Hi Bill, I think I made an error!! I get spam on my email..if you sent me an email I deleted it..not knowing it was from you. Would you be kind enough to resend your message and in the subject show it is from iamq on Fodors? Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you! Best regards.

I'm a lover of the Borghese Gallery. It still haunts me. Take a look at this website:

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/B/b...pina3.jpg.html

and use the image viewer to see the detail. Can you believe that's marble? I can't recommend the Borghese enough.

Dona

ttt

Thanks for sharing your itinerary annhig. It is helpful to know what other people do with their time.
Thanks too, for lodging info. We were considering staying at the Nicolas Inn, which is the near the Colosseum, but decided against it because of the location.

LoveItaly,
I sent you another message the other day. Did you get it?

-Bill

iamq,

You're plan is looking good! A few comments:

Your apt. location is perfect - good for you. Make sure you make regular visits to the bakery on the west side of Campo dei Fiori (starting on day one) - for breakfast (cornetti) and for bread needs in general. It's amazing!

A tour is most helpful for Ancient Rome. It's also a nice idea for the Vatican but you could get by on your own at the Vatican with a really good guide book (like DK).

Definately go the the Borghese. You can see it in less than 1/2 hour (in fact you HAVE to as your entry time is limited). Don't miss it!

<<I'd like to visit some interesting piazzas and streets.>> You're apt. is in the right place for this. Make sure your strolls include Via Giulia, Via Coronari, and Trastevere: all easily walkable from your apt. Via dei Governo Vecchio (west off Piazza Navona) is a great street for dining as are many of the streets heading west off Campo Dei Fiori such as Via dei Pellegrino, Via di Montserrato, and Via dei Cappellari.

And, yes, I would limit day trips to one... at MOST. Ostia Antiqua, while close, will take most of a day. Again, don't commit until after you have arrived in Rome. You'll realize by your second day there how very little you time really have and how much you are going to miss (even with no day trips).

As for an orientation walk, if you are handy with a map I suggest you simply plan on doing this on your own.

Borghese time slots are for 2 hours. First floor is sculpture and second floor paintings. I tend to take a long time in museums. Spent more than adequate time with both floors(audioguide) and took 1 1/2 hours total. Spent much less time with the paintings.

<<Borghese time slots are for 2 hours.>>

Dayle,

You are quite right. My apologies - my mind must be going in my old age (46). I agree that the sculptures are the big draw, I can't even remember any of the paintings now...

iamq, flying from the West Coast, you need to allow a little time for jet lag. In particular, I wouldn't plan any long day trips on the first 2 days. But Rome has so many things to see you can adjust your schedule to how you feel. Fortunately, your apartment is very centrily located, so you can just drop back there as needed.

Thanks again all! I'm gald to hear about the bakery! Thanks bardo1 for the neighborhood info.

-Bill

Just west of the Campo there is also a great bakery on via dei Chiavari just off Via dei Guibbonari and a great cheese, wine and salumi store on Via dei Guibbonari.

Oops make that east!!!!

We returned last Friday from a 2 week trip to Europe. We visited Paris, Florence, Orvieto, and Rome. We loved each place we visited but I particulary liked Orvieto. We stayed only one night there but I wish we had stayed two. It was nice to relax a bit after running all over in the other places we stayed. You might want to get tickets to the Borghese ahead of time. We tried and were told they were booked until sometime in late June. The Scavi Tour was as wonderful as everyone says it is!

Thanks NorthShore.

-Bill