Rome Itineray - I've done most of my homework; Needs fine tuning!
Mar 7th, 2013, 08:11 PM
#81
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I disagree with Annhig in one regard. It's true that Santa Maria in Cosmedin is, in itself, one of the smallest and least impressive churches in Rome (IMHO).
However, one of my all-time favorite movies is "Roman Holiday" and I found it well worth the trip (I took a bus down the west side of the river, walked over the bridge, took my pics and caught a bus back up the east side) to have my picture taken with the Mouth of Truth. Great talking point picture on my dining room wall.
And great fun, I thought.
Just sayin'...
However, one of my all-time favorite movies is "Roman Holiday" and I found it well worth the trip (I took a bus down the west side of the river, walked over the bridge, took my pics and caught a bus back up the east side) to have my picture taken with the Mouth of Truth. Great talking point picture on my dining room wall.
And great fun, I thought. Just sayin'...
Mar 7th, 2013, 08:40 PM
#82
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Just a Galileo tidbit (following over from the Florence thread) about the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church.
In the photo on this website which is also a good read. http://vexilla-regis.blogspot.com/20...h-part-ii.html
See the door to the left of the Bernini Elephant (there are 2 but the one I mean the 1st one as there is another larger one just to the left of that one).
That is the door into the Dominican monastery where Galileo walked thru to spend some quality time with the Inquisition Boys.
He spent some days there at the 'Inquisition Inn', his hotel review said that the room was great but the service was terrible.
The elephant obelisk is from 6thC BC Egypt and 1 of a many found there from the 'Temple of Isis' which was on the otherside of the church.
But everytime I see that statue (and the 1 in front of the Pantheon also from that temple) I think of this really bizarre story told by Josephus about the Temple of Isis.
www.utexas.edu/courses/rome/paulina.html
.In the photo on this website which is also a good read. http://vexilla-regis.blogspot.com/20...h-part-ii.html
See the door to the left of the Bernini Elephant (there are 2 but the one I mean the 1st one as there is another larger one just to the left of that one).
That is the door into the Dominican monastery where Galileo walked thru to spend some quality time with the Inquisition Boys.
He spent some days there at the 'Inquisition Inn', his hotel review said that the room was great but the service was terrible
. The elephant obelisk is from 6thC BC Egypt and 1 of a many found there from the 'Temple of Isis' which was on the otherside of the church.
But everytime I see that statue (and the 1 in front of the Pantheon also from that temple) I think of this really bizarre story told by Josephus about the Temple of Isis.
www.utexas.edu/courses/rome/paulina.html
Mar 7th, 2013, 10:12 PM
#83
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Darlene - I came to these forums tonight to work on some planning for our Rome trip. My daughters, ages 21 and 18, and I will also be arriving in Rome on May 22. Our Colosseum tour with Walks of Italy is scheduled for the day after yours. We are scheduled for the Vatican the day after you as well.
This thread has been so helpful that I almost feel quilty because you have done all the work. Thanks for posting your Rome schedule!
This thread has been so helpful that I almost feel quilty because you have done all the work. Thanks for posting your Rome schedule!
Mar 8th, 2013, 04:46 AM
#84
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Sarge - I was thinking the same thing about the photo op at the mouth of truth, and since my last posted "final" itinerary, have made even more adjustments to have the trip "flow" better and not be criss-crossing. I'm pretty happy with it now, but didn't want to exhaust everyone by posting another version! Our first two days will be busy, but the last two will be leisurely and we will have time to get that picture!
Rostra - Thank you for posting a link to more information on Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. It is one of our "must sees" for many reasons. The information is fascinating!
Viaggitrice - Glad that this has been helpful, and I'm very happy to share. My daughter is 22, so our trips are very parallel in more than itinerary!
Rostra - Thank you for posting a link to more information on Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. It is one of our "must sees" for many reasons. The information is fascinating!
Viaggitrice - Glad that this has been helpful, and I'm very happy to share. My daughter is 22, so our trips are very parallel in more than itinerary!
Mar 8th, 2013, 10:55 AM
#88
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Annhig and Adrienne - here is is, just remember, you asked for it! =)
Adrienne - we are going to exit the Borghese via Piazza del Poppolo because we will have already enjoyed views from the top of the Spanish Steps on our first night, and I understand that the Piazza del Poppolo views are wonderful also!
Remember that I KNOW this is a lot, and we probably won't do it all, but at least we have a working plan.
DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 22
Train arrives from Florence @ 1:30; Get to and settle in apt. Streets by 2:30. Stock apt.
Head to top of Spanish Steps to meet tour,on the way stop at Capuchin Crypt (15-20 minutes)
4:45: Meet for Twilight Tour of Rome with Walks of Italy(gives an overview of the historical district).
