Please critique my 5 day Rome Itinerary
Oct 3rd, 2010, 02:12 PM
#21
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<Is there anything I am missing on my itinerary that would be a shame to miss?>
Of course, about 333 great and unmissable sights, but I suppose you know that - the minimum for really getting to know Rome is one entire year of continuous sightseeing, so everybody is missing almost everything that's important, beautiful and stunning on their first visit, that's inevitable. But if you really go to the Cavalieri di Malta (I've yet to see that famous keyhole view, so can't comment on it, but I really like the idea since it's the least touristy attraction on your schedule), then it would definitely be a shame if you didn't visit S. Sabina on your way. This is a sight that excels even in Rome (most everywhere outside Italy, it would be the respective country's main sight, attracting thousands of visitors per day, while in Rome, you have it for yourself).
Of course, about 333 great and unmissable sights, but I suppose you know that - the minimum for really getting to know Rome is one entire year of continuous sightseeing, so everybody is missing almost everything that's important, beautiful and stunning on their first visit, that's inevitable. But if you really go to the Cavalieri di Malta (I've yet to see that famous keyhole view, so can't comment on it, but I really like the idea since it's the least touristy attraction on your schedule), then it would definitely be a shame if you didn't visit S. Sabina on your way. This is a sight that excels even in Rome (most everywhere outside Italy, it would be the respective country's main sight, attracting thousands of visitors per day, while in Rome, you have it for yourself).
Oct 3rd, 2010, 04:06 PM
#23
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Jill -- Scavi tour is a small tour below St. Peter's -- shows the history of where St. Peter's was built and the location of the bones of St. Peter. Just fascinating. Lasts about 1-1/2 hours and you then come right up in the center of St. Peter's.
Oct 3rd, 2010, 05:24 PM
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I would save the Scavi tour for your next visit. It was absolutely fascinating to me because I am Catholic and was very interested. My non-Catholic friends either found it interesting or so-so. Depends on what you are looking for.
The main reason that you may want to wait is due to scheduling. You cannot pick the exact date or time that you would go on tour. You send them a date and then they tell you the time (if you get in). Your chances of getting a ticket increase if you give them multiple days that you can go. You will not know until about a month before you go if you have been selected and what your day/time is. That means that you will not be able to plan your other days or obtain other tickets. Your entire itinerary will depend on your Scavi assignment. We chose to build our itinerary around the tour last spring but we had been to Rome on previous trips.
I see Campo de'Fiori on your itinerary. This should be visited in the morning as the stalls close up at mid-day.
A "must see" for us is always Michelangelo's Moses. It is located in San Pietro in Vincoli close to the Coloseum.
I would suggest reading "The Agony and The Ecstasy" before you go.
The main reason that you may want to wait is due to scheduling. You cannot pick the exact date or time that you would go on tour. You send them a date and then they tell you the time (if you get in). Your chances of getting a ticket increase if you give them multiple days that you can go. You will not know until about a month before you go if you have been selected and what your day/time is. That means that you will not be able to plan your other days or obtain other tickets. Your entire itinerary will depend on your Scavi assignment. We chose to build our itinerary around the tour last spring but we had been to Rome on previous trips.
I see Campo de'Fiori on your itinerary. This should be visited in the morning as the stalls close up at mid-day.
A "must see" for us is always Michelangelo's Moses. It is located in San Pietro in Vincoli close to the Coloseum.
I would suggest reading "The Agony and The Ecstasy" before you go.
Oct 4th, 2010, 07:48 AM
#28
Two more Roman churches for you..Bascilica of San Clemente. The excavavtions below the church floor take you back 2000 years, amazing to see.A must see.
And if you're walking by San Luigi dei Francesci stop in to see the Carravaggios..
And if you're walking by San Luigi dei Francesci stop in to see the Carravaggios..
