Name a favorite Rome experience...
Sep 11th, 2019 | 07:02 PM
#21
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,821
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Visiting the Mercato Trionfale and the Testaccio market
The porketta sandwich at Trionfale was fantastic
The porketta sandwich at Trionfale was fantastic
Sep 12th, 2019 | 06:23 AM
#22
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 21,963
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We enjoyed going up to the Gianicolo (Janiculum) and Pincio gardens (above the Piazza del Popolo)for the great views of the city.
If you go to the top of the Gianicolo there is a pleasant walk downhill into Trastevere. Part way down you will reach Bramante's Tempietto in the cloister of San Pietro in Montorio. In Trastevere you can visit Santa Maria in Trastevere and the piazza around it, then cross over the Isola Tiberina into the Jewish Ghetto neighborhood.
If you go to the top of the Gianicolo there is a pleasant walk downhill into Trastevere. Part way down you will reach Bramante's Tempietto in the cloister of San Pietro in Montorio. In Trastevere you can visit Santa Maria in Trastevere and the piazza around it, then cross over the Isola Tiberina into the Jewish Ghetto neighborhood.
Sep 12th, 2019 | 07:40 AM
#23
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,336
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I second Vttraveler's advice.
Also:
Also:
- Ostia Antica, the ancient Roman seaport
- The Villa Farnesina, a Renaissance Villa in Trastevere, with beautiful frescoes, some by Raphael.
- The Galleria Doria Pamphilj, a Renaissance palace with stunning period furnishings and the family's art collection.
- The Palazzo Farnese, site of the French Embassy, another Renaissance palace.
- The Villa Medici, on the edge of the Villa Borghese park, another Renaissance gem.
- The National Etruscan Museum, on the northern edge of the Villa Borghese park.
- The Capitoline Museums, one of the world's greatest collection of ancient Roman art.
- Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, with another world-class collection of ancient art.
- Terme di Caracalla, beautiful ruins of an ancient Roman bath complex, where they have opera performances in the summer.
- Several little-known museums, including the National Museum of Antique Art, in Palazzo Barberini (and its sister, the Palazzo Corsini).
Sep 12th, 2019 | 05:07 PM
#27
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 37
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We had a day to visit Rome at the end of one of our Italian vacations. We went to see the Trevi Fountain but it was closed for renovations, so we just walked and walked until we made it to Santa Maria del Popolo and spent a long time gazing at the Crucifixion of Saint Peter. Just my wife and I, a few nuns and a Korean (I think) fellow traveler.
Then a very long lunch on a terrace. The wine was flowing 😄
Then a very long lunch on a terrace. The wine was flowing 😄
Sep 12th, 2019 | 08:32 PM
#28
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,821
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Yes, Osta Antica for sure! Easy to get to, different from Pompeii and quite intriguing.
Also enjoyed the catacombs of St. Callixtus on the Appian Way
Also enjoyed the catacombs of St. Callixtus on the Appian Way
Sep 12th, 2019 | 10:29 PM
#29
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 94
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Just came back from Rome. Loved every minute of these 5 days.
Altare della Patria is great and around it you can watch from above the Roman Forum, as well as from the Campidoglio.
Spanish Steps with wonderful view from the top. From there we walked all the way to Castel Sant'Angelo. The walk along the river is beautiful and the Castel is great fun + great view.
Galleria Borghese is a Must. I didn't have enough time to walk the park but I saw the pictures a friend took and it looks beautiful.
Fontana de Trevi of course and the Pantheon.
Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria della Vittoria
Sat'Andrea della Vale
Altare della Patria is great and around it you can watch from above the Roman Forum, as well as from the Campidoglio.
Spanish Steps with wonderful view from the top. From there we walked all the way to Castel Sant'Angelo. The walk along the river is beautiful and the Castel is great fun + great view.
Galleria Borghese is a Must. I didn't have enough time to walk the park but I saw the pictures a friend took and it looks beautiful.
Fontana de Trevi of course and the Pantheon.
Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria della Vittoria
Sat'Andrea della Vale
Sep 13th, 2019 | 11:34 PM
#31
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,336
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I totally left out churches and catacombs.
My favorite catacombs are the Sant'Agnese and the Priscilla. Both are north of the center, whereas the most famous one is south of the city. If you go south of the city, I recommend the Domitilla catacomb, rather than the one everyone goes to, the San Callisto catacomb.
The catacombs south of the city are all on or near the Via Appia Antica, an ancient Roman Road which in parts still has the original paving blocks. This is worth a visit, especially if you can go on a Sunday, when the road is closed to most traffic.
However, there's an ancient Roman street right in central Rome. It's inside the Trajan's Market, the Via Biberatica, still lined with ancient shop fronts.
My favorite catacombs are the Sant'Agnese and the Priscilla. Both are north of the center, whereas the most famous one is south of the city. If you go south of the city, I recommend the Domitilla catacomb, rather than the one everyone goes to, the San Callisto catacomb.
The catacombs south of the city are all on or near the Via Appia Antica, an ancient Roman Road which in parts still has the original paving blocks. This is worth a visit, especially if you can go on a Sunday, when the road is closed to most traffic.
However, there's an ancient Roman street right in central Rome. It's inside the Trajan's Market, the Via Biberatica, still lined with ancient shop fronts.
Sep 14th, 2019 | 07:34 AM
#32
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 13
My favorite Rome memory was my arrival day. I had read that Rome can be dirty, crowded, and hot. So I wasn’t expecting to love it. But, I was meeting my daughter there, who had finished her semester in Florence.
It was late May. All the pink flowers were in full bloom, up and down the Spanish Steps, which was the first place we walked to, after settling into our hotel. It was stunning. And not crowded at all. From there, we walked via Condotti to window shop. Then Trevi fountain. Then we wandered around our little hotel’s neighborhood and found a nice little place for dinner.
I was happy and relieved to like Rome so much. DD had studied art history there, had been to Rome, spoke Italian, and was my fantastic guide throughout our 15 night tour of Italy.
Only thing I didn’t like: taking a nighttime cab ride in Rome! Whoa, baby! Hold onto your hat and don’t look.
It was late May. All the pink flowers were in full bloom, up and down the Spanish Steps, which was the first place we walked to, after settling into our hotel. It was stunning. And not crowded at all. From there, we walked via Condotti to window shop. Then Trevi fountain. Then we wandered around our little hotel’s neighborhood and found a nice little place for dinner.
I was happy and relieved to like Rome so much. DD had studied art history there, had been to Rome, spoke Italian, and was my fantastic guide throughout our 15 night tour of Italy.
Only thing I didn’t like: taking a nighttime cab ride in Rome! Whoa, baby! Hold onto your hat and don’t look.
Sep 14th, 2019 | 07:55 AM
#33
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
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I didn't like Rome much until my 3rd trip there. Found it too frenetic and hot and lacking in reasonable public transportation (understandable, since they can't dig without finding precious ruins). Really, really loathed the whole Vatican experience for a variety of personal reasons. On 3rd trip stayed at a very reasonably priced hotel in Trastevere with a wonderful rooftop pool and bar, where I ended every evening. Took the tram into the city every day. That was the makings of my favorite moments in Rome.
Sep 14th, 2019 | 08:28 AM
#34
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 84,804
Likes: 46
https://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/e...IWA/index.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ome_Lazio.html
Sep 14th, 2019 | 07:46 PM
#36
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
I love Rome! These are personal favorite memories so thanks for indulging me.
In my college days I took an overnight train to Rome with a pal I’d been backpacking/Eurailing/ hosteling with. We groggily woke up to the jolly paunchy man who’d shared our 2nd class compartment standing by the window in his white singlet with his arms widespread singing out “ la Bella Roma!” We’d arrived.
Same trip, so grateful after our long train ride and weeks of budget Europe to be meeting my parents and brother for a few days of luxury at the Cavalieri Hilton (TWA discount days; different ownership now of course). The beds! The pool!
