I could swap and do it Wednesday but had heard that Wednesday is quieter for the Vatican so I was saving that day for it....will check it out now so..

thanks for all the help - Tickets booked for 4.21pm - I thought this would be better than going during the hottest part of the day as the morning slot was gone as Kybourbon pointed out!.

On the 'underground tour' even though it is written in English (when rest is in Italian option) I can't find confirmation that the tour is def in English!? Others tours have Italian or Spanish beside them this one has nothing?!

Also as we are directed to pick up the tickets at the Colloseum before the tour, I wondered is there no way we can go see The Forum (if we decide to!) before this time slot as I understood the ticket is valid for a few days...does anybody know? Can we even collect them at the Colloseum in the morning and walk back to the Forum and see it first?

Typically, Wednesday is not quiet at the Vatican as many people get tickets for the audience with the Pope that morning. Since you will be in Rome in August, most likely the Pope will not be there. He is usually at Castel Gandolfo during August. You can check his schedule on the Vatican website although it might not have all of August listed yet.

You should be able to pick up your tickets early. There is a separate line for ticket pick up, not the regular ticket line. If you don't go on in the Colosseum, don't continue on scan it for entry. Backtrack out through the line and go over to the Forum entrance. It's not far - a minute or two walk down Via Dei Fori Imperali. You can double check when you pick them up, but shouldn't be a problem.

The views Delaine mentioned can also be accessed by walking to the left side of Vittorio Emmanuele. The little street is Via di San Pietro in Carcere. Mamertine prison is there also.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...za_Venezia.jpg

To access from the other side, continue on down Via dei Fori Imperiali(past Vittorio) around the corner to the Capitoline and take the steps up. Cross the piazza and the views overlooking the forum are just past there.

>>>>On the 'underground tour' even though it is written in English (when rest is in Italian option) I can't find confirmation that the tour is def in English!?<<<

If you are choosing "Underground Tour", it's in English. The Italian underground tours are listed as VISITA SOTTERRANEI - ITA and the Spanish underground tours are listed as TOUR SUBTERRANEOS - ESP.

While there are snack carts on Via dei Fori Imperiali where you can buy cold drinks, etc., you might want to carry a water bottle to refill as there is a fountain where you can fill it at the overlook Delaine mentioned. Of course, there are fountains all over Italy.

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/lazio/nasoni-of-rome

Kybourbon- i want to be you when I grow up. You are a fount of informetion. Thanks for the posts onthe Colosseum. They will come in handy.

Donna82- i have had my fair share of confusion on this website too. Thanks for getting clarification for all of the first timers out there.

Kybourbon thank you so much for all your insights, I second what Cjar said, you have clarified so much here.

I ended up booking the Vatican for the afternoon on the Wednesday in the hope it would be a little quieter than the mornings, I must confirm where the Pope will be now! I imagine we will have to just deal with the crowds anyway...now I just need to put some proper research into which parts of the museums we really want to see!

I've just discovered that the Rome Tourist Board says you can visit the underground and third level without a tour at two different times during the day (10:40 and 13:40). I wonder if it's accurate and it makes it seem you have to book in advance.

****Third Ring and Hypogeum: access is also possible without guided tour at 10.40 and 13.40. Booking with credit card is required (ticket price+ booking fee) at 0039 06 39967700 (mon-frid 9.00-13.00 / 14.00-17.00; sat ore 9.00-13.00).***

This is a cool pic from the Italian Cultural Ministry. The arrows at the bottom of the pic let you move around the forum a bit. If you mouse over the dots, you get the name of what you are seeing. If you click the dots, you get more info, but only in Italian (or Spanish if you select that).

http://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/carcer-tullianum/