My husband and I arrive in Rome around lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon next month after spending a week in Tuscany. We will fly back to the states early Sunday morning, so we only have 1/2 day and an evening/dinner in Rome. What are the most important 1 or 2 things to see? (Wish I had more time!) Thanks for any tips you have.

Hi fan,

Upon arrival, go to your hotel.

Make your way to the Trevi fountain and throw in a coin (right hand over left shoulder) to insure that you will return.

The rest of your sojurn doesn't matter.

You can probably cover the central city in one afternoon, hitting the highspots...while obviously not spending much time at any of them--the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, etc.
And, as Ira said, making sure you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, thus assuring a return trip!

You might want to take an organized tour of the highlights to save yourself the time of trying to figure out your own transportation. I would include St. Peter's basilica on the "must see" list even if you just view the outside.

You'll just have to save some things for your next trip!

Take the open top bus tour.

why go at all?

I go with the bus tour. If not, start at the Colosseum, see the outside, walk through the Forum, then head toward the Pantheon (go inside), Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Have a nice meal somewhere near your ending point. In other words, along the lines of what Howard suggested. I wouldn't bother with the Vatican in this time frame, unless you have a particular interest in it. In that case, I would make it the focus of the half day, hitting the Trevi Fountain and nearby sights in the evening.

The Archeobus is a great way to see the sites of Rome in 1 day and they drive you all around, including down the Appian Way. You start in Piazza Venezia can get on and off at will, then re-board with no additional charge. The tour costs approx. 9 euros. Check out this website for more info...http://www.mmdtkw.org/VArcheobus.html

Couldn't you take one day away from Tuscany and add it to Rome?

I would reccomend the Vatican Museum....run through it and go to the Sistine Chapel, a moving experience. The trevi will be wonderful at night time, And try to make it to the pantheon.

Thanks for the advice! I could add a day to Rome, which we still might do, but we received a week's stay in Tuscany as a gift, so we have a "free" place to stay through Saturday morning (we fly out Sunday). But it sounds like it might be worth it...