8:00: Tour ends in Piazza Navona,
Dinner and back to apt.
DAY 2 - THURSDAY, MAY 23
8:00 - Taxi to Colosseum
8:15 - Meet guide for Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palantine Hill 3 ½ hour tour with Walks of
12:00 Tour over - Lunch and relax a while - stay in the area
2:30 - Taxi to San Giovanni in Laterano and Santuario della Scala Santa about 1 hour to see both (stairs are quick)
4:00 - Walk or taxi to Basilica di San Clemente (Last entrance to the excavations at 5:40)
EVENING: Open - maybe Campo di Fiori
DAY 3 - FRIDAY, MAY 24
MORNING - 9:00 AM – Scavi Tour Booked 1 ½ hours.
10:45 – 12:30: Go to floor of Basillica and take elevator up to top of dome and stairs down. Have lunch and meet tour at 12:45.
LUNCH: Pizza al Tonglio (pizza by the square) on via della Grazie, street leads off the road that runs between the columns of St Peter's and the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
AFTERNOON: 1:00 - 3.5 hour Vatican Museum and Sistene Chapel Tour with Through Eternity – BOOKED
After the tour, go to top of dome if the line was too long earlier.
If we aren’t too tired we can walk back along the Tiber, and enjoy views.
EVENING: Open - maybe Trastevere if we walked the Tiber or just hang out in our area.
DAY 4 - SATURDAY, MAY 25
MORNING - Campo di Fiori for the market
Taxi to San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) Allow 30-45 minutes for the church
Walk to Capitoline Museum – allow about 1 hour or so per museum (open til 8:00)
Lunch
AFTERNOON: Taxi to Bocca Della Verita (Mouth of Truth) in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; Explore Trastevere
SUNSET - Walk along Tiber River if we haven't for the views and sunset
EVENING: Open
DAY 5 – SUNDAY, MAY 26
MORNING:
Taxi to Borghese Gallery – be there at 10:30
11:00am - Borghese Gallery & Gardens – follow the route to come out atop the Piazza del Popolo, with a stunning view of the entire piazza
Lunch
3:00 Shopping along via Corso from Piazza di Populo to Piazza Venezia.
5:30 – Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (Open 8-7 Daily)
6:00 - Mass
EVENING: Open – Last night in Europe
DAY 6 – MONDAY, MAY 27 – Early flight home, leave apt. at 6:00am.
Adrienne - we are going to exit the Borghese via Piazza del Poppolo because we will have already enjoyed views from the top of the Spanish Steps on our first night, and I understand that the Piazza del Poppolo views are wonderful also!
Remember that I KNOW this is a lot, and we probably won't do it all, but at least we have a working plan.
DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 22
Train arrives from Florence @ 1:30; Get to and settle in apt. Streets by 2:30. Stock apt.
Head to top of Spanish Steps to meet tour,on the way stop at Capuchin Crypt (15-20 minutes)
4:45: Meet for Twilight Tour of Rome with Walks of Italy(gives an overview of the historical district).
8:00: Tour ends in Piazza Navona,
Dinner and back to apt.
DAY 2 - THURSDAY, MAY 23
8:00 - Taxi to Colosseum
8:15 - Meet guide for Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palantine Hill 3 ½ hour tour with Walks of
12:00 Tour over - Lunch and relax a while - stay in the area
2:30 - Taxi to San Giovanni in Laterano and Santuario della Scala Santa about 1 hour to see both (stairs are quick)
4:00 - Walk or taxi to Basilica di San Clemente (Last entrance to the excavations at 5:40)
EVENING: Open - maybe Campo di Fiori
DAY 3 - FRIDAY, MAY 24
MORNING - 9:00 AM – Scavi Tour Booked 1 ½ hours.
10:45 – 12:30: Go to floor of Basillica and take elevator up to top of dome and stairs down. Have lunch and meet tour at 12:45.
LUNCH: Pizza al Tonglio (pizza by the square) on via della Grazie, street leads off the road that runs between the columns of St Peter's and the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
AFTERNOON: 1:00 - 3.5 hour Vatican Museum and Sistene Chapel Tour with Through Eternity – BOOKED
After the tour, go to top of dome if the line was too long earlier.
If we aren’t too tired we can walk back along the Tiber, and enjoy views.
EVENING: Open - maybe Trastevere if we walked the Tiber or just hang out in our area.
