Rome -free for 2 days
 

Hi,
I am traveling to Rome and have booked the Vatican tour and the Heart of Italy tour. (That covers the Forums and the Colosseum.)

What should I do on the other 2 days??? It is a Friday and a Monday. I was thinking about the Villa Borghese museum on Friday. Is that worth it???

I know on Monday many things are closed so I was thinking the Pantheon and San Clement Church.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

The Borghese is a fabulous museum. I've been 3 times and the last time I booked 2 back-to-back tickets since 2 hours isn't enough time. Definitely see this museum. You must reserve a time slot.

There are so many beautiful churches in Rome that you can't go wrong visiting any of them. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is a few feet from the Pantheon so you might want to visit it. You could wander around Trastevere, throw a coin in the fountain of Trevi. There are lots of things to do in Rome.

I think you should study a guidebook and a map. There are so many things to do/see in Rome, and only you can say what would interest you the most. Two days isn't much time, and, as you've noted, some things won't be open on Monday. You need to develop itineraries for the two days that take you to sights in a logical order when the sights are open. There are countless beautiful churches, but the open hours/days vary.

I do think the Borghese is a 'must' for anyone who loves sculpture. We also enjoyed the Castello and its history.

If you really love Bernini, then you must surely head over to Santa Maria d. Vittoria to see The Ecstasy of St. Therese. The church is located on the Via 20 Settembre, across the street from the St. Regis Grand Hotel. Free admittance. Check open times.

Fabulous views of Rome from the upper terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo.

My favourite church in Rome is Santa Prassede in the Monti neighbourhood.

Pepper

Mondays in Rome can be difficult - the colosseum is open, i believe but that's no help to you!

a place we loved was the galleria doria pamphilji [near santa maris sopra minerva]. a wonderful collection of paintings, and hardly anyone there.

When I was last in Rome my hotel was quite close to the Castle Sant Angelo so we walked over and quite enjoyed it. From there it was a 10-15 minute walk through the Piazza Navona to the Pantheon.....marvelous. Just around the left side of the Pantheon is an obelisk mounted on an elephant..the only one of the 11 (?) obelisk in Rome.

This year we are going to expand our exploration. We are going to the Capuchin Crypt (below the Santa Marie della Corcezione church) a mere 10 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain and a little further on the Spanish Steps.

The following day we are going to take a taxi to the Basilica of St. John Lateran (the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope), then over to the Basicila of San Clemente, then over to the church St. Peter in Chains, on to the Church of Santa Prassede then cross the street to the Basilica de Maria Maggiore. St. John and Maria Maggiore are 2 of the 4 'high churches' of Rome (the other 2 being St. Peter's Basilica and St. Paul's Outside the Walls). It is a fairly short walk between these sites.