Oct 4th, 2010, 08:54 AM
#31
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Another correction so that you can look that church up: it's S. Luigi dei Francesi, not Francesci (which latter would be meaningless in Italian). If you are interested in Caravaggio, there are more unmissable sights in Rome: S. Agostino, S. Maria del Popolo obviously, and the Casino dell'Aurora Ludovisi; plus the museums that have works by Caravaggio: the Musei Capitolini, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica at both Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj and the Galleria Borghese, of course, inside Villa Borghese (still not sure which of them you intend to visit).
"Besides churches and art", what do you mean by that question? What could be worth seeing other than churches and art? Or do you mean "archeology" as opposed to "art"? In this case, there are of course innumerable breathtaking sights in Rome. To name but a few examples (besides the all-too-well-known standard sights): Foro Boario - Teatro di Marcello - Portico d'Ottavia (this short walk is infinitely more interesting than the usual Foro Romano - Palatino - Colosseo); Mercati di Traiano (part of the Fori Imperiali, but a thousand times more interesting than the rest of them, yet a thousand times less visited, don't ask me why); the completely preserved ancient street and houses near SS. Giovanni e Paolo - http://www.caseromane.it/en/index_en.html; the Temple of Hadrian (now the Stock Exchange of Rome); the Parco della Caffarella (only accessible by guided tour, every Sunday morning; includes S. Urbano alla Caffarella, originally a pagan temple, and the so-called Tempio del Dio Redicolo, actually the tomb of Annia Regilla, the wife of Herodes Atticus).
If, however, you're thinking of shopping, you should specify what you're looking for - bearing in mind, though, that (less than) five days in Rome is almost nothing, and that shops are everywhere, even in the most boring places.
"Besides churches and art", what do you mean by that question? What could be worth seeing other than churches and art? Or do you mean "archeology" as opposed to "art"? In this case, there are of course innumerable breathtaking sights in Rome. To name but a few examples (besides the all-too-well-known standard sights): Foro Boario - Teatro di Marcello - Portico d'Ottavia (this short walk is infinitely more interesting than the usual Foro Romano - Palatino - Colosseo); Mercati di Traiano (part of the Fori Imperiali, but a thousand times more interesting than the rest of them, yet a thousand times less visited, don't ask me why); the completely preserved ancient street and houses near SS. Giovanni e Paolo - http://www.caseromane.it/en/index_en.html; the Temple of Hadrian (now the Stock Exchange of Rome); the Parco della Caffarella (only accessible by guided tour, every Sunday morning; includes S. Urbano alla Caffarella, originally a pagan temple, and the so-called Tempio del Dio Redicolo, actually the tomb of Annia Regilla, the wife of Herodes Atticus).
If, however, you're thinking of shopping, you should specify what you're looking for - bearing in mind, though, that (less than) five days in Rome is almost nothing, and that shops are everywhere, even in the most boring places.
Oct 4th, 2010, 08:59 AM
#32
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What I meant is what other things do you recommend besides visiting churches and art? (art meaning going into museums)
Yes, the other ideas of the alternate walks and preserved ancient streets sound very interesting. I am in real estate so I love neat architectural things like that. I am also a very active person so different ideas for adventure always suit my taste.
Yes, the other ideas of the alternate walks and preserved ancient streets sound very interesting. I am in real estate so I love neat architectural things like that. I am also a very active person so different ideas for adventure always suit my taste.
Oct 4th, 2010, 09:09 AM
#33
Jill,you stated in an earlier post that you didn't really like going into churches. Is that really true? Italy is filled with the most beautiful and historic churches as well as much of the world's most magnificient art. We each have different interests and what we wish to include when we travel. No problem, but you should be aware that many of these posters will be recommending churches and art when visiting Italy. Should we drop the suggestions relating to churches and art?
For example,I dislike shopping but many enjoy it.This is your trip and should reflect your interests.
For example,I dislike shopping but many enjoy it.This is your trip and should reflect your interests.
Oct 4th, 2010, 09:28 AM
#34
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I am not a big church and art person. Yes, I absolutely loved St. Chapelle in Paris because of those stained glass windows. However for me to go to a specific church it would have to draw me in for something worthwhile. Thanks for asking about my interests. 
