Sites of Rome
 

We are spending 10 days in Rome in March. After reading through some guidebooks, here are some of my must-sees:

Colosseum
Roman Forum
Pantheon
National Museum of Rome
Borghese Gallery
Vatican Museum
St. Peter's Basilica
Capolitine Museum
Appian Way/Catacombs
Trevi Fountain
Baths of Diocletian
Cappuccin Crypt

Pretty standard list. Any ideas on memorable experiences of the above? (A picnic on the Appian Way somewhere? Trevi Fountain at sunset? I'm listening to your suggestions!) We will throw in a couple of day trips here and there, but we are still hammering those decisions out.

I notice LOTS of listings for churches with notable art/architecture in my guidebooks. Any advice on combing through all of this? If you had, say, three top churches in Rome to recommend, which ones would they be?

You can begin you consideration of Rome churches here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-churches.cfm

The Trevi Fountain is a crowded mass of people at most hours of the day except 9 AM. Because of its location nestled among buildings, sunrise and sunset have little effect on whether you might enjoy it.

To your list of desired sights, I'd add opening and closing times and closed days of the week. (The one time I tried to go to the Capitoline Museum just happened to be the closed day.)

This might give you some ideas, including a day trip to Tivoli:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622915079327/

For churches, can recommend:

Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva (stunning interior, unassuming exterior built over the temple of Isis, not Minerva but not to worry, and spotted by the elephant under the obelisk outside).

San Pietro in Vincoli - Saint Peter in Chains (home to Michelangelo's statue of Moses, the chains which bound St Peter in Jerusalem and some impressive frescoes)

Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano - Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (the seat of the Pope in Rome, aka the Bishop, and thus a higher church than St Peter's in those terms, but a stunning interior including statues of the Apostles)

Santa Maria del Popolo - Our Lady Mary of the People (incredible concentration of art including pieces/design by Bernini, Caravaggio, Rafaele and Bramante)

These are listed in the link from ellenem, so just to reiterate them as recommendations. I realise there are four (not three) recommendations, but they are each worth a visit.

Just a note about the Borghese Gallery, you need to book ahead for tickets which can be done online on their official site. March isn't too busy so you should get your time/day, but you can't just arrive at the door without an advance booking.

Trevi Fountain at sunset will just find you contending with more rose (and assorted junk) sellers. It's stunning lit up after dark, or first thing on an early morning (after they've cleaned out the coins, not during). For sunset, try the rooftop bar at Hotel Eden (called La Terrazza) just behind the Spanish Steps but looking towards St Peters.

You might want to buy your tickets to the Colsseum complex at the entrance to the Palatine hill, as the line will be shorter, and you can skip the ticket line at the Colosseum (keep to the left). The ticket includes the Palatine, the colosseum, and the Forum.

Actually, walking up to the top of the hill will give your views all around, including down into the forum. It's where all the big Roman upper classes lived, including Cicero, Brutus, etc. The Emperor Augustus had a house there.

I once read you would have to visit 18 churches a day for over a year to see all the churches in Rome.
As for the Trevi - get up super early like 4am and enjoy it free of people, It is well lighted and at night the water becomes a major highlight. Then head for a local coffee bar. Again JMHO.

Hi Bradshawgirl:
Three churches not to miss:Sta Maria degli Angeli;Il Gesú; San Pietro in Vincoli.But really don't miss any church you pass in front off,they are all beautiful.
Another actovitie we really enjoyed was being at Piazza Navona early,before everyone arrives; lets say at 8.30 a.m.; magical!!!
If you go to the morning market at Campo dei Fiori; don't miss the porchetta panini.I wrote a full report of our one week visit in 2009; just click on my name and you can find the report(also to Paris and the glorious amalfi coast)
Enjoy your trip!!!

Do these together as they are all in the same location; 'Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill'.
Some tidbits on them (some links are dead but you'll get the gist);

COLOSSEUM; COMMODUS ASSASSINATION (Gladiator Movie tie-ins:).
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34607408

ROMAN FORUM;
(Realllly long) http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

GAMEBOARDS
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...location-1.cfm GALBA,

OTHO & VITELLIUS ASSASSINATION
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34647535

PALATINE HILL;

DOMITIAN ASSASSINATION (accurate IMO)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34638234

Alexamenos Graffito
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34790878

CALIGULA ASSASSINATION
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34815611 (except for possibly the outdoor wooden theater location all the other locations are wrong I've learned, so just go with the story when you are on the Hill)

