Our first visit to Rome is in April.

What are your 3 favorite things about the Eternal City and its people?

Thanks!

cappuccino, pizza and gelato

The old, cobblestone streets filled with sites, stores and restaurants.

The history is incredible, everywhere you look.

The excitement of being in a city and being able to walk everywhere!

Pasta Carbonara

The colors of the buildings

Gelato at Giloitti

Only three? That's difficult but:

The sight of umbrella pines on the hills surrounding the city as you descend into FCO.

Finding a tiny church tucked into the corner of piazza, that's open and you enter to find a jewel box, all to yourself.

The smell of coffee coming from the bars at 7:00 am as I'm walking the cobblestone streets of the centro storico, virtually alone.

What are you doing up at 7am?

The fabulous food (no matter where you eat), the wonderful history (very important for one who has a history degree!) and the NOISE/SMELLS-it is truly unique. Have fun on your first visit and remember that Rome is a city that requires you to go back many many times to see all,do all and eat all!

Sidewalk cafes - just sitting and people watching when you need a break

History - particularly the ancient

That intangible feeling of being in a European city. Our last day we walked from the Vatican to the Spanish steps by way of the Parthenon and Trevi Fountain, just meandering through the city with a stop at a cafe in the Piazza Navone (sp?) on the way, making to the Spanish steps in time for dinner. That is actually still the highlight of our first trip to Rome.

When I want to sleep late, I do it at some beach resort, not Rome. At 7:00 am in Rome, I love walking around without crowds, drinking coffee and finding churches that are open for early Mass. Sometimes, that's the ONLY time they are open.

The fountains, the pizza in Trestavere, and the sound of all the church bells ringing on a Sunday morning while standing atop Piazza Poppolo (I think that's the place, it's been 5 years.)

Sitting on steps in the Forum and trying to grasp how many people have sat in the spot looking at the same buildings.

Gelato!

The pieta in St. Peter's.

Thank you all for the ideas and the great taste of what's in store!

Relax, savor each day, start early & finish late(sleep at home) & MUST SEE:

San Clemente church
Borghese Gallery
St.Peter's/Vatican Museum

Gelato

St. Peter's

Sunset from the Palatine Hill

Hmm... only three things? Where do I begin?

Wandering through cobblestoned streets.

All the beautiful fountains.

The colors of the buildings, and the vines and flowers that grow on some of them.

Sitting at a cafe by the Pantheon and thinking how cool it is that you are sitting at a cafe by the Pantheon!

Knowing that it's okay to eat all of that wonderful food (and gelato!) because you will be walking off the calories!

I love that people take a passagiata (I know I spelled that wrong) after dinner.

Okay, that's more than three. Sorry!

Have a great time!

Johanna

1. Papal audience
2. Scavi tour
3. Gelato

Woody

All of these are great! I can't wait for my second visit this October. My favorite thing can be summed up in 3 words: Just Being There!!!!

Tom

1. the Bone Church
2. the Trevi Fountain
3. the Pantheon

Walking from our apartment to the city area past the Vatican each day.

Eating lunch in the sun opposite Colosseo.

Walking through Trastevere.

good looking men
coretto grappa
incredible history

in that order