DAY 4 - SATURDAY, MAY 25
MORNING - Campo di Fiori for the market
Taxi to San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) Allow 30-45 minutes for the church
Walk to Capitoline Museum – allow about 1 hour or so per museum (open til 8:00)
Lunch
AFTERNOON: Taxi to Bocca Della Verita (Mouth of Truth) in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; Explore Trastevere
SUNSET - Walk along Tiber River if we haven't for the views and sunset
EVENING: Open
DAY 5 – SUNDAY, MAY 26
MORNING:
Taxi to Borghese Gallery – be there at 10:30
11:00am - Borghese Gallery & Gardens – follow the route to come out atop the Piazza del Popolo, with a stunning view of the entire piazza
Lunch
3:00 Shopping along via Corso from Piazza di Populo to Piazza Venezia.
5:30 – Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (Open 8-7 Daily)
6:00 - Mass
EVENING: Open – Last night in Europe
DAY 6 – MONDAY, MAY 27 – Early flight home, leave apt. at 6:00am.
Mar 8th, 2013, 11:00 AM
#89
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Any recommendations for a good guide book for using (and carrying) while in Rome?
Lightweight, small but relatively thorough.
I'm not a huge fan of guidebooks, but with Rome, I think having one would greatly enhance our experience of many of the sights,as I'm sure much of what we will see just wandering is not explained in English!
I've read the the Michelin Green books are good and won't weigh you down.
Opinions?
Lightweight, small but relatively thorough.
I'm not a huge fan of guidebooks, but with Rome, I think having one would greatly enhance our experience of many of the sights,as I'm sure much of what we will see just wandering is not explained in English!
I've read the the Michelin Green books are good and won't weigh you down.
Opinions?
Mar 9th, 2013, 04:19 AM
#92
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Annig - Just to clarify, it's Paris, Florence, and Rome. We considered Venice, but there weren't enough days to do all 4 cities justice, so it's saved for "another" time (says the ever hopeful optimist!). =)
Thank you both for the confirmation - green guide it is!
Thank you both for the confirmation - green guide it is!
Mar 9th, 2013, 08:39 AM
#93
ooops, Darlene, I was having a senior moment.
I'd still get the green guide - you can use it next time for Venice!
the more modern green guides [unlike my 30 year old version] do have some hotel and restaurant suggestions, but not enough to make them any use in that respect, so I don't know why they bother.
I would also get the green guide for Paris - IMO still the best.
I'd still get the green guide - you can use it next time for Venice!
the more modern green guides [unlike my 30 year old version] do have some hotel and restaurant suggestions, but not enough to make them any use in that respect, so I don't know why they bother.
I would also get the green guide for Paris - IMO still the best.
Mar 9th, 2013, 09:59 AM
#94
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darlene- couple notes
1) I love the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide for Rome. But you should really hit up your big box book store's travel section and pick one that works for you.
2) Don't forget there are some excellent iphone apps for travel.
a) I have downloaded the free Rick Steves Audio Europe. His 1/2 hour "tour" of the Pantheon was perfect. He has several other ones for Rome.
b) The free Google Translation app is awesome! Let's you speak into the phone and translates to Italian for you- it will even speak the words for you. Love it.
c) There are dozens of free apps for learning some basic Italian. Practice on the plane ride over!
d)Elizabeth Menchilli's restaurant apps rate high. I paid a small fee for "Eat Florence" and "Eat Rome".
e) I also have a free currency convertor app from Oanda. Comes in very handy to convert Euro to dollars.
f) Tripadvisor also has free app. You can check restaurant reviews if you're standing in front of some place without a reservation.
I'm sure there are hundreds more. I'm betting there is a thread on here somewhere about best travel apps.
Finally, I'm thrilled you're going to both St. John Lateran (I think it is more beautiful than St. Peter's) and the Boca della Verita. Here is a link to my pic: http://sargeatboca.shutterfly.com/ (Fortunately, I've lost 40+ lbs since this was taken 3 years ago!) haha
Buon viaggio! May cross paths. I'm also in Rome from May 22nd til ?
1) I love the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide for Rome. But you should really hit up your big box book store's travel section and pick one that works for you.
2) Don't forget there are some excellent iphone apps for travel.
a) I have downloaded the free Rick Steves Audio Europe. His 1/2 hour "tour" of the Pantheon was perfect. He has several other ones for Rome.
b) The free Google Translation app is awesome! Let's you speak into the phone and translates to Italian for you- it will even speak the words for you. Love it.
c) There are dozens of free apps for learning some basic Italian. Practice on the plane ride over!
d)Elizabeth Menchilli's restaurant apps rate high. I paid a small fee for "Eat Florence" and "Eat Rome".
e) I also have a free currency convertor app from Oanda. Comes in very handy to convert Euro to dollars.
f) Tripadvisor also has free app. You can check restaurant reviews if you're standing in front of some place without a reservation.
I'm sure there are hundreds more. I'm betting there is a thread on here somewhere about best travel apps.
Finally, I'm thrilled you're going to both St. John Lateran (I think it is more beautiful than St. Peter's) and the Boca della Verita.