See above comment.
See above comment.
Oct 4th, 2010, 10:53 AM
#35
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Hmmm, adventure? You mean we should tell you which outlying Roman suburb is best for getting mugged by a desperate drug addict?
Seriously: you might feel like walking along Via Appia Antica - the completely preserved ancient street-plus-graveyard (you're probably aware that ancient graves were usually lining the country roads outside the borders of towns and cities) that runs 16 kilometres from Rome's ancient city wall into the countryside (a modern village called Frattocchie, from where busses are running back to Rome). Or, another quite extensive walk: around the Mura Aureliane, i.e. said ancient wall - almost completely preserved, and actually one of ancient Rome's most fascinating remnants (usually, I recommend that only for people with a car, but since you said you're an active person...). Via Appia Antica, btw, is pedestrianized, so that's ONLY for active people.
I just HAVE TO add, though, that Caravaggio paintings like the ones in S. Luigi dei Francesi, S. Maria del Popolo or S. Agostino are definitely as good as the glass windows of Ste-Chapelle. They're among the very best paintings ever created, so should fulfill your requirement of drawing you in for something worthwhile.
Back to your more specific interests: Rome doesn't boast much as far as modern architecture, but there's one quarter that will interest you: EUR, the fascist vanity project of Rome. This is certainly cold and not very human architecture, but definitely on an aesthetically advanced level - not all fascist Italian architecture was bad, and the EUR quarter is certainly among the better efforts. (Outlying, but no mugging drug addicts there, and easily reachable by metro.)
Seriously: you might feel like walking along Via Appia Antica - the completely preserved ancient street-plus-graveyard (you're probably aware that ancient graves were usually lining the country roads outside the borders of towns and cities) that runs 16 kilometres from Rome's ancient city wall into the countryside (a modern village called Frattocchie, from where busses are running back to Rome). Or, another quite extensive walk: around the Mura Aureliane, i.e. said ancient wall - almost completely preserved, and actually one of ancient Rome's most fascinating remnants (usually, I recommend that only for people with a car, but since you said you're an active person...). Via Appia Antica, btw, is pedestrianized, so that's ONLY for active people.
I just HAVE TO add, though, that Caravaggio paintings like the ones in S. Luigi dei Francesi, S. Maria del Popolo or S. Agostino are definitely as good as the glass windows of Ste-Chapelle. They're among the very best paintings ever created, so should fulfill your requirement of drawing you in for something worthwhile.
Back to your more specific interests: Rome doesn't boast much as far as modern architecture, but there's one quarter that will interest you: EUR, the fascist vanity project of Rome. This is certainly cold and not very human architecture, but definitely on an aesthetically advanced level - not all fascist Italian architecture was bad, and the EUR quarter is certainly among the better efforts. (Outlying, but no mugging drug addicts there, and easily reachable by metro.)
Oct 4th, 2010, 03:45 PM
#36
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Franco - thank you for all your helpful information! I will definitely have to check out the Caravaggio paintings. I love hearing about all these different types of walks and streets.
My sense of adventure does not mean getting mugged. I was thinking more of a Vespa. haha
My sense of adventure does not mean getting mugged. I was thinking more of a Vespa. haha
Oct 4th, 2010, 04:04 PM
#39
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Important paintings in churches are usually kept in the dark (better for the artworks' preservation). The light is going on on request only, and you are making this request by throwing 50 Eurocent or 1 Euro (of course, a sign will tell how much it costs) into a corresponding device.
Oct 4th, 2010, 04:05 PM
#40
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Many of the smaller churches have spot lights for their paintings that require a one euro coin to light up. These churches often have dark interiors. So if you want to see that Raphael, it costs...
They gotta pay the light bill somehow, many of thses 500 y/o churches have VERY small congregations - many of which are retired and on fixed incomes.
They gotta pay the light bill somehow, many of thses 500 y/o churches have VERY small congregations - many of which are retired and on fixed incomes.
