Please help with Rome/Capri itinerary, restaurants!!!
 

I apologize if this is a duplicate post. I posted yesterday, and cannot find my post anywhere. <BR> <BR>Would like Rome restaurant suggestions - good food, nothing fancy (not dressy), moderately priced, and walking distance from the Pantheon area (we are staying at the Senato). <BR> <BR>We will be in Rome for 4 nights. Would like to see Vatican, Piazza Navona, Piazza Popolo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Colesseum, Forum, Spanish Steps. Am I missing something? Can anyone suggest an itinerary -what to group together to see in one day? Lunch suggestions near these sights? <BR> <BR>We are then on to Capri for 2 nights - then back to Rome to fly home. We are looking for the same here - restaurant suggestions, things to see along with Blue Grotto, San Michele (we are staying at La Minerva). <BR> <BR>Is there anything we need to buy tickets for in advance - train, hydrofoil, vatican? What should we plan on the weather being like in each locale at the end of May? <BR> <BR>Any suggestions are helpful!!!

Here are some general suggestions; I'm sure those who've visited Rome more than I have will have others. <BR> <BR>Do the Vatican stuff one day (St. Peter's, museum, Sistine Chapel). Our experience, and from posts I've seen, others as well, is there's not much to eat around there, no good restaurants, etc. We ended up walking and walking until we found a mediocre take-out pizza place. <BR> <BR>Do the ancient Rome stuff another day. Forum, Colliseum, etc. We ate at a fabulous take-out pizza place near there. <BR> <BR>Much of the other stuff can fit in anywhere. For example, we visited the Trevi Fountain at night, after dinner - the fountain was lit up, and quite pretty, if you like incredibly garish statuary. We had more fun people-watching than watching the fountain. Same with the Spanish Steps (they are only steps, after all) and Piazza Novone. The Piazza is a good place to take a break from other activities, people-watch and have a glass of wine. Also nice in the evening. <BR> <BR>The Pantheon is only open during the day, so if you visit (which I suggest you do), you have to fit it in when it's open. <BR> <BR>If you're at all interested in art, don't miss the Borghese (sp?) Museum. Some fantastic paintings & statues there. <BR> <BR>We ate at a great little local-type restaurant near the Pantheon; e-mail me if you would like me to look up the name. The Pantheon is a great place to hang out in the evening, and has several gelato shops.

Kimee, we just returned from Rome. We tried to get on the Scavi tour of the necropolis under St. Peter's which has been highly recommended on this board. No such luck so if you're interested, make sure you have reservations. The same goes for the Borghese gallery mentioned in the post above mine, you must have reservations. There are several really nice sculptures at the museum by Bernini. There was a recent post on how to make reservations. The area around the Borghese gallery is a beautiful park so budget a couple of extra hours to stroll the area. <BR> <BR>The 2nd of June was a holiday, National Republic Day or something to that effect. There was a big military parade in Rome and then they opened up the Quirinale Gardens which didn't impress me that much. A lot of stores were closed, at least in the morning and so were some of the sites. Just thought I'd mention it in case you're trip runs into June.

Maybe you just forgot what you called it: <BR> <BR>"What should we eat? Where should we go?" <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>I'll bring it to the top for you. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Hi Kimee - suppose this will reach you too late! When in Rome, a "must see" is the cathedral St Giovanni in Laterano - it is absolutely beautiful! Easy to reach by Metro - Metro stop San Giovanni. Really a must.

Kimee, I lived in Rome for a few years, and still go back on business monthly. <BR>The centre of Rome is small - everything is in walking distance, except the Vatican. Lexma90 gave particularly good practical advise. <BR>Piazza Navonna, near the Pantheon, is great to rest and watch the people - but I do not recommend having dinner at the cafes actually on the piazza. There many great restaurants down the little streets behind the large church. <BR>Also, remember when you sit at a table at a cafe, your coke, coffee, sandwich will be much more expensive than drinking/eating it standing at the bar or taking it away - but you can stay at the table as long as you want.

Add the Vittorio Emanuele Monument (the view from the top of the steps back up Via del Corso is magnificent as is the Monument itself; this is where the Italian tomb of the unknown soldier is located also). The two small churches just across the street (to the right as you are standing on the steps looking up del Corso) are unassuming from the outside but beautiful (inadequate description) from the inside. Then walk around the back of the Monument to the Capitoline (Campidoglio) area (Michelangelo designed). In the Piazza del Campidoglio, walk around the right side of the Senatorio (the building you will be facing as you walk up the stairs to the Piazza) for a great view overlooking ancient Rome. <BR>If you like magnificent churches, be sure to visit Santa Maria Maggiore on the main street (Via Cavour) about a 5 minute walk from Termini train station. The Sixtine Chapel and the Borghese Chapel (to the left and right of the main altar) rival anything you will see in the Vatican. Enjoy!