Re: number of people for a cab

It depends I guess. When we got to the front of the queue, we made it apparent that we needed a cab for 4 adults plus luggage, and the driver was happy to fit us in. We tipped him the extra 2 € because of his help.

re: gridlock

I can't really say. We got into Rome Termini on a Wednesday about 3:30. Traffic was bad enough that I wouldn't want to drive it. But our cabbie got us to our hotel in about 10 minutes (had to negotiate at least one one-way street). Friday at 6:00 or so would of course take longer.

Hope this helps.

KC

Via Cavour is all downhill to the Roman Forum.

It's a busy street but the sidewalks aren't as crowded as other major streets like the roughly parallel Via Nazionale or something in the historic center.

With backpack/suitcases and someone in shape it would be a cakewalk :).

I've timed myself walking out of the front doors of Termini to the entrance of the Roman Forum at the end of Via Cavour.
It took me 20mins, I'm 52yrs old, overweight, wearing an over the counter kneebrace and puffing on a Marlboro.
I think you could make alot better time though :).

Just curious what street is your apartment on.
You might have some history beneath you in that area esp if it's to the left or right at the bottom of Via Cavour. Regards, Walter

Grazie to all of you for such very useful information.

Rasataguy
Excellent point re pacing oneself-I will keep it in mind.

knoxvillecouple
The details you provide are very helpful.Seems that a taxi at our arrival time would be more expensive and time consuming.

walter/paradise lost
Grazie mille on providing the essential info on elevation change and duration! Also good to know that the crowds are not so intense on Via Cavour.Our apartment is on Via dei Fienili-between the Forum and Piazza Bocca dei Verita.

I am travelling with a family group of 8. Some of us are more fit than others. Walking 12 flights several times a day would be easy to some of us in the group and not so easy for others. Having info on options is invaluable. I suspect that some in our group may taxi. I like the idea of walking even more now!

How are you planning to cross the Forum from Via dei Fori Imperiali to Via dei Fienili? Fly?

It's a long, long way around and will add probably another 1.5 miles.

Grow up and take a taxi!

I may walk on Via dei Consolazione from Via dei Fori Imperiali to Via dei Fienili or walk through the Forum. I have asked the owners of the apartment what the walking distance is from the Colosseum-answer: 1500 meters.

Use www.mappy.com and enter your start and stop points. Click pedestrian (not vehicle)under intinerary.

You should definitely take a taxi. The taxi shouldn't be more than 10 euro and can hold 4 people. It may take you longer to walk than you think because you don't know the area. I personally don't find it very pleasant to walk around city streets with luggage and I travel light.

Hiking up to and through Piazza del Campidoglio with luggage will be lots of fun for everyone in your party, I'm sure...

And you *cannot* "walk through the Forum"!

why is it that we cannot walk through the Forum?

For heaven's sake! It's a closed archeological area.

Via dei Consolazione runs below Piazza del Campidoglio and around the Forum.

How does one visit the Forum? Is it bot possible to walk through it on a visit?

No, Via della Consolazione does *not* run "below the Forum"; it runs out of Piazza del Campidoglio, which is at the top of the hill. You've heard of the "Seven Hills of Rome", perhaps?

You visit the Forum by going in at the entrance on Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Your "months of research" don't seem to have told you a great deal.

I have noted the position of Via dei Consolazione, Piazza del Campidoglio and Via dei Fori Imperiali on several maps. I am aware that Piazza del Campidoglio is at the top of a hill. I plan to enjoy the views from that hill. I am aware of the entrances to the Forum and the seven hills of Rome. I have seen an aerial photo of Via dei Consolazione that appears to indicate relatively little elevation change from Via dei Fori Imperiali. Is this not correct?

I'm not at all intimidated by walking hills.

I have noted some inconsistencies in maps regarding Via dei Consolazione. Not sure if it actually runs through to Via dei Fori Imperiali. We may need to use Via dei Campidoglio for a few hundred meters. Is this really so difficult? Seems like a moderate elevation change.

marymarathons, Re the traffic in Rome: We live in Atlanta, and rush-hour traffic around here means traffic is at a standstill. In Rome, even though there is LOTS and LOTS of traffic, it keeps moving. The cab drivers somehow find a way to get through the traffic.

This past week was our second trip to Rome. The first trip I felt the drivers were "crazy and irresponsible." On this trip, I was prepared for crazy, but I was able to see how skilled these drivers are. They are more alert than drivers generally are in the U.S. Every time they go through an intersection, they are alert to pedestrians, other cars, etc., even though it seems like they are not. We felt like we were sometimes taking our lives in our hands when we went across a street, but we didn't see any car hit a pedestrian the whole week we were there.

Mary, that Roman Forum section of the Via della Consolazione was taken out for excavations in the last century.
It is still listed on maps though, mine included :). [Photo]
http://www.romasegreta.it/images/car...nsolazione.jpg

There are 6 entrances to the Roman Forum.
It will probably be closed when you arrive.
But if it was open you could walk down Via Cavour and enter thru the Via dei Fori Imperiali entrance, walk straight across the Forum and exit behind the Basilica Julia which would put you 1 block over from your apartment.

If you look at your map; See where Via di San Teodoro makes a 90deg left, that street is Via del Foro Romano and at the end is an entrance/exit to the Roman Forum just a block over from your apartment.

I've never been on the Capitoline Hill in the evening but I assume it isn't closed off by guards?

So walk down Via Cavour to the end, cross Via dei Fori Imperiali and turn right.
Nice views of the ruins and the last ruin is the Forum of Julius Caesar and it's the 1st place you can turn left which you will take.

Follow the street always up (not a bad incline) and that will bring you to the Piazza del Campidoglio, exit at the opposite corner you arrived at and that modern neighborhood you see to your front-left is where you want to be.

Somewhere in the area beneath your apartment they know there was the Greek Slave Market. Greek slaves were hi-end and mostly sought after by the rich.

I forget how it has come down to us (ancient writer or writing, funeral epitaph, etc) but there was also a barber shop :) next to the Slave Market.
Regards, Walter

Another option to consider is metro to the Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) stop and walk thru the Circus, cross 1 street and go up Via di San Teodoro to Via Fienili.
It's ~1000m if you walk straight across and maybe 1200m if you stuck to the sidewalks.
Regards, Walter

as noted, the metro is downstarins and it is simple operation-get your ticket at the ticket machine and proceed-watch your wallet in the metro-wear a neck or stomach pack-or get the bus outside the station in the plaza.