Rome in the rain....
 

We're headed to Rome in a couple days and the forecast next week is for.... RAIN! I'm not getting depressed about it, I'm just doing some brainstorming on what would be fun to do even if it's not sunny and clear out.

Besides eating and drinking (though if you have a great suggestion for that, we'll take it to) -- what is something you particularly enjoyed doing/seeing/experiencing in Rome in the rain?

Thanks!

BLN, we hit only one day of rain during our Italian trip, and we were very glad we had nylon anoraks with us. Make sure you have something like that in your luggage. What I would do is hit Piazza Navona and buy an umbrella there. You can get one with great souvenir pictures on them that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. Why don't you use the excuse of rain as an opportunity to visit some of the lesser known museums in Rome that you ordinarily wouldn't seek out? The Doria Pamphlil (very bad spelling here!) is one, for example. Or trek around the city looking at churches. There's all sorts of treasures waiting to be seen behind church doors. A really good city guide that's small enough to bring with you is "City Secrets," which you can find on amazon.com. It's chock full of less ordinary things to see and do in Rome. Waterproof your shoes before you leave, too. And have fun. Our one rainy day was a great day because everything looked so different. All the colors were supersaturated and the atmosphere was so different. It provided a really interesting perspective on everything we saw that day.

Thanks, dln, I knew I could count on you!

ONE rainy day (even 2) would be fine and enjoyable.... I'm just hoping for a bit of sun in our week there too!!

Hey, if it rains most of the time, you have a built-in excuse for another trip!

I go to Rome next week also and just noticed that weather report myself. I'll use the rain as yet another reason to stop for gelato, linger in cafes, and stop in any churh with an open door.

On my first trip to Rome many years ago I remember visiting the Palatine hill in the rain. Even though the rain was just a drizzle, there were few other visitors so we seemed to have it all to ourselves.

From the forecast, it looks like it might clear by next Thursday. Have a great trip.

We were in Rome Oct. 24-27 and the forecast looked bad but, the weather ended up being good. we only had rain one day! I don't know where you are staying but one very wonderful, small local restaurant we found near Piazza barbarini and Via Veneto is Tullio's. It was wonderful!! Have a great time!!

We were in Rome in mid OCtober with mucho rain. Like dln we discovered the Doria Pamphili gallery. Revisted the Borghese (you'll need a reservation... get thru hotel). On a prior trip I remember visiting the Pantheon during rain to see if it came thru the hole in the roof. Can't remember!!!! Maybe you could check it out for me. -:)

I love the rain and it usually doesn't stop me unless it's a major downpour.
But if I have to take a rain day I avoid going to any major indoor site (museum, bldg, etc) because *alot* of other tourists will be heading there also.
Regards, Walter

We had a great rainy day early last December which we spent at the Vatican Museum, and no, it was not crowded at all.
The other rainy day of our week-long trip we spent going from church to church in Trastevere- yes, we got wet but still had lots of fun; then we got on the bus and went to St. Paul's Outside the Walls. In other words, we pretty much ignored the weather, just dressed warmly. It was kind of a novelty for us to experience the weather so directly, since where we live, all our transportation is by car, not walking or bus.

St. Peters
Vatican Museums
Museo Borghese

I don't know that they'd be open or not, but the catacombs might be interesting as well. They might get drippy in the rain.

You guys are great! Thanks for all the good ideas....

I'd take a rainy day in Rome over a perfect weather day almost anywhere.

If you haven't explored the Castel Sant'Angelo, I would recommend it. We were faced with cold, rainy weather in April two years and this turned out to be the perfect place to go. From the Travel Chanel "The Castel Sant'Angelo's is a distinctive round building, nestled between the Tiber and the Vatican. It was built in A.D. 135 as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum. Later it was used as a fortress and a prison, even providing an escape route for popes via the connected corridor running atop the wall encircling the Vatican. Inside, the castle not only serves up fabulous views of the city, but also houses medieval cells, frescoed halls and a museum of arms and armor. And if you want to experience the romance of Rome, you can't beat a stroll across the Ponte Sant'Angelo at night. Newly installed floodlights dramatically illuminate the 10 angel statues flanking this approach to the castle."

Some of the Castel tour involves going in and out of courtyards exposed to weather.

If it's any encouragement, we had 3 1/2 days of rain out of 4 on our trip there in mid-November, 1999...and it barely slowed us down. We toured the Forum and the Colosseum in a drizzle. Sure, we would have preferred sunny weather, but we still loved Rome.

The Borghese Gallery is fabulous, definitely worth a visit. You can also walk thru the large park where it's located if it's not raining. You will need a reservation for the Gallery.
The cathedrals are beautiful and the catacombs are very unique unless you're claustrophobic. The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum is another must. There really is a lot to do even if it does rain.