3 Days in Rome with 3 Bolder Adults and Limited Mobility. Help?

One thing that should be no problem is your mom's dietary issue - if you search this site for 'celiac Rome', using the search bar above, you'll learn that Italy is very accommodating. You'll need to ask for food that is 'senza glutine'.

Grazie lnbsig! I've read that the European public is much more aware of Celiac and are very accommodating. Thank you for the suggestion and confirmation. Cheers!

I realize you have a budget issue. Try to stay as close to the Pantheon/Piazza Navona/Largo Argentina as you can. That way, you can slowly stroll to many of the best sites without transportation and be able to take breaks in midday at your hotel/apt..

MJ, we haven't done one of these but golf cart (or similar) tours have been suggested for mobility-challenged exploring on some previous threads. As trams and buses can't get near or into some of Rome's tighter, more pedestrianized areas, I believe your 3 "bolder" elders can save some steps this way. Here are a couple of previous threads on the subject:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/golf-cart-tours-in-rome-for-the-elderly

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/has-anyone-taken-a-golf-cart-tour-in-rome

I may be sounding like a broken record here, but wanted to recommend that you look at MonasteryStays.com for possible accommodations. They list monasteries and convents that provide lodgings for travelers. Not only are they (mostly) reasonably priced, but it appears that most of them have elevators - and I was noticing that many have wheelchair access and some have rooms for people with disabilities.

These suggestions have been great! I've sorted through every suggestion. Just waiting to hear confirmation. Now looking into the Golf Cart tours -vs- hop on and off bus.

MJ just an FYI, the hop on off bus in Rome is worthless. There are too many pedestrian only streets or streets too small for the buses to enter. Your parents would be much better served by a taxi to each destination. Taxis in Rome are relatively inexpensive.

I used the golf cart on one of the threads Kathy posted, it's good for an great overview of Rome, but does not allow for entry to sights.

Edit to add. While the golf cart tour sounds expensive, if done on their first full day in Rome, it will enable them to see so much more than they could ever do on their own. It also gives them an idea of what they would like to return to.

If they are planning on a visit to the Vatican Museum, wheelchairs are available for free, but need to be booked previous to the visit.

I’m in Rome now and noticed several pedicabs. They are covered and look like could hold 2-3 adults each. I imagine they can get close to sites. May be worth looking into them. Perhaps you can rent them for several hours (a day?) so you can travel at your own pace and take breaks as needed. They look like a fun way, relatively lowkey, way to get around.

I used the golf cart on one of the threads Kathy posted, it's good for
an great overview of Rome, but does not allow for entry to sights.

Oh yes! I didn't mean that they should look at these for their primary mode of transport to/from attractions but as a superior substitute for a general overview of the city versus, say, hoho buses. As Gerri stated, those have been seeing mediocre-to-lousy reviews for a long time.

Congrats on the upcoming trip to Rome, MJ! The rockstars of the RS travel forum will come through for you with outstanding ideas for your activities, mobility issues, etc. As a celiac who just returned from a trip to Rome, here are some thoughts and recommendations:

• Download the Find Me Gluten Free app to your smart phone. Invaluable research tool and so helpful for impromptu dining decisions.
• The first time visiting a new place for a celiac carries anxiety, no matter how accommodating everyone says it is. Even I messed up once when ordering at what I thought was a 100% gluten free restaurant. It happens. Dig around on this forum as well as the FMGF app, and you'll find good options for your mother.
• I can provide you some blog and website articles recommending GF restaurants. PM me if you need that info.

Restaurant recommendations:

• Voglia di Pizza. Very close to Campo de' Fiori. As soon as you walk in, tell them how many need the gluten free menu, and how many need the regular ("normale" as they will say) menu. Delicious pizza that's better than any GF pizza in the US!! Ate here twice.
• Mama Eat. It's in Trastevere close to the beautiful church Santa Maria in Trastevere. I had the most amazing Roman-style artichokes and another delicious pizza.
  
• Both Voglia di Pizza and Mama Eat have 2 separate kitchens - 1 for regular food, and 1 for gluten free food prep. No cross-contamination worries!
• Taverna Barberini. Right across from Palazzo Barberini. This place could be challenging as the restaurant is in the basement and you must go down stairs. With that said, the meals are delicious, and I enjoyed a gluten free crepe that reminded me exactly of regular crepes - such a treat.

There are some other celiac-conscious restaurants around Rome, but many of them tend to be further out from the city center and the main sites. I ate at the above restaurants specifically because they were close to my main activities and close to my hotel by the Pantheon.

Happy planning, and please let me know if I can help with any additional celiac travel questions!

MJ,

I don't know if you've found lodging yet, but this one might warrant a look. The location is fairly central with good bus service.
Linda & Steve are great to work with and if they don't have the availability you require they may be able to point you in the right direction.

https://www.cross-pollinate.com/rome/apartment/2391/Appartamento-Navona-al-Tevere

Just wanted to say that although it's probably a typo; I love the concept of " bolder adults" !!!