Rome for a day and a half - what to see/do on 3rd visit?
 

My aunt and I are spending a partial day plus one full day in Rome after debarking a cruise ship in Civitavecchia. We arrive early in the morning but probably won't actually get into Rome until early afternoon on first day (Friday). Then we have a full day, Saturday, and then fly out Sunday around noon. We are staying out at the airport due to a roundtrip transfer we already booked for airport/port - plus the hotel offers a free shuttle into town.

We have each been to Rome twice before and have visited many of the "main" sites - St. Peter's, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, etc. Of course, we'll see them again, but any suggestions for things to do or see on the "third layer" of travel? Maybe some interesting neighborhoods, an awesome food destination?

We both always have camera in hand, so photography is of interest. We enjoy walking, especially if the route is scenic, but we can do public transportation as well.

Thanks!

You're near the airport so see Ostia Antica - the ancient Roman port.

http://www.ostia-antica.org/

Villa D'Este - Tivoli Gardens? -- outside Rome somewhat, but just lovely.

This is a commercial site for rentals, but the photos are great: http://www.romanhomes.com/your_roman...illa-deste.htm You'll likely need to take a tour or car+driver, but it is accessible by public transport.

A food-focused tour could be fun. We spent a half-day with Elizabeth Minchilli on our last trip to Rome - very fun. I've heard some of the other Rome food tours are great too. Also, I toured the Doria Pamphili gallery recently, which is a charming private palazzo near the Piazza Venezia. The audio guide is great, narrated by a member of the family who recounts stories of what it was like to grow up in such a home filled with extraordinary art.

Ostia Antica, Anzio/Nettuno, see if you can find a cooking class for that Saturday, Doria Pamphili is wonderful and different.

Thanks for the suggestions... Checking out logistics for Ostia Antica and Villa d'Este and Tivoli. Hadn't thought of a food tour or a cooking class, thanks for that idea!

I've never spent any time in the Trastevere neighborhood - is there enough wandering to be done there to occupy is for half a day?

If you're going in high season, I'd skip those very popular things you've already seen. They're likely to be insanely crowded. I was in Rome yesterday with some visiting relatives. We had to wait 45 minutes to get into the Colosseum, even though we already had tickets. (They told us it was because there's a limit of 3000 people inside at any one time.) St. Peter's Basilica had a queue (for security) that stretched all the way around the piazza at 5 PM, 2 hours before closing time, a time of day that used to see almost no queue at all. I suspect that this was partly because of crowd limitation. There are <b>many</> more tourists in Rome (and other European destinations) than there used to be. I think this may be partly because of a sharp rise in tourism from Asia. There are 5 billion people living in China, and at least 10% of them want to see the "must see" spots of Europe. Do the arithmetic. If you've already seen the top ten of Rome, make this a chance to search out the hidden gems.

The advice you're getting above is very varied, and maybe doesn't suit your interests. Why don't you tell us what sorts of things you enjoy doing, and also at what time of year you'll be in Rome?

There is certainly enough to see in Trastevere to occupy half a day, or even a full day. Again, if you tell us what interests you, I can pare it down to those things that could easily be done in half a day.

I think a visit to Trastevere and the Ghetto neighborhoods would be very interesting if you have not visited them before. I like the walk from the top of the Gianicolo (great view from the Piazzale Garibaldi) downhill into Trastevere. Part way down you will reach the monumental Fontana dell'Acqua Paola and Bramante's Tempietto in the cloister of San Pietro in Montorio. In Trastevere you can visit Santa Maria in T and the piazza around it and/or Santa Cecelia, then cross over the Isola Tiberina into the Jewish Ghetto.

Sorry for the all bold. I messed up a tag.

When reading your thread title I immediately thought of Trastevere as well; I've stayed there and enjoyed walking, eating, and drinking my way through it, to include hanging out on the piazza when the locals come out for their passegiata. Friends just stayed there for 6 days and found it an ideal spot from which to navigate.