A trip with my Mom and her good friend. Our taxi was in a fender bender, and we were suddenly in a scene from a goofy Italian movie: crowds, hand waving, yelling. One of us had the wherewithal to put our lira on the seat and do the skedaddle.
A trip with friends for a significant birthday. Five of us rendezvoused in Rome and walked from our hotel that first night to the Forum, just soaking in the lit up ruins.
Same trip, wandering at night through various squares, enjoying fountains & people, and coming across a bar in Campo de Fiori for our first encounter with Absinthe. Now that was a fun night.
Recreating the mouth of truth scene from Roman Holiday.
Staying solo in Trastevere and learning to feel at home in my neighborhood. Hanging in my living room is the print I bought from a local artist I befriended.
Roman Food!
In my college days I took an overnight train to Rome with a pal I’d been backpacking/Eurailing/ hosteling with. We groggily woke up to the jolly paunchy man who’d shared our 2nd class compartment standing by the window in his white singlet with his arms widespread singing out “ la Bella Roma!” We’d arrived.
Same trip, so grateful after our long train ride and weeks of budget Europe to be meeting my parents and brother for a few days of luxury at the Cavalieri Hilton (TWA discount days; different ownership now of course). The beds! The pool!
A trip with my Mom and her good friend. Our taxi was in a fender bender, and we were suddenly in a scene from a goofy Italian movie: crowds, hand waving, yelling. One of us had the wherewithal to put our lira on the seat and do the skedaddle.
A trip with friends for a significant birthday. Five of us rendezvoused in Rome and walked from our hotel that first night to the Forum, just soaking in the lit up ruins.
Same trip, wandering at night through various squares, enjoying fountains & people, and coming across a bar in Campo de Fiori for our first encounter with Absinthe. Now that was a fun night.
Recreating the mouth of truth scene from Roman Holiday.
Staying solo in Trastevere and learning to feel at home in my neighborhood. Hanging in my living room is the print I bought from a local artist I befriended.
Roman Food!
Last edited by annabelle2; Sep 14th, 2019 at 08:06 PM.
Sep 16th, 2019 | 11:54 AM
#38
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 0
I love the layers of Rome. The Scavi tour is an example of this. Two other great places to explore:
Basilica of San Clemente. There is a X!! century church over an early Christian church (IV century) over several first century buildings (a domus, a mint a shrine to Mithras?).
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. This church is built over an ancient Roman house, which may have been the home of the martyred Cecilia (whose death is quite a story). There has been a church here from the early Christian time. It was rebuilt in the 9th century. (Love Stefano Maderno's statue of Santa Cecilia.)
Basilica of San Clemente. There is a X!! century church over an early Christian church (IV century) over several first century buildings (a domus, a mint a shrine to Mithras?).
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. This church is built over an ancient Roman house, which may have been the home of the martyred Cecilia (whose death is quite a story). There has been a church here from the early Christian time. It was rebuilt in the 9th century. (Love Stefano Maderno's statue of Santa Cecilia.)
Sep 16th, 2019 | 03:03 PM
#39
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
I love the layers of Rome. The Scavi tour is an example of this. Two other great places to explore:
Basilica of San Clemente. There is a X!! century church over an early Christian church (IV century) over several first century buildings (a domus, a mint a shrine to Mithras?).
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. This church is built over an ancient Roman house, which may have been the home of the martyred Cecilia (whose death is quite a story). There has been a church here from the early Christian time. It was rebuilt in the 9th century. (Love Stefano Maderno's statue of Santa Cecilia.)
Basilica of San Clemente. There is a X!! century church over an early Christian church (IV century) over several first century buildings (a domus, a mint a shrine to Mithras?).
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. This church is built over an ancient Roman house, which may have been the home of the martyred Cecilia (whose death is quite a story). There has been a church here from the early Christian time. It was rebuilt in the 9th century. (Love Stefano Maderno's statue of Santa Cecilia.)
