hmmmmmmmmmmm, I think based on all the posts, I have a pretty good understanding of the crazy streets of Rome. The final decision will be based on many factors: where our hotel will be located, ease of approach to the hotel, their own recommendation, distance from our entrance route, plus day and time we plan to enter Rome. All these will affect my decision. Since as I said, I am just in the planning stages, I don't know yet what we will do, but I think we have a realistic understanding of the obstacles in either way. Oh - by the way - when is the city less congested, if there is such a time eg. early morning? are traffic times the same as in the US - about 7-9am and 5-7pm?
thanks

There are four rush hours in Rome due to the extended lunch break. 7-9, 12-2, 3-5 and finally 6-8.

oops! I meant rush hour not traffic, which I'm sure is heavy all the time. Thanks Grinisa.

Oh, go ahead and drive into Roma. I have driven there a few times and it is not so bad IF you are not in a hurry, keep your sense of humor and are not easily stressed.
I think if you have dreamed of entering the city that way then you should. The last time I drove in Roma my son was navigating while we were trying to get from the hotel to the airport to pick up a friend, we drove around in circles and kept getting further off course but we had a ball and still laugh about it. I would ask a local on the outskirts of Roma, "dove aeroporto" or Fiumincino and they would go into detail all in Italian of which we could pick out a word or two. We drove in the suburbs for a while and saw parts of the area we never would have seen BUT we were not in a rush and not hungry and didn't need to use the toilet so stress levels were low.

Let us know, if you can drive NYC you will be fine.

Good evening, RBI Reviewed "Roma" this afternoon and in the drive into rome in the rain was from the north as
caught a overhead road sign, Terni and
part ofFirenze, at the end of the rain
swept entrance to Rome they finished up at the lit Colosseo.. Watch the whole movie as it has been a couple of years since last viewed.
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Millions of thanks, dickv2! Now I feel like I have all the facts to plan this route!--rb

Unless you're the stylish, wrapped-in-a-Ferre-scarf passenger, sexily poised in the front seat of a cream-colored, leather-clad convertible sport coup, driven by a delectably hot and handsome Italian local on a balmy Sunday at sun-down, I think you can kiss your Fellini fantasy <i>arrivederci</i>.

For anyone who doesn't know his/her way around Rome or how the traffic patterns work or plans to drive in the city-center in a car that doesn't have authority documentation, you better be well-rested, extremely alert, determined, have your story straight when <i>polizia</i> stops you, and armed with a great sense of humor...and, as SeaUrchin said, don't be hungry, don't need a bathroom, and don't be in a hurry. Beyond that, have a great time!

I love driving challenges and whenever someone tells me I can't or shouldn't do something, I say, &quot;Watch me!&quot;

I've been driving in Manhattan for over 20 years and I'll go <i>mano e mano</i> with a veteran cab driver anytime down the FDR but I'll NEVER forget my first time driving into Rome from Orvieto. Bear in mind, I was alone, driving and navigating at the same time during rush hour on a weekday. (Not recommended.) I got lost for two hours until a policeman kindly offered to lead the way.

If you have a passenger or two to help, why not go for it. Much like the Barbarians, you'll be so proud you actually conquered Rome by car. (Maybe that movie wasn't Fellini's.)

NYCFoodSnob -- thank you! I think you've just inspired my next arrival into Rome. Now I just need to find 1. the right driver (I drive in NYC and Los Angeles, but I'll leave Rome to the hunky Italian) and 2. the right sunglasses...

The movie is &quot;Roma&quot; and the circular street is the Grande Raccordo Anulare, that is a ring that encircles the city. You can't enter Rome from it, and ,furthermore, the scene in Fellini's movie were absolutely unrealistic.