Rome - November!
 

Hi all! Thanks so much for all of the help and tips that have influenced our quick Rome trip later this month. Just wanted to flesh out a few more things . My itinerary, such as it is, is below... you'll note that it's pretty loose. We are both very active, plan to walk a lot and just absorb the city. We are staying at the Marriott Grand Flora. I have been to Rome, he hasn't, but he has said that all he cares about is the Vatican / Sistine and Colosseum, and lots of pasta and wine :)

We will be arriving around 9AM on Thurs, Nov 16. Hubby will be fine (he'll have been in Europe for 2 weeks at this point) and I hope that I will be able to sleep on the plane and have minimal jet lag. That said - I know I will run out of steam pretty early. Any suggestions of plans for that afternoon?. Since it's arrival day, I imagine we'll just be on foot exploring the highlights, enjoy a long, late lunch and go to bed on the early side. Any suggestions are welcome.

Fri Nov 17 - we are doing the 7:30AM Express Vatican tour with the Roman Guy, and 7PM Colosseum at Night with Walks of Italy. The 7PM tour confuses dinner plans, so I imagine again, we will be doing a longer lunch and just grab a quick dinner.

Sat Nov 18 and Sun Nov 19 - both days are open, with the plan that one day will be more exploring Rome and the other will be a day trip to Orvieto. Is it logical to do Orvieto on Sunday, leaving Saturday open for exploring Rome ?

The only dinner reservation I have made is Flavio Al Velavevodetto, Sat 8:30PM based on a friend's recommendation. Any suggestions for Sun night? Should we plan to eat in Orvieto or head back to Rome?

Monday... we leave :(

On the night your a touring the Colosseum, plan to eat at Terre e Domus

http://www.gillianslists.com/2015/03...e-e-domus.html

I would plan your Orvieto day around the weather. Go on a nice day. It gets dark quite early at that time of year, so even if you stay through sunset, you can be back in Rome in time for your dinner reservation, or if you ended up going on Sunday and eat a big lunch in Orvieto, maybe you'd find it simple & fun to eat at the Mercato Centrale food court in Termini Station.

http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome....centrale-roma/

I would need some kind of real rest between getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the Vatican Express Tour and them having another tour at 7pm. Babette is open starting at 9am and stays upen until 3pm If you head over there after your Vatican tour you can get an early lunch and then head to the hotel for a rest.

http://www.babetteristorante.it/eng/

You need an indoor option for your arrival day in case it is raining. I think my pick would be the Etruscan museum inside the Villa Giulia, because it's close to your hotel and would help give some added info about the Etruscan culture that inhabited Orvieto

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/r.../389977/359975

Wonderful, massimop!!!

Dinner before or after the colosseum?? The tour is over at 9:45... I know Italians eat late but is that very late for a reservation ? Seems like 5:30/6 would be way too early, even for dinner here.

AHhhh I see... babette for an early lunch, rest in hotel, get up and explore before colosseum night tour, late dinner. Got it! Great plan.

yes, sorry it wasn't clear in the way I ordered my suggestions. I haven't been to Babettes before noon, so I am guessing they probably start out in the mornings with breakfast type foods, and don't start offering a real lunch until around noon. So you'll need to kill a little time after your Vatican tour ends. You might want to just sit down for cup of coffee somewhere, or Ara Pacis is right in the neighborhood and is quite small and simple to tour

http://www.ara-pacis-museum.com/

Thanks. Great plan. I think my husband will want to climb the dome at St Peters so that will kill some time too ;)

Any suggestions for Orvieto ? I haven’t done much research yet on that excursion... I know the cathedral is spectacular , and we will enjoy the scenery.... are the underground tours worthwhile?

Terre e Domus has gone downhill. I suggest Cafe Propaganda after the Colosseum. Make a reservation.

Mercato Centrale is nice if you are passing through and don't want a huge meal, or even maybe for just taking things to go to your hotel to settle in.

After the Vatican tour I would have an early lunch in that area instead of traveling somewhere in the middle between the area and your hotel - Sorpasso is close, open from early morning on and you can eat as little (a trapizzino or a cheese platter) or as much as you want (a full meal, the pastas and vegetables are especially good), and the wines are delightful, too. Another good option in the area (and even closer to the Vatican) is Be.Re (only trapizzino and beer, though).

For arrival day long lunch, have a look at Armando al Pantheon - it is right in the middle of the city and has pretty good Roman food. Nice wines. Make a reservation.

Vinoroma - how funny - I JUST booked Armanda al Pantheon for our arrival day dinner. I figured we would be in the area exploring anyway, and the menu looks perfect for a "I can't believe we're in Italy" first meal.

And yes, I had heard about Sorpasso, for our Vatican day early lunch... do you think a reservation would be required for lunch ?

I'm going now to check out Café Propaganda.

My mouth is starting to water...

How sad about Terre e Domus! Glad you were able to provide an update. Also think the other suggestions are good but will add that I would want a huge lunch if I'd gotten up at dawn and tackled the Vatican and climbing the dome of St Peter's.