Hello!
My girlfriend and I will be traveling to Italy in September and ending the trip with four nights in Rome. I appreciate how Rick has grouped some of the most popular Ancient Rome attractions into the "Caeser Shuffle" (Colosseum to the Roman Forum, over Capitoline Hill w/ stop at Museums and on to the Pantheon). It seems like a good route and a convenient way to group these sites. However, even if we start as early as possible at the Colosseum, there's still no way to do this route without reaching the Pantheon sometime around midday when it will be the most crowded... which makes me slightly more confused as to Rick's suggestion for grouping these sights.
Is it worth splitting up these sites into different days? Maybe doing everything but the Pantheon on one day and then doing the Pantheon as early as possible on a different morning? Or reversing the "shuffle" and starting at the Pantheon and then taking a siesta and doing the Colosseum later in the evening after the crowds have slightly decreased?
Curious to know what folks think. Thank you!