First Day in Rome Itinerary (Afternoon Arrival from Florence)

I would check in to the hotel and just stroll around the surrounding area. Don't plan anything. Let your senses lead you and enjoy the eye candy that Rome displays. With only about 1 1/2 hours before your first planned visit to Santa Maria Della Vittoria, I don't know if you would have enough time to do any formal site seeing. There is so much to see and do. Since the rest of your trip is somewhat planned, why not just relax a bit. Just my opinion.

Ah, Bernini! The church of Sant' Andrea delle Fratte is not far from S.M. Della Vittoria, and has two of the angels he carved himself which were intended as part of the grouping on Ponte Sant'Angelo. I'm seeing hours of 4:00 - 7:00 on Monday but doublecheck?

Santa Maria degli Angeli is also very close to Della Vittoria and well worth stopping in. That one was designed by Michelangelo to incorporate some of the ruins of the Baths of Diocletian, and it has an especially ornate gnomon (meridian line) in the floor. The church has been overhauled enough times since its original construction (the master didn't live to see its completion) that not a lot of his master plan remains but it's still impressive.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-santa-maria-degli-angeli

You'll see enormous bits left of the baths all around the exterior of the church. Around the right side, as you're facing it - and outside the entrance to the Museo Nazionale Romano's museum of the baths, was a small garden with all sorts of Roman sculptures, sarcophagi and tablets which we wandered for free; hope that's still the case.

Also not far away is Francesco Borromini's Chiesa San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane: I'm reading the hours as open 3:00-6:00 during the week. Do note the fountains (Quattro Fontane) on the 4 corners of the street near the church.

I agree with Kathy. My first day in Rome began mid-afternoon. My hotel was only a few blocks from Termini Station, and I wished to make good use of the time. That afternoon I visited Santa Maria della Vittoria, Museo Nazionale Romano, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Sant'Andrea al Quirinale with plenty of time spent at each. See if these places interest you. The Roman National Museum is spread over a number of sites throughout Rome, but the one by Termini is the best. It was wonderful.

My 14-y/o grandson and I arrived at FCO around noon. We were staying at a convent on Quirinal Hill, and we each had only one backpack carry-on apiece. Rather than taking the Leonardo Express and walking from Termini down Via Cavour and Via Panisperna to our lodging, we opted for a longer but more dramatic entrance.

We took the FM1 from FCO to Ostiense. We had a bite to eat at the station, then ventured out, our first view being the Pyramid of Cestius and Porta San Paolo, remembering that this was where the partisans battled invading German troops on 10 Sept. 1943. From there we walked along the Aurelian Wall, past the Baths of Caracalla, then past Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, and up the hill to the convent. It was about two miles total from Ostiense, but well worth it.

After we checked in and dropped off our bags, we ventured out to simply circle counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the Forum of Augustus, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Bocca della Verita, Forum Boarium, Capitoline Hill and back. No schedule, no obligation, just taking it as it came at our own pace.

After a welcome-to-Rome dinner that night, and a good rest, we were ready to dive in when the Colosseum opened early the next morning.

For another Bernini fan here, an amusing note about Sant'Andrea Della Fratte (a gorgeous church, BTW)? In a side chapel of that church is a glass altar with a sculpture of a dying St Anne inside. It was chiseled by a Giovanni Battista Maini, and is a shameless ripoff of Bernini's "Beata Ludovica Albertoni" (another of his 'ecstasy' pieces) in Chiesa San Francisco a Ripa.

You'll see what I mean if you are able to to make it to both churches. But imitation being the highest form of flattery in a different era of the art world, Gian probably would have been tickled. :O)

Love Bernini as well, perhaps you can get to Galleria Borghese on one of your days (reserve NOW by phone). If you can get an appointment, start with the Galleria, then walk through the park to the Pincio for a look at Roma from the terrace, then take the footpath down to Piazza del Popolo. From there it's a short walk to the major sights of the Centro Storico.

Absolutely! The best of the Bernini's are at the Borghese, IMHO. His "David" is a piece of work.

On our first trip to Italy last month, we arrived in Roma at 12:30 on Alitalia. We don't normally experience jet lag, so I had booked the 17:00 entry to the Borghese - perfect! We had time to get to the hotel (even after dealing with lost baggage), get oriented and arrive well in advance of the entry time. Have Fun!

WOW thank you everyone for your advise!!!

Kathy your input is amazing! I will def visit the churches. I will be going to the Borghese during my trip as well. I am booking my ticket today.

If you are doing something to similar to Rick's plan (as below) then an idea might to do the Heart of Rome walk on the afternoon of your arrival. Start the following day at the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, before heading on your Caesar Shuffle.

Edited version of Rick's recommendation for Rome over 4 or 5 days ...

Day 1
Do the "Caesar Shuffle" (from the Colosseum and the Forum to the Pantheon, via the Capitoline Museums and Victor Emmanuel Monument). Spend the late afternoon doing the Heart of Rome Walk (from Campo de’ Fiori to the Spanish Steps, via Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain). While it’s an exhausting day, you now have your bearings and have seen the essential Rome.
Day 2
Morning — National Museum of Rome and the nearby Baths of Diocletian. In the afternoon do my Jewish Ghetto Walk (from Ponte Fabricio, across the Tiber and along Via del Portico d’Ottavia) followed immediately by the Trastevere Walk (from Isola Tiberina in the Tiber to Santa Maria in Trastevere, via Piazza in Piscinula and the Church of St. Cecilia).
Day 3
Vatican City — St. Peter’s Basilica, dome climb, and Vatican Museums. Spend the early evening shopping and enjoying the local passeggiata by doing the "Dolce Vita Stroll". (Naming it after the movie, Rick Steve's "Dolce Vita Stroll" is the late afternoon walk from Piazza del Popolo, down Via del Corso and up Via Condotti to the Spanish Steps. It takes place from about 5 PM to about 7 PM every evening (except Sundays, when it is earlier in the afternoon), but is best on Friday and Saturday evenings. As you walk with the crowd through the shopping district you'll see all types of people enjoying the sweet life of Rome's early evening).
Day 4
Borghese Gallery (reservation required) and Pilgrims' Rome: the churches of San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore, and San Clemente.

Others have made great suggestions . It might seem lame but I recommend the Hop-on Hop-off Bus- You will get a nice overview of the city and orientation. We usually stay on for one circuit and then get off on the second circuit. Our first evening we walked over to The Vatican and St Peters Square - it is beautiful at night and says to us we are in Rome.
Just to mention - you can rent bikes in the park after your visit to the Borgese Gallery. Really enjoyed this
Happy Birthday

On a related note, if you plan of taking a taxi to your lodging in Rome, upon arrival at Termini, you'll probably see a very long queue at the taxi stand and there will be several non-licensed taxi drivers trying to "poach" fares as tourists come out of the station. We avoided the unlicensed drivers and stood in the queue (it moves fast) but we still managed to get roped into an unlicensed taxi (and ripped off) all the same. The "taxi" we were led to was white, had a taxi "cap", had taxi stickers on the sides and back, but it wasn't until we pulled away that I noticed it didn't have a taxi meter. This was a 25-30 euro lesson... Be prepared...

Not that they're "lame" but I'll respectfully disagree with taking the hohos in Rome; they've been seeing a significant number of negative reviews for some time so I never feel like I can recommend them in good faith. As you're young and have no mobility challenges, your feet are the better option.