Rome at Christmas
 

We are planning a trip to Rome at Christmas. We've got a few tours booked: The Forum and the Sistine Chapel. I'm really most concerned right now about booking a restaurant for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. We're books for a place at the Spanish Steps but would be open to travel outside the city for something really interesting and friendly. We're looking for something traditional. We had good luck in Ireland on something that was called a "Christmas program' so that's what we're looking for, not just a nice restaurant, although that's important too. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

A high-class traditional Italian restaurant with gourmet cuisine close to the Spanish Steps is the Toula.

http://www.toula.it/roma/index.php?lang=ing&action=home

They offer a prix fixe multi-course menu. Take it, you will be amazed. The atmosphere is intimate.

A jacket for the gentleman will be appropriate.

Another option, however far from the Spanish Steps, will be La Pergola in the Cavalieri Hilton - it is considered the very best restaurant in Rome and one of the best restaurants in Italy (three Michelin stars). But you will have to take a taxi (and it will be very expensive).

http://www.romecavalieri.com/lapergola.php

We spent Christmas in Rome in 2006 and had a fabulous time. Christmas Eve and Day meals are mostly a family affair in Italy, so we enlisted the assistance of our hotel in identifying and booking restaurants ahead of time. We opted for a really nice dinner on Christmas Eve and then ate lunch out on Christmas Day, since most places seemed to shut down for Christmas dinner.

We enjoyed a special Vigilia di Natale dinner at Sangallo (www.ristorantesangallo.com) near Piazza Navona on Christmas Eve, which might interest you.

We had a nice lunch outside at Ristorante Campo de’ Fiori following the blessing in St. Peter's Square.

We spent Christmas in Rome last year. My daughters and I arrived in Rome on Christmas Eve, and my husband arrived on Christmas Day. We simply walked across to Trastevera for dinner on Christmas night - plenty of places open and available without a booking. However, if you are after something special, perhaps follow the advice of other posters.

Well, I cannot answer about the restaurants, in that we always rent apartments and usually cook something special. We spend almost every Christmas in Rome, so if you need any ideas on things to do, I'll be more than happy to help.

dave

daveesl,
My family of 5 arrives in Rome on the 24th. We plan to go for the Blessing at the Vatican on noon Christmas day. Will St Peter's be open to climb to the top on Christmas day?

Also, a gift for my kids is Gladiator school. They have Christmas courses and we will need to catch a taxi to their location. Will taxi's be easy to get on Christmas day?

Thanks -- I am in initial stages of planning

If you are able to stay up late, go to either the Christmas eve midnight mass at the Pantheon, or the kids may more appreciate the children's mass at Santa Maria in Aracoeli.

I believe you can do the dome on Christmas at St. Peters, but some others may know more about this than I.

Taxis and a VERY few buses are available on Christmas. The metro is down beginning at about 9pm on Christmas eve. What part of the city are you staying and maybe I can help with some taxi stands, yes they do run.

Are you certain the school is open on Christmas Day?

Remember, that St. Peters is going to be jam packed on Christmas, and I mean really, really packed. You'll be in the piazza probably, as few actually get inside the basilica.

We love just wondering around Rome on Christmas, beginning on Christmas eve. While nothing is officially open, there are so many wonderful sights that are public you won't be bored at all. The churches are pretty much all open.

dave