Second Trip to Rome. What Would You Do?
 

We will be in Rome for three nights in early June. We have been there before so we saw the usual sites (amazing!):

Roman Forum
Palatine Hill
Trevi Fountain
Mussolini's Balcony
Pantheon - great for hanging out drinking a cold one and people watching!
Basilica di San Pietro
Vatican
Sistine Chapel
And more that I may not be remembering.

I am sure we will visit them again but we would like to know what to do as a second time visitor that we may have missed on our first trip? We would also consider a half day trip outside the city.

Cheers!

You must see the Galleria Borghese. I am not a big museum guy but the Bernini sculptures blew me away. You must reserve your 2 hour time slot.

I second the Borghese gardens & gallery! Youmust reserve a time, and they limit your time in the gallery. I'd also recommend the Castel Sant'Angelo, especially at sunset. At the top, you get a glorious view of Rome and of Vatican City, alongside the enormous statue of St. Michael the Archangel. This structure has a long and varied history. In recent years, it was a significant part of the setting in the film "Roman Holiday" (remember the dancing and fight on the river barge at the foot of the bridge of angels?); it is the setting for Act 3 of Puccini's Tosca; and it features in the book "Angels and Demons."
Also consider the Baths of Caracalla, especially if you can attend something there.

Hi et,

Have you seen the monument to King Victor Emmanuel?

Have you visited Trastevere?

I second (third?) the Galleria Borghese recommendation. Also, if you haven't done the Scavi tour underneath St. Peter's I highly recommend it. San Clemente church, near the Colloseum, is worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. If my memory isn't faulty, it's a 12th Century church built above a 4th Century church, built above a 1st Century temple of Mithras. You can walk down to all levels. Very cool place.

The Domus Aurea, the underground excavations of Nero's golden house. On a hill across the street from the Colosseum, which was built on the filled-in lake which had been in front of Nero's house in an attempt to obliterate all traces of Nero after his death.

Reservations for timed tickets are required. When we went in February, we walked in and got tickets for a time an hour later, but at more crowded times of the year you may have to reserve in advance.

The last time I was there the Villa Giullia had a fantastc museum of Etruscan life - not art but real life items/exhibits/artifacts (sewing needles, fish hooks, cosmetics jars, all types of household objects that were actually used 2500+ years ago) - fascinating!

Also - did you do the Colsseum? It always amazes me that the romans had invented the athletic stadium pattern that is still used today (at least MSG)!

Dear eurotraveler,
These churches combine great art and architecture with the spiritual. They require no admission fee or reservations but there could be services at the churches that you may have to work around.

Santa Maria della Vittoria-Bernini's Ecstacy of St.Teresa

Santa Maria del Popolo- Two Carvaggio paintings and Bernini's Chigi Chapel

Sant'Andrea al Quirinile-Bernini designed the interior architecture

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane-Borromini designed the architecture

Have a great trip,

==Mike

Oops! Yes, I have been to the Colloseum! Thanks for the suggestions on other things to see and do. I have not visited Trastevere. Is that across the river? Any suggestions on what to see or do there, Ira?

How does one secure tickets for the Gallery Borghese? I will be there this week.

Good morning, eurotraveller
Here are a couple more for Rome:
1. Tivioli, Villa d'Este..
2. St. John In Lateran
3. St. Maria Maggiore
4. St. Paul's outside the walls5. Caticombs, Domitilla or San Sebastano or St. Callists,,
5. Ancient Ostia.
6. Naples
7,Capri
8.Sorrento
9.Pompeii
10. Assisi
11. Tho Firenze is but an hour and a half by rail from Rome, might not consider it a day trip as there is really too much to see...
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Thanks everyone! Richard, I have been to Firenze so we only plan on Rome and right around there for the 4 nights.

Try the Archeobus for a fun half day excursion. It costs about 8 euro and picks you up at Piazza Venezia. They take you on the Appian Way to some wonderful archeological sites outside of the walls. Buses come every hour so you can get off at one stop,pick up the next. Take a picnic to the catacombs or the Aquaducts!

Piazza Navona. Another great place for a gelato or a cafe and people watching.

The Capitolini museums at the Campodoglio. they have many things that have been saved from the Forum, and a great view!

Annealex, you may have already left for Rome but maybe you will check this site when you arrive. In my request for things to do on a second trip to Rome several people mentioned Galleria Borghese. I found it by typing Galleria Borghese Rome into my web browser. http://www.galleriaborghese.it
You can purchase tickets from this site. Enjoy!

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