One Day in Rome
Jan 16th, 2008 | 04:08 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Dec 2004
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One Day in Rome
Friends of ours are traveling to Italy in mid-February, and have only one day to spend in Rome. I have been working on a suggested itinerary. Note that they will be staying near Termini. Here it is: Rome in One Day
From Termini train station, take Metro Line B (Blue) Southbound (Laurentina) two stops to the Colosseo (Colosseum) stop.
Visit the Colosseum and the Forum. English language tours with Italian docents are available; audiophones for self-guided tours are available at most tourist sites.
Go back to the Colosseo Metro stop and take Line B (Blue) Northbound (Rebibbia) two stops back to Termini. When you transfer at Termini you go from one line to the other and don’t pay another fare. Change trains to Line A (Red) Northbound (Battistini) six stops to the Ottaviano/San Pietro stop. Exit station and walk south on Via Ottaviano, through Piazza del Risorgamente to Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square)
Visit St. Peter’s Square (San Pietro) and St. Peter’s Cathedral. The Pieta is located in the Cathedral as well as many other outstanding pieces- there is no charge for St. Peter’s, but you do have to go through a security check. Note: Perhaps the best gelato in Rome can be found at Old Bridge Gelateria, which is across the street from where people line up to get into the Vatican Museum. The Nutella gelato is our favorite!). The Vatican Museum houses the Sistine Chapel, which is magnificent. It will take probably at least 2-3 hours to make this visit due to the lines, so you may want to keep that in mind while deciding whether or not you want to include it in your itinerary.
Walk southeast on Via della Conciliazione (a major avenue) to the Tiber River. Cross the Tiber River on one of the bridges. We recommend the Ponte Sant Angelo or “Bridge of Angels,” which has several Bernini statues of angels on it, which crosses the Tiber at the Castel Sant Angelo. Continue on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (another major avenue). Take a left (north) on Corso Rinascimento to Piazza Navona. Many fountains, artists and other artisan booths are found in this piazza, which is one of the best known in Rome.
From Piazza Navona walk east to the Pantheon. This was originally a temple to all the Roman gods, which was later taken over by the Christians. Its dome with its open oculus is famous. Raphael is buried here.
From the Pantheon, walk east (crossing a major avenue – Via del Corso) to Trevi Fountain. Trevi Fountain is the most famous fountain in Rome. If you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain you will return to Rome some day, according to local lore.
From Trevi Fountain, walk north to the Spanish Steps (Spagna) . Caution: The Spanish Steps area is where all the top fashion houses’ stores are located.
Near the the base of the Spanish Steps, look for a Metro station sign. Take Metro Line A (Red) Southbound (Anagnina) two stops to the Termini station.
Comments would be appreciated
From Termini train station, take Metro Line B (Blue) Southbound (Laurentina) two stops to the Colosseo (Colosseum) stop.
Visit the Colosseum and the Forum. English language tours with Italian docents are available; audiophones for self-guided tours are available at most tourist sites.
Go back to the Colosseo Metro stop and take Line B (Blue) Northbound (Rebibbia) two stops back to Termini. When you transfer at Termini you go from one line to the other and don’t pay another fare. Change trains to Line A (Red) Northbound (Battistini) six stops to the Ottaviano/San Pietro stop. Exit station and walk south on Via Ottaviano, through Piazza del Risorgamente to Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square)
Visit St. Peter’s Square (San Pietro) and St. Peter’s Cathedral. The Pieta is located in the Cathedral as well as many other outstanding pieces- there is no charge for St. Peter’s, but you do have to go through a security check. Note: Perhaps the best gelato in Rome can be found at Old Bridge Gelateria, which is across the street from where people line up to get into the Vatican Museum. The Nutella gelato is our favorite!). The Vatican Museum houses the Sistine Chapel, which is magnificent. It will take probably at least 2-3 hours to make this visit due to the lines, so you may want to keep that in mind while deciding whether or not you want to include it in your itinerary.
