time regardless of how many tours you take!<BR>

To answer John's question, the Scala Reale website is: scalareale.org.<BR><BR>Karen - I took the Scala Reale 1/2 day Vatican tour and found it to be exceptional. The four hours flew by and the guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the Vatican and the artwork in the museums.<BR><BR>I would take all 4 tours (I believe the orientation tour is part of the membership package) since I find that having a guide at sights is better than reading info out of a book. And, the Scala Reale guide are top notch.<BR><BR>You'll find plenty of time for strolling around Rome on your own, seeing the squares and fountains. In June it will stay light until about 9:00 and there's plenty of night time activity. <BR><BR>Adrienne<BR>

Note that scalareale limits its tour groups to six. Wonderful in depth tours.

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I have never taken a Scale Reale tour but did take a private Vatican tour (the company escapes me at the moment). Although our group was too large the guide was great. I can't imagine doing the Vatican without a tour-it is just too overwhelming (in a good way)!

Has anyone taken the Enjoy Rome walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere? I took their walking tour of the Col. Forum, etc. last year and it was great.

Thank you all for your opinions. I think I am going to go with Elaine's advice. The one hour walking tour on the first day is not until four in the afternoon. She says the forum tour was a highlight. I have all her reports ( a very big pile of helpful info) Thanks for sending it Elaine. I also think I will take the Vatican tour. The days are long and the tours are only 3-4 hours. I would be doing the same thing anyway by myself so it is not like I am doing something I wouldn' already be trying to do. Now I am worried about missing the Borghese. What do you think of that in ranking order of the others. I really have a few hours on the fifth day becauseI want to stay in Rome longer than Florence so I may take a lunch train to Florence. That gives me 4 1/2 days.It seems most people are in agreement about Scale Reale. They take very small grups. I wonder if I can request a person with lots of personality and not a stick in the mud historian? Thanks again. What about not to miss tours in Florence and Venice. I see myself just walking around Venice for three days unless there is some tour not to be missed. Thanks to all of you. Karen If you had a choice of taking the Forum 4 hour tour at 9:00am or 2:00 pm which would you take and why? I want to tour when other things are closed or nothing much is happening that I am missing. Any opinions on the two time choices?

OK, Karen...now you are getting a little carried away...take two tours take three tours...does it really, really matter...fine enough...but now you wnat to know what TIME to take the tour!?!? How about 3:05<BR><BR>By the way, I do think a tour or two is fine, but after that, they eat up too much time and take away flexibility, not to mention that the $$$$$ add up. How much area each of these tours?

Karen, as I write this I am on the phone to a tourist agency in Volgograd, Russia, discussing a trip this summer. Although I want to be able to take full advantage of my limited time there, I know enough that I will never experience every last drop of a city's essence in a vacation-length trip--hell, I consider myself an amateur historian and never visited the New-York Historical Society, even though it is 12 blocks from where I lived for 22 years. Things do fall into place, structually, emotionally and intellectually.

Karen<BR>I suggest going early in the day on the Forum tour because there is no shade there and you will avoid the worst heat of the day.

Morning tour of Forum.<BR><BR>The Borghese...I loved it. If you were to ask my family about the three top highlights of Rome, the Borghese is one of them. We were guideless there and we were fine--again, just look for one of the more in-depth guidebooks that take you room-to-room. These Bernini works speak to you.