adrienne

There is something for everyone in this world and art speaks uniquely to each of us. If Bernini went astray then I'm quite happy he did so.

To redeem myself, I'm also a fan of Romanesque churches and, what will amaze you, I also love the Cistercian churches. You can't get much farther from the Baroque than Cistercian architecture.

Rostra

ZiaVino, you are a group of 2 couples of which 3 have never been to Rome, I would agree with some others here and say the Colosseum and Roman Forum are possibly the best choices and would also go with a walk-through of the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill and then perhaps the 15min walk to the Pantheon.
Below is a past post of mine with a map and where to get the single entry tickets to the Colosseum, Forum & Palatine without a long line plus if you decide on this or a just part of it the map would help your attack plan (I believe those sites close at 7pm).

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<<<Unfortunately I don't think we will have time for both the Forum and Palatine hill (included in Colloseum price) as I am keen to allow some fun/gelato/ time for the teen!>>>

Donna, You would all be missing out on a very major part of Western Civilization's history.

Perhaps it won't interest your daughter at 13yrs old but perhaps she'll never get back to Rome in her life? (Or yourselves?)

In her studies and even leisure times through-out life she will see and hear about the Roman Forum (TV, movies, articles, books, photographs, etc).
And she will know that she once walked there and saw those same ruins.

Even if all you do is just a 15min walk-thru of the Roman Forum.

Personally I would take 1 hour and do a ~1.5 mile walk-thru of the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Capitoline Hill after the Colosseum.

www.capitolium.org/eng/fori/pianta.htm (Map)

From the Colosseum walk-down the 'Via di San Gregorio', see where this is ==(`) only vertical to the left of the 'EG' in "GREGORIO", that is the Palatine Hill Ticket entrance. (No Lines! Get your tickets here even if you skip the Palatine and have to walk back to the Colosseum and then head over to the Forum)

To the left of the entrance is either a direct naturally stepped path or a zig-zag path up the slope (this path takes you past an aqueduct) and both these areas are in a tree-like rustic park.

At the top walk straight across (right to left on the map) and view the ruins of an Emperor's massive Palace, then the modest 2 houses of Emperor Augustus and his wife and finally outside under a roof the post holes and drainage channels cut into bedrock that once had mud-thatched huts of Rome's original Founders build there (it has been claimed since ancient times to be the Hut of Romulus).

Now walk up on the map and exit at #1 (Arch of Titus) and walk thru the Roman Forum, exit behind #16 (Arch of Septimus Severus) and up the stairs to the Capitoline Hill and see the Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo and exit down its grand staircase to the Via Teatro di Marcello.
If too much just enter at #41 and do a quick walk-thru of the Roman Forum.

bvlenci

If I had to skip all three, I'd visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and skip the Colosseum.

bvlenci

In fact, that's what I did the first time I was in Rome.

ZiaVino

Grazie Mille, all, for your generosity in sharing this wealth of information. We leave later today, and (warning) I'm going to post another topic --- "Itinerary check: if you only had one day in Florence."

Ciao for now. I plan to report back after our trip for anyone interested.