Walk southeast on Via della Conciliazione (a major avenue) to the Tiber River. Cross the Tiber River on one of the bridges. We recommend the Ponte Sant Angelo or “Bridge of Angels,” which has several Bernini statues of angels on it, which crosses the Tiber at the Castel Sant Angelo. Continue on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (another major avenue). Take a left (north) on Corso Rinascimento to Piazza Navona. Many fountains, artists and other artisan booths are found in this piazza, which is one of the best known in Rome.
From Piazza Navona walk east to the Pantheon. This was originally a temple to all the Roman gods, which was later taken over by the Christians. Its dome with its open oculus is famous. Raphael is buried here.
From the Pantheon, walk east (crossing a major avenue – Via del Corso) to Trevi Fountain. Trevi Fountain is the most famous fountain in Rome. If you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain you will return to Rome some day, according to local lore.
From Trevi Fountain, walk north to the Spanish Steps (Spagna) . Caution: The Spanish Steps area is where all the top fashion houses’ stores are located.
Near the the base of the Spanish Steps, look for a Metro station sign. Take Metro Line A (Red) Southbound (Anagnina) two stops to the Termini station.
Comments would be appreciated
Jan 16th, 2008 | 07:24 PM
#3
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,265
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If they follow the order you suggest, I would taxi from the Colosseum to the Vatican. Why waste time trying to figure out the subway, making a trip involving a change, and all in the middle of the day? They only have one day so time is precious.
After the Ponte Sant' Angelo, I would not walk along Corso Vit. Emanuele. It is a wide unpleasant noisy trafficky street. Instead, I'd suggest that once over the bridge they make the first right after passing the Lungotevere and walk along the very charming Via dei Coronari, a virtually pedestrian-only street lined with antique stores and other cute shops. This street ends near the north end of Piazza Navona, so they could continue your itinerary from there.
In mid-February daylight hours will still be short.
After the Ponte Sant' Angelo, I would not walk along Corso Vit. Emanuele. It is a wide unpleasant noisy trafficky street. Instead, I'd suggest that once over the bridge they make the first right after passing the Lungotevere and walk along the very charming Via dei Coronari, a virtually pedestrian-only street lined with antique stores and other cute shops. This street ends near the north end of Piazza Navona, so they could continue your itinerary from there.
In mid-February daylight hours will still be short.
Jan 16th, 2008 | 07:29 PM
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
The Rome tourism web page has an itinerary with map. This link is for 48 hours, but day 1 covers much of what your friends would be interested in.
http://www.romaturismo.com/v2/romain...in48ore_1.html
http://www.romaturismo.com/v2/romain...in48ore_1.html
Jan 17th, 2008 | 04:03 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,355
Likes: 0
Excellent point by ellenem about short daylight hours, that's why they should definitely skip the Vatican Museums, with or without reservation.
But on another point, ellenem, I beg to differ: the metro ride from the Colosseo to S. Pietro is incomparably quicker than any taxi could be any time of the day. And as you said, time is precious, so they should absolutely go by metro. There's nothing to figure out about it, the description by dickensdad is spot on.
But on another point, ellenem, I beg to differ: the metro ride from the Colosseo to S. Pietro is incomparably quicker than any taxi could be any time of the day. And as you said, time is precious, so they should absolutely go by metro. There's nothing to figure out about it, the description by dickensdad is spot on.
Jan 17th, 2008 | 04:45 AM
#7
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,265
Likes: 0
Franco,
For me, the metro would be quick. I live in NYC and ride subways and trains all the time and have done so in Rome a number of times. As long as the friends are train-fearless, they will make good time on the metro. I hoped a taxi would avoid problems for those, who state (like many who post here) "I have never been on a train before!!"
I believe the Forum closes at dusk. I agree with Franco that the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums may be an impossible fit with so many other sights to cover in so little time.
For me, the metro would be quick. I live in NYC and ride subways and trains all the time and have done so in Rome a number of times. As long as the friends are train-fearless, they will make good time on the metro. I hoped a taxi would avoid problems for those, who state (like many who post here) "I have never been on a train before!!"
I believe the Forum closes at dusk. I agree with Franco that the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums may be an impossible fit with so many other sights to cover in so little time.
