I'll probably be there for just three days and I've been there before. I feel like I've seen a lot of the main tourist attractions in Rome. The Vatican, The Pantheon, Colloseum, Piazza Nevona, Trastevere, Piazza Paplona and so on. I don't want to go to far out of Rome either. I'd like to stick around the Spanish Steps or maybe take the bus to something that's not too far from there. What do you recommend me seeing or doing?

I'd highly recommend a trip to ostia Antica. You can get there by public transportation. It's the ruins of a beautiful ancient Romana port town.

BTW, I've been to Rome a number of times and never heard of the Piazza Paplona - where is it and what's it known for?

I think schnookies already mentioned Piazza Navona in that list, so I think that she means Piazza Popolo instead of Paplona.

Anyway, if it's desirable in this case to not venture far from the Spanish Steps, visit the Borghese Gardens, and otherwise why not just wander around, would be my suggestion. You can probably find a list of churches in the immediate vicinity. There's the one with the Ecstasy of St. Theresa near Piazza Barberini, if I'm not mistaken.

Have you been to the Palazzo Massimo Terme museum? It has an amazing collection of ancient sculpture, mosaics, a frescoed room excavated from Trestevere and, when we were there in October 2006, a fascinating jewelry and coin collection in the basement temporary exhibit space.

Have you been to Ara Pacis on the banks of the Tiber? This is a large, ancient altar enclosed in a fabulous Richard Meier contemporary structure. The carved panels are amazing. Don't miss the exhibits in the basement.

Have you been to the top of the Castello? So many people walk past it but don't explore the interior. Lots of interesting exhibits and wonderful views from the roof.

Have you seen the view of Rome from Piazza Garibaldi?

I of course meant Piazza POPOLO....I was a little bit in a rush when writing. Thanks for all the great suggestions!!

Baths of Caracalla
San Clemente
Santa Sabina
You didn't mention the Musei Capitolini or Castel San Angelo, or are they in the category of "and so on"?

Torre Argentina - the cats of Rome -- really! This is a (mostly) outdoor cat sanctuary for the many otherwise homeless cats in the city. It's reallt wonderful!
Jess

Oh good Lord, bring on the Claritin!

Have you ever just wandered aimlessly? There are so many back alleyways to explore. Take time to watch a cobbler making shoes, a jeweler creating a fabulous necklace, an antique restorer working on something over a hundred years old, or any number of artisans. The town is filled with such wonders.

Some of the storefronts are no larger than a small bedroom, but there they are, working long hours, pounding, welding, hammering. It's really very interesting.

Most will stop and say hello, many even allowed me to take their photo.

Priceless!

The church with the Ecstasy of St. Theresa is Santa Maria della Vittorio. Highly recommended, both for the sculpture and the church itself.

Santa Maria Concezione, where you can see 4,000 bones made into unusual decorations by the monks.

As noted, San Clemente, where you can see how a lot of Rome was built on top of what was already there. This would be a little further, down by the Colosseum.

I'd still want to go to the Piazza Navona at night.

And now for something really different ...

Look at some of the new Rome.

The long awaited world-class concert hall, Parco Della Musica, designed by famed architect Renzo Piano, is now open. If you're staying up near the steps, you can easily walk to Flaminia station, just off Pza del Popolo, and it's one stop on the train from there. They have various halls and concerts.
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/pa...sica/index.htm

I would try hard to get to the Apollo Theater on Piazza Vittorio (near the Termini) to hear L'Orchestra dei Piazza Vittorio, a fantastic group made up of expat, traveling and immigrant musicians from all over the world. Th subject of a great documentary, played in NYC last week and Buenos Aires this week, but back in Italia for the summer. Very popular and usually sold out.

I don't know what will be at one of Rome's "contemporary" (at least in philosophy) museums, Scuderie Papali al Quirinale. On the Quirinale, natch. Great location, great interior, a-c, lunch in the cafe, some very interesting shows. And small crowds, as it's not one of the "must sees".

