kybourbon,

What a great site to have! Mille grazie!

It don't think we will lack for beautiful churches! It looks like I will need to do a Church Map also.

jaimepom, we chose to stay at an apartment which is on Via dei Banchi Vecchi, so can't help you with Hotels, but there is lots of info here, and on TA. I did decide that the Campo de'Fiori and Piazza Navona area was a good area for convenience, walking and atmosphere.

Good to know ekc that you liked Roscioli so much. I'm looking forward to the store/bakery and the Restaurant! Will grab some some dried tomatoes also!

Vttraveler ~ how does one "visit" the Catacombs? We pay? We just walk in? Audio tour or no? I looked at Context Tours for Appian way, but decided it was a little much, and maybe we just wanted to walk the Appian Way.

I'm beginning to think that to see Campo de'Fiori Market in full swing, we'll go on Monday morning. Thursday when we arrive, rather than hustle out of our apartment, I think we'll take time to unpack, take showers and take naps. There is supposedly a wine bar right across the street, so we can have a glass of wine to toast our arrival, and then head out on our walking tour, finishing at shops on the way back towards the apartment, with dinner at one of the places close by.

And kybourbon, thanks for that site, I would never had thought to search for something like that.

DAY 1 dinner - http://www.ristorantesangallo.com/

Excellent food, atmosphere (get an outdoor table if weather is nice) and located on the super-charming Via dei Coronari. Restaurant is very close to Piazza Navona.

We went to the Catacombs of San Callisto, but i think the others have similar visits. There are scheduled tours at the site in different languages--frequent ones in English. You cannot tour on your own.
We took the archeobus (one of the official touristhop on/hop off routes) but it is also possible to get to the Appian Way and catacombs via regular public transit. I have heard the archeobus can get very crowded at times. An advantage of taking that bus is that you can also go out to more remote sections of the Appian Way and some of the major aqueducts along the route.

wrenwood, your first day/night sounds nice. If memory serves, Thursday is the traditional night a lot of restaurants in Rome feature gnocchi, so keep that in mind as you look for a dinner place (if you like gnocchi!).

I thought Pierluigi was great - ate there twice during my last trip to Rome.

Right before you get to Pierluigi there is a small square with a grocery store that has a good selection of foods. I was surprised at the choices for what looks like a small store. There's also a take out pizzeria next to the grocery store.

Thanks for the restaurant tips and also about the small store and Pizzeria near Pierluigi. It's always nice to know when someone has actually been to a place.

AND GNOCCHI!!!! We will definitely remember that for Thursday!

I'm still wondering how to visit the Appian Way. I guess there are also parts that are better than others? How to get there and where to start?

Here is a link with directions to the Appian Way
http://www.parcoappiaantica.it/en/te...l2=2&l3=1&l4=0

If you go to the home page for this web site you will get a lot of information about the different things to see

We ate at Pierluigi and loved it. It was one of our most expensive meals while in Rome, but it is a speical place with lots of interesting items on the menu. Their specialty is seafood, which they do very well.

Ristorante Cleto is where we ate after our Antica Roma tour with Context. I had researched it a bit and when our guide said it is where her family eats on Sundays sometimes, we decided to give it a try. Nice antipasto.

Don't miss San Clemente or St. Peter in Vincoli.

Cremeria Monteforte serves lucious gelato right across from the Pantheon.

Leave your free time for mini adventures - there is something to see around every corner.

San Clemente and St. Peter in Vincoli are on the radar, and thanks for the website for the Appian Way, VERY helpful! And I doublechecked, Cremeria Monteforte is on my Gelato Map!

I think we may eat at Pierluig, Roscioli, Ditirambo or Al Bric the first night, as they are in the locale of our walk.

Amywiss, Monday is still unscheduled, and so is Sunday morning!

I posted this on your other thread a while back, but walking up the Aventine Hill and spending some time at and around the Santa Sabina is very much worthwhile. It is lovely and quiet.

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