Pack Lunch for the Roman Forum
 

Hi,

I'll be spending a full day in the Roman Forum. I assume I can't exit for lunch and gain readmittance (I'm planning on visiting the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum the next day, so can't use my Palatine Hill entrance to get back into the Forum). So I'd like to buy a pack lunch somewhere near the Forum that will not spoil during the morning, so I can eat it around 1PM or so. Does anyone have a recommendation where I can get a pack lunch near the Forum?

Thanks,
Jeff

You won't be able to visit the Palatine Hill the next day on the same ticket. The ticket gives one admission to the Colosseum and one admission to the joint Roman Forum/Palatine Hill site. The two are connected by an internal passageway. Since seeing both sites can take three to four hours, it's really necessary to take at least some water, because there's no place to get anything to eat or drink inside. (I wrote an email to the Superintendenza suggesting that they should either allow at least one exit and re-entrance or else provide a place to get water at the very least. They responded that they were aware of the problem, but as far as I know, they have no plans to resolve it.

Most groceries in Italy will make a sandwich for you, and sandwiches in Italy are just bread, cheese, and cured meat, none of which will spoil. Prosciutto crudo (the cured kind) and aged cheese are generally not even refrigerated. A sandwich of this type, which is also widely available in bars and paninoteche, or a slice of pizza al taglio, some fruit, and a bottle of water would be the best thing to bring. If you'll be passing through Termini station, there are several bars that can sell you something that will do for lunch, and there is also a supermarket on the lower level.

I shouldn't have implied that ALL sandwiches in Italy are just bread, cheese, and cured meat. Let's just say it's a popular type of sandwich.

Since seeing both sites can take three to four hours, it's really necessary to take at least some water, because there's no place to get anything to eat or drink inside.>>


there is at least one public water fountain in the Forum because I filled my water bottle from it and a french woman told her son how dangerous it was to do and he mustn't copy me. In fact she was wrong - the water from the fountains in Rome is perfectly safe and very fresh.

but taking a bottle in with you and something to eat is a good idea.

There are plenty of stands (also Metro stations across the street) around the area where you could pick a few things to take with you. I wish we had....we bought a bottle of water between the Colisseum and the Forum but were starving after the tour we took (and couldn't want to leave, as a result!

The most important thing you need to know, which I'm afraid may be buried in the lunch advice (mine included) is that your plan to visit the Roman Forum one day and the Palatine Hill the next day will not work unless you buy a new ticket. There is only one entrance to the joint Forum/Palatine site included on a ticket.

You could visit the Colosseum one day and the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill the next day, but there is no possibility to exit and re-enter.

Picnicking in the Forum site was not allowed the last time I was there, so be discreet. Maybe take some cheese, bread and fruit to be eaten in a shady corner of the Palatine Hill, and expect to pack out the garbage.

I was just there a couple weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I remember a sign saying "no eating" (or something to that effect) in the Forum. I also don't recall any benches or any place to sit. The Forum site itself (not including Palatine Hill) is quite small and pretty crowded. What is it you intend to do that would require a full day?

It can take hours to see the most historically significant parts of the Roman Forum. It's small, but has an extremely concentrated number of historically significant buildings and monuments. The Palatine Hill can take just as long. In fact, anyone who wants to make a thorough visit to the two sites is likely to get hungry at some point, and there is absolutely no provision for a meal or snack at the sites. I do remember that there are public water fountains.

Until fairly recently, entrance to the Roman Forum was free, so you could visit for an hour or two, have a meal, and return.