More venues and dates for music events at: http://www.inromenow.com/site%20temp...rtainMusic.htm

Above link includes everything from Ricky Lee Jones to concerts at many churches and the Quirinal Palace. There are noon concerts on Saturdays at Palazzo Doria Pamphili, a remarkable house/museum. Admission includes the galleries. Also of special note: "Casa dell Jazz -
The beautiful Villa Osio and its surrounding 2,500 square-meter park are the site of this center for jazz, which opened in Rome last year. There are practice rooms and a recording studio open to young musicians and professionals, a multi-media library and a book and record store. The auditorium hosts top names in international jazz. The restaurant, decorated in a black and white piano key theme, its walls lined with vintage portraits of jazz greats, serves an excellent supper and a Sunday buffet brunch. Come for dinner or stay after the concert for a drink at the bar. On
summer Sundays, look for the free outdoor concerts on the lawn at noon.
Viale di Porta Ardeatina, 55 (near the Baths of Caracalla)
Tickets tel. 199.10.97.83, information 06.704731, restaurant 06 700 8370"

get a walk book and do a few of the walks - that will get you deeper into the place than just seeing the sights - you will be seeing neighborhoods, architecture, churches, history.

I think the English bookstore next to the Spanish steps sells a lightweight edition of the companion guide. Just pick a walk that starts in a convenient placeand start walking. One of these is good for a morning's amble. Particularly recommended is the walk that goes through the ancient churches on the caelio, or several of those that go through renaissance rome (between piazza navona and the tiber.

I second kopp's suggestion: just walk, walk, walk. Like NYC, Rome is endlessly fascinating, rich with history, beauty & life, life, life.

with guidebook in hand so I can double-check spelling I offer the following suggestions:
I had been to Rome twice before a trip in early march and had never visited the Palatine. It is a more pleasant, relaxing place to wander than the Forum and adds to your understanding of ancient Rome. The view of the forum from the Farnese Gardens is impressive.

Others have suggested the Via Appia Antica and baths of Caracalla. Both are along the route of the hop on/hop off archeobus which starts in front of the termini station, goes out to the catacombs and several stops along the Via Appia Antica, then to the impressive aqueducts on Viale Appio Claudio. There is another whole thread recently about seeing the catacombs, debating whether they are worth while. IMO they are. Sunday is the best time for this trip because the upper section of the Via Appia Antica is closed to traffic then.

I also agree that Ostia Antica, the old port in Republican times, is a nice outing and easy to do by train.

As someone else mentioned, the Piazzale Garibaldi on the Janiculum (Gianicolo) hill south of the Vatican area has spectacular views of the city. If you take a bus or taxi there you can enjoy the Botanical gardens and/or a leisurely walk back downhill to Trastevere, stopping to see the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola and San Pietro in Montorio with Bramante's beautiful Tempietto in the courtyard.

I would also recommend spending some time exploring the old Jewish ghetto area which you can reach from Trastevere by crossing the pedestrian bridges across the Isola Tiberina.

There are many, many wonderful walks to take. We used the DK Eyewitness guide to Rome for suggestions.

you should certainly go to San Clemente - very interesting
Why not pick one area you haven't been to and wander with a guide book - never know what you might find
Also, easy to go to - go to Hadrian's Villa and or the Villa D'Este - just a wonderful experience, and you might learn something

I second the idea on Ostia Antica. 45 minute subway/train ride and you are there. Very few tourists. During the summer, on Friday evenings they have performances in the amphitheater. Just remember to bring a snack and drinks.

dave

Hi schnookies,

A couple of additional suggestions. If you haven't seen the Borghese Gallery, Bernini's sculptures are just beautiful and amazing.

I did a day trip to Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este in Tivoli and really enjoyed both. The fountains and formal garden at Villa d'Este were delightful. Took an hour to get out there by metro and bus.

Of course, you can never run out of churches to seein Rome.

Buon viaggio!

I wish we'd had time to see the Borshese sculptures. And, getting a list of the Michelangelo (or choose another favorite artist, like Bernini) sculptures for public viewing would be a fun way to spend some time. We saw the Risen Christ in the church with a name like "Minerve". It's a thrill to see such amazing art in a fairly common little church.
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I think MaureenB means the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, right near the Pantheon. It and other churches with great art are mentioned in this recent New York Times article
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/22...tml?ref=travel

Yes, that's it, thanks!
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