Baths of Diocletian, Santa Maria Degli Angeli is a church by Michelangelo and occupies the Great Central Hall of those Baths, National Museum of Rome is actually 2 museums-1 is actually in the Baths (entrance faces Termini Station) and the other Palazzo Massimo is across the street due South of the Baths (standing in front of the Baths Museum's entrance facing Termini it is 45deg to the right on the corner).
�For some info on the Baths here plus a chance to eat lunch or dinner in the ruins.
RESTAURANT IN RUINS
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rmini-area.cfm

Pantheon, add the 4 excavated (BC) temples at Largo di torre Argentina. It's ~300m from the Pantheon and it's an entire excavated open city block, ya can't miss it :-).
�Behind the round 'Temple B' is where Julius Caesar was assassinated.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm (Long but scroll downto the Curia Pompey Assassination site)

Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica:
How about the Necropolis Scavi Tour below St. Peter's? (booking info is dated but most links and history are good).
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...es-history.cfm

Capitoline Museum; 2 seperate museums, make sure you use the basement corridor to go from one to the other.
�That corridor is actually the Tabularium possibly 78BC if not �50yrs and offers great views from above the Roman Forum.

Appian Way/Catacombs (1 way to get there)
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...directions.cfm
Regards, Walter

If you're interested in Etruscan antiquities don't miss the Villa Giulia.

The San Clemente church is esp intereing - since you can visit the curent church then descend through several layers of previous churches to a Temple of Mithras at the bottom (god of the roman soldiers).

There is a wonderful small piazza in front of the Pantheon that you should visi in the late afernoon. There are a couple of cafes which provide free munchies with your ampari or soda (or whatever) and it;s great to spend and hour people watching - often accompanied by music from a church around the corner (I think choir practice or ?).

Trevi fountain - visit late at night when lit up and no crowds.

WOW what a great list!

If you don't want to go out to the Appian Way/Catacombs, you could visit the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome.

http://www.catacombepriscilla.com/

WOW! This is great stuff, guys!! I never would have thought to visit Trevi in the wee hours. Great tip!

Porchetta Panini - you are speakin' my language. We are renting an apartment for our 10-day stay, so I do plan on swinging by to pick up fruit, bread, etc., to keep on hand for munching in the kitchen.

I like the idea of the Spanish Steps (or maybe one of the hills, with a picnic?) at sunset. (What can I say? It's our first trip - ALONE! - to Europe since the baby was born. I am looking for romance!)

On a related note - if you arranged for a guided tour at any of the above, which would you choose? I've heard good reviews (from some of the trip reports on fodors) of different guided tours of the Colosseum. Anything else you think especially benefits from a guide?

The Rome Tourist Board lists 303 historic places of worship (not all Catholic).
http://www.060608.it/en/cultura-e-sv...tico/cattolici

You can click on the list, use the advanced tab on the far right to refine your search by area (click center of Rome and then you will get other areas to select). When you see a church listed that interests you, click the name in red. That will give a page with a map, opening times, services, etc. such as this example.
http://www.060608.it/en/cultura-e-sv...-laterano.html

If you click expand on the map, you will get a better view of the area (you can drag the map area also or zoom in/out). Click the camera symbol for satellite view of the area.

Ditto seeing San Clemente -- quite different from the other churches with the underground layers of the past.

I don't believe there is any "picnicking" allowed at the Spanish Steps.

Re; 'Pantheon Piazza' cafes and restaurants.
==========================================
My favorite Italian restaurant at that location is :-). http://tinyurl.com/3m7lkws

This restaurant has a Latin inscription on a marble plaque on the facade (dated 1823). http://tinyurl.com/3d7bxle

POPE PIUS VI IN THE 23RD YEAR OF HIS REIGN RECLAIMED FROM THE DISLIKED UGLINESS THE AREA IN FRONT OF M. AGRIPPA'S PANTHEON OCCUPIED BY IGNOBLE TAVERNS BY MEANS OF A MOST WISE DEMOLITION AND ORDERED TO LEAVE THE VIEW FREE IN A OPEN PLACE

Saddly I've heard that this World famous restaurant finally its doors closed last spring:-(.