Here is a link to my pic: http://sargeatboca.shutterfly.com/ (Fortunately, I've lost 40+ lbs since this was taken 3 years ago!) hahaBuon viaggio! May cross paths. I'm also in Rome from May 22nd til ?
Mar 9th, 2013, 02:23 PM
#95
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Sarge - Thank you again for the tips! Great photo - thanks for sharing. I definitely need that in my family album!
After some research, I downloaded Eat Florence and Eat Rome a while back - glad to hear that I made the right choice. I don't have an iphone, but they had android versions, so my Nexus 7 is loaded and ready to go.
I also have the Google Translation app, and I love it too!
The DK books are GREAT, but they are a bit heavier than I wanted for daily lugging around. I was looking for something a bit lighter that wasn't too brief on information.
Rick Steves = good audio tours, but not my favorite for a guide book. You're right - a trip to Barnes and Noble is in order before hitting up Amazon.
I still need to find a good app for learning basic Italian and French. Any recommendations? Annhig, this may be your department!
My biggest concern is that because my cell phone won't work in Europe (we have Sprint - no international plan or removable SIM card on my Galaxy3); therefore, I won't have internet access everywhere I go. I'll have internet devices, but
>>>You can check restaurant reviews if you're standing in front of some place without a reservation.
After some research, I downloaded Eat Florence and Eat Rome a while back - glad to hear that I made the right choice. I don't have an iphone, but they had android versions, so my Nexus 7 is loaded and ready to go.
I also have the Google Translation app, and I love it too!
The DK books are GREAT, but they are a bit heavier than I wanted for daily lugging around. I was looking for something a bit lighter that wasn't too brief on information.
Rick Steves = good audio tours, but not my favorite for a guide book. You're right - a trip to Barnes and Noble is in order before hitting up Amazon.
I still need to find a good app for learning basic Italian and French. Any recommendations? Annhig, this may be your department!
My biggest concern is that because my cell phone won't work in Europe (we have Sprint - no international plan or removable SIM card on my Galaxy3); therefore, I won't have internet access everywhere I go. I'll have internet devices, but
>>>You can check restaurant reviews if you're standing in front of some place without a reservation.
Mar 9th, 2013, 02:44 PM
#96
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I just downloaded Learn French and Learn Italian Phrasebooks by Codegent. It's not a comprehensive language course like Rosetta Stone, but rather a compilation of very useful phrases for tourists and business travelers.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 02:50 AM
#98
"My biggest concern is that because my cell phone won't work in Europe (we have Sprint - no international plan or removable SIM card on my Galaxy3); therefore, I won't have internet access everywhere I go"
I have just got back from Rome and did find this a problem. There is some free WiFi available at many tourist sites such as the Park around the Villa Borghese, but you need to register for it, and therefore need an Italian Cellphone number. Many bars and restaurants advertise free WiFi, you just need to ask for the password.
I have just got back from Rome and did find this a problem. There is some free WiFi available at many tourist sites such as the Park around the Villa Borghese, but you need to register for it, and therefore need an Italian Cellphone number. Many bars and restaurants advertise free WiFi, you just need to ask for the password.
Apr 3rd, 2013, 09:04 AM
#99
I still need to find a good app for learning basic Italian and French. Any recommendations? Annhig, this may be your department!>>
sorry Darlene - i missed this. I've only just got an i-phone so i'm not very up on apps yet, so i can't comment on what you got. but for general language learning, i strongly recommend Michel Thomas. you can get a short introductory course, or the full beginner's course, both on CD or cassette tape. i ought mine through e-bay. IMO they are better than most other approaches as he teaches you the grammar from the beginning which is very helpful when trying to work out what you need to say, and when people reply to you.
for come reason I had no difficulty picking up wi-fi at all - in fact it was too good and i could never get away!
sorry Darlene - i missed this. I've only just got an i-phone so i'm not very up on apps yet, so i can't comment on what you got. but for general language learning, i strongly recommend Michel Thomas. you can get a short introductory course, or the full beginner's course, both on CD or cassette tape. i ought mine through e-bay. IMO they are better than most other approaches as he teaches you the grammar from the beginning which is very helpful when trying to work out what you need to say, and when people reply to you.
for come reason I had no difficulty picking up wi-fi at all - in fact it was too good and i could never get away!
Apr 4th, 2013, 12:18 PM
#100
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Thanks for the info Annhig. I'm also very happy to hear that your experience with the wifi is good!
Willit - we will have wifi in the apt., and I'm downloading apps so it won't too terrible if I can't access wifi in public places. It's good to know that I may encounter a problem.
Willit - we will have wifi in the apt., and I'm downloading apps so it won't too terrible if I can't access wifi in public places. It's good to know that I may encounter a problem.
