Rome Questions
 

Hello all
I will be going on a Viking cruise end of December to early Jan.
Post Cruise -- I will have 1.5 to 2 days, I thought about staying in Rome or go somewhere close to Rome.

I will be without my family for this trip, I like to see cultural things, maybe something that is special to Christmas holiday (ex. Christmas market in Paris), and do some shopping...
1. What are your favorite sites to see or things to do in Rome.
2. Also what's your recommendation for a hotel in Rome.
3. Any suggestions for Tours or Restaurants ?
4. Any General Tips ?

Please LMK Thank you so much... Lilly :)

Where does your Viking Cruise end?

Have you been to Rome before?

What is your hotel budget?

Will you arrive after Dec. 26th?

With only 1.5-2 days, I'd stay in central Rome. What to see and do depends on your interests. Roman history, archeology, art, architecture, museums in general, shopping, etc. You'll have to be selective with your limited time, and you should make reservations where recommended (Vatican Museums, Colosseum) or required (Galleria Borghese).

Oh, I guess the days are in early January. Would you be in Rome on Jan. 6th (Epiphany)? That's a national holiday.

Hello Jean, TY sooo much for your prompt response, Cruise starts in Barcelona ends in Rome , I have never been to either Spain or Italy.
Hotel budget under $400 a night
Ill be arriving Jan 4-6 in Rome.
I like to see ART and local culture .and shopping. not a fan of architecture or history.
I could leave Jan 7th.. what is the Holiday Epiphany? and what does it involve... is it worth staying an extra day and leaving the 7th..

Epiphany services in major churches are neat - I heard Silent Night sang in one - surreal kind of. Yes Colosseum and adjoining Roman Forum take a half-day and Vatican another half but to me the joy of Rome is walking around places like the Piazza Navona - Spanish Steps area and Trevi Fountain. Don't miss the ancient Pantheon right in heart of central Rome's shopping/fashion district.

Probably more than you wanted to know...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Epiphany is also known as Twelfth Night, the last day of Christmas celebrations. In England we kept the Christmas decorations up until Twelfth Night (of course, we put up them a lot later than Americans seem to.)

There is so much to see in Rome you'll need to be selective. You'll probably want the Borghese for art, and I suppose the Sistene chapel and the Vatican museums, although you should look into some kind of tour to try to avoid the crowds.

Epiphany is a religious holiday. It marks the end of the Christmas season, and celebrates the baptism of Jesus, and his manifestation to the world. It's also associated with the visit of the Three Magi to Bethlehem to see the infant Jesus.

In popular tradition in many parts of Italy, including Rome, Epiphany is the day when a good witch, the Befana, leaves little gifts for good children, and a lump of coal for naughty children. Children usually get their main presents on Christmas these days, and the Befana leaves just small treats. Christmas candy made to look like coal is a popular one.

I don't know of any particular public festivities in Rome for Epiphany, but there may be some I haven't heard of. It's the last day for the Christmas markets, such as the one in Piazza Navona, and the last day for the exhibit of 100 Presepi (nativity scenes) in Piazza del Popolo.

All the churches will have special services for Epiphany, which may make it more difficult to visit a church to see the art inside. For the smaller churches, you would have to time your visit for times when there isn't a mass going on. The major basilicas and other large churches usually allow tourists to visit during the mass, as long as they are quiet and stay away from the part of the church where the service is taking place. (You're always welcome to sit down and observe the service.)

Because it's a major religious holiday, the Vatican Museums are closed on Epiphany. With such a short time, though, I would advise visiting some of the other major art museums in Rome rather than the Vatican Museums, which will be super crowded in the weeks between Christmas and Epiphany. What types of art do your prefer? I could recommend museums based on your interests.

Staying an extra day would give you time to see a little more of the city. It's a large city, and it's impossible to see much in a day and a half.

I could leave Jan 7th.. what is the Holiday Epiphany? and what does it involve... is it worth staying an extra day and leaving the 7th..>

No unless really into High Masses - nice if there but...

Silent Night sounds more like Christmas Eve. However, the tune of Silent Night is used in Italy for a hymn called <i>Astro del Ciel</i>, which refers to the star that guided the three Magi to Bethlehem. As I said above, the visit of the Magi is associated with Epiphany.

The chorus of <i>Astro del Ciel</i> is
"luce dona alle genti
pace infondi nei cuor!"

(Give light to the nations,
Instill peace in their hearts)

And I say Amen!

Wear a money belt while in Roma. The pickpockets there are maestros.

Buon viaggio,

Silent Night sounds more like Christmas Eve. However, the tune of Silent Night is used in Italy>

Ok did not understand the words and jumped to conclusions but that tune sung by choir in large church kind of brought tears to my eyes for some reason. Rather maudlin I know but still a highlight after many years.