And it is rumored that Pope Pius VI has now re-rolled-over in his tomb and is finally 'Resting In Peace' once again :) . Regards, Walter

Since finding open/close times for Rome churches is almost a full time job (!) I'll post the info I gathered and which was accurate for my visit in April 2011. I did a solo 7 nights (sorry, I've procrastinated on a trip report) and visited almost all of the churches on this list. Some I was interested in for the architecture, others for the mosaics, still others because of their antiquity - oh, and some because of the particular Saint. Most are listed according to proximity so as to best use my time. Some of these have crypts and are very interesting. I was able to go undergroung at least once a day in Roma:)
San Agostino (8-12, 4-7:30)

San Luigi (8:30-12:30, 3:30-7) cl. Thurs.

Santa Maria della Pace (10-12:30, 4-6)

Sant’Andrea della Valle (7:30-12:30, 4:30-7:30)
Corso del Rinascimento 40

Santa Prassede (7:30-12, 4-6)

Santa Pudenziana

Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monte (9-12, 4-7)
Via del Monti Oppio, 28

San Giovanni in Laterno (7-6:30)
Bapistry
13th c. Cloister (9-6)
San Giovannia Museo/Treasury (9-6)
Santa Scala (6:15-12:00, 3:30-6:30)
Papal Apartment/Museo Storico Vaticano (9:30-12:45)

Catacombe Priscilla (8:30-12:00, 2:30-5:00)

Sant’Agnese fuori Mura (7-12, 4-6)

Santa Costanza (9-12, 4-6)

Santi Cosma e Damiano (8-1, 3-5)

Santa Francesca Romana (9:30-12, 4-7)

Santi Giovanni e Paolo (8:30-12, 3:30-6)
Piazza dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo 13

Santa Maria in Cosmedin (9-8)
Piazza della Bocca della Veritas

Santa Maria della Popolo (7-12, 4-7) (Sun 7:30 – 1:30, 4:30-7:30)

Gesu (7-12:30, 4-7)

Sant’Ignazio (7:30-12:30, 3-7)

Santa Maria sopra Minerva (7-7) (Sun 8-7)

Pantheon (8:30-7:30) (Sun 9-6)


Santa Sabina (7:30-12:30, 3:30-5:30)
Piazza Pietro d’Iliria

Santa Cecelia (9:30-12:30, 4-7)
Piazza Santa Cecelia

San Crisogono (7:30-11, 4:30-7) (Sun 8-1, 4-7)
Piazza Sonnino
Scavi – 5th century church

Santa Maria in Trastevere (7:30-8)

San Francesco a Ripa (may be closed for renovation)

San Carlo (10-1, 3-6)

Sant’Andrea (8:30-12, 4-7)

Santa Maria della Vittoria (6:30-12, 4:30-6)

Santa Susanna (9-12, 4-7) The “American Church” Mass 6pm daily

San Pietro in Vincoli (7-12:30, 3-6)
Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli 4/

When you go to St. Peter's, climb all the way up to the top cupola.There's an elevator that takes you to the top inside but you still have a lot of stairs to climb. The view is worth it - all of Rome!
Just a word of warning - don't do it in a skirt or flip flops!
Here's a link with the info. At least take the elevator and look down on St. Peter's from inside.
http://saintpetersbasilica.org/touristinfo.htm#cupola
You're going for 10 days -that's great! But don't rush around - stop, enjoy yourself, have a coffee. Try to balance your trips in and outside of Rome. You can't see everything - you can't even see most of what Rome has to offer. So don't think that if something is on your list, it must be done at the expense of a place that you want to spend more time.
By the way, one of the tips I got (don't remember what forum) - a cup of coffee at the bar is much much cheaper than sitting down. So if you can, stand at the bar.
Check out the Ron in Rome site for ideas.

If you are interested in seeing some photos of about 40 churches in Rome, go to my website. Look on the left side and go down to the "Photo Gallery Menu". Click on the "Churches and Basilicas" option. Each church has it's own link. Some, like St. Peters, will have multiple sub-menus. You will need flash installed to view the photos. Now, before you go to it, I had changed the viewer before I realized the new display doesn't show the actual photo file name, so I'll be updating this soon. The reason the file name is important is that we worked with Fr. Joseph Tylenda and used his floorplans for most of the churches, so the file name corresponds with the floorplan location. When I get around to putting the photos in a new viewer, it will show the file name as well. As an example, if the filename is SP_P001_001, that means it is St. Peter's (SP), Position 1 (P001), photo 1 (001).

www.passagetoroma.com

Also, I highly recommend Fr. Tylenda's book, published by Angelus Press, "The Pilgrim's Guide to Rome's Principal Churches". Tylenda spent the better part of 20 years going into over 175 of the churches, detailing and cataloging everything in each one. His book has about 50 of these and is the authoritative text who who did what, when, where and why.

dave