charnees

I agree that you will be hot and tired on the day you visit the Colosseum and Forum! I was on the verge of heat exhaustion -- in late September, not early. You are going at a hot time of year. This happened to me twice, so it was not just a fluke. There is NO shade in the Forum, little in the Colosseum, and little on the Palatine. And there are no cafes anywhere inside the sites. Be sure to take water nd a hat! or an umbrella. It just takes a long time to see these places!!!

charnees

And I would not advise walking with your luggage to Via Cavour when you arrive. Too far, too hot. Take a cab. But be sure you go to the official cab stop at the train station. Don't go with someone who offers you a taxi outside the line. They are ripoffs.

mama_mia

I hate to add to your itinerary, but since you are interested in churches, I would like to add the following which are on your route:

Near Santa Maria Maggiore on Day 1: Santa Prassede. It has outstanding 9th century mosaics. (S Maria Maggiore has mosaics, too, but in Santa Prassede they are easier to see given smaller scale of church.)
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/i...santa-prassede

Around the corner from the Pantheon: Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. One of my favorites. It is unusual in that it is done in the Gothic style, with cross vaults and stained glass windows. Works by Michelangelo, Fra Angelico and Filippino Lippi inside and Bernini's Elephant obelisk outside.

I agree that Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is worth a visit. You can enjoy the main church, with its statue of the saint by Stefano Maderno (very poignant, but look up story about the discovery of her incorrupt body in the late 16th century that was witnessed by Maderno). Also check out the subterranean domus and the frescoes in the choir (accessed from an outside door) of the Last Judgment by Pietro Cavallini.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/i...-santa-cecilia

MrsOtter

Alrighty so when I went to book the Borghese gallery I was an idiot and forgot the calendar starts on a Monday not Sunday. They are closed on Mondays. Now I have to rearrange the whole trip ugh! I understand my itinerary is ambitious. I also understand it is an outline and we may just not feel like doing any of it on a particular day. If my DH and I do not have a busy plan we will decide upon nothing. (bad decision makers haha!!) This is the schedule that I think my DH will enjoy. Thank you to everyone who replied!! I love hearing all the different thoughts on where to go

Day 1: Friday
arrival at Termini station 4pm
travel to hotel (downtown accomodation on via cavour, will decide method of travel when we arrive)
walk to Santa Maria Maggiore
Dinner

Day 2: Saturday
Breakfast at hotel
Borghese Gallery & Gardens
Piazza del Popolo
-the three Santa Maria Churches

Day 3: Sunday
Breakfast at hotel
Campo Di Fiori
Sant Andrea della Valle
Piazza Navona
S. Ivo in Sapienza (if it is still open)
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain (any interesting churches between here and the steps)
Spanish steps (may or may not be taken out)

Day 4: Monday
Breakfast at hotel
Basilica Di San Clemente
Colosseum
Arch of Constantine
Palatine Hill
Forum
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Vittorio Emmanuele Monument
Church of the Gesu
St. Peter in Chains

Day Five: Tuesday
Breakfast at hotel
Scavi Tour 9:15am
Vatican 11:30 ish
St. Peters Basilica
Trastevere Neighborhood
S. Maria in Trastevere

Day 6: Wed
Breakfast
Depart to Airport to go home

mama_mia

If you are intending to see the market at Campo de' Fiori--I do not think it is set up on Sunday mornings.

MrsOtter

@mama_mia thank you for catching that for me, we are just going to take it off the list!