Help! Last minute honeymoon trip to Rome/Florence!

I myself havent been to Roma in 25 years but I still keep up with touristy things in Italian cities. In my researches on Rome it seems that indeed is true. The colosseum does sell out months in advance and, for example, the month of March isn’t even visible on their booking calendar yet but I’d bet it’s sold out already. Don’t use third party websites to purchase tickets. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

Thanks, Jon... But the tickets to the Colosseum open 30 days out which is why March isn't available yet! Appreciate the response though!

I know I left off the Uffizi... We're not art people. Am I really missing a lot by not including this?

Since we don't visit art museums in San Francisco (near where we live), we developed museum and cathedral fatigue when visiting Italy. Our visit in June to Pisa and Cinque Terre (about a day and half total) from Florence was a refreshing break from that fatigue, but I don't know what the weather is like in Cinque Terre for March. Since you're not art people, you won't be missing anything by not seeing the Uffizi, I honestly don't remember a thing from our visit there, except standing in a long line to buy tickets.

My wife and I did our honeymoon in Rome and Florence 20 years ago in March. The indelible memories I go to most are simple things like figuring out buses and trains and our quirky hotel. It was our first time in Italy and luckily, we have made Italy a small habit.

Be careful of trying to do too much. You can’t go wrong scheduling one event per day and using the rest of the day to wander. Plan on getting out at sunrise and sunset. If a guided tour sells out, there are options in other languages. Over the years, we have experienced many of the items you have mentioned and still some we have not. Next time.

Should we start with Colosseum, then forum, then Capitoline, then Pantheon?

I think this is a bit ambitious for one day. Your entrance to the Forum is good for the 24 hours following your Colosseum entry, so consider splitting over two days - especially if you think you'll find the Forum interesting.

If you're high energy you might consider popping into the Pantheon on arrival day, while you're walking around. It doesn't take that long. You could also stick your head into a church or two along your walk.

Hi NoviceTraveller - welcome to the forum!

What a wonderful surprise! Sounds like you've landed yourself a keeper. :O)
Just off top of my head...
Rome:
I don't think you need to do the "Heart of Rome" walk on Wed. night: you can pass by most of the landmarks along that route on your way to the Pantheon/Colosseum/Forum earlier in the day.

Your Colosseum ticket includes the Palatine as well as the Forum (Palatine and Forum are connected inside the outer security barriers) and I'll recommend that you do both. We have done Colosseum/Palatine/Forum/Pantheon/Capitoline in a day (getting an early start; Pantheon first) and it's a LOT so I wouldn't plan on your feet managing much more that day.

St Peter's/Vatican: that's going to be another trying day on your feet as well as a trying day managing crowds. You might be able to manage Sant'Angelo too, since it's close by, but San Clemente is ALL the way across town, nearer the Colosseum, so you'd spend valuable time (and shoe leather, if walking) backtracking.

Other:
With the limited time you have, and not wishing to run from one place to another, I don't see how you can comfortably add any more than what you already have. I'm not sure what's on the "Pilgrim's Rome" list (March 7) but will assume it includes Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano (Santa Scala is right there too) and Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls. All of these are papal basilicas and 'Holy Door' churches during the 2025 Jubilee. I don't know as you can cover them all in one morning - Saint Paul Outside The Walls is quite a distance from central Rome - but if you hustle, maybe you manage at least SM Maggiore, San Giovanni and Santa Scala in a morning. Trying to squeeze St Paul's in, you'll need to take the metro B line to the Basilica S. Paolo stop and walk a block or two from there. Do make sure to check visiting hours/mass hours for all of them so you'll know when they're open and not holding services. Accessing the Holy Doors requires advance registration, otherwise just use the standard entrances. Skip San Paolo (it's a near total reconstruction after a fire in 1823) and you might squeeze in San Pietro in Vincoli (St Peter in Chains) or San Clemente.

The Capuchin Crypt and Mamertine prison are also skips, IMHO. Go back to Rome another time and see one of the VERY old and historic catacombs. These are interesting original subterranean burial grounds in the 2nd-5th century (you won't see any remains) versus bones which had been moved/arranged in the 17th/18th century.

Last Suppers:
There is a "Last Supper" in the Sistine (Vatican) and another in San Marco (Florence):
https://piningforrome.com/the-last-supper
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/san_marco_last_supper.html

One more notable fresco at San Salvi (Florence) but it's outside of the historic center so not I'm not sure how you'd fit that in.
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/san_salvi_last_supper.html#

Florence:
By the time you get from Rome to SM Novella, to your hotel and checked in, you'll only have a few sightseeing hours left versus 1/2 a day. Your one FULL day itinerary is already, well, very full so adding more would be tough. Cinque Terre (mentioned by another poster) isn't a possibility; you'd need more days.

As you're staying close to Piazzale Michelangelo, climb up further to San Miniato Al Monte: a very old and important lady with an interesting adjoining cemetery (Porte Sante) & fabulous view!!!
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/san_miniato.html
https://www.feelflorence.it/en/node/12125

You're going to have a great time!

We were in Florence in March 2023 (16-22 Mar). We made a conscious decision to the Firenze card and concentrate on museums, also got the duomo pass (without the dome or bell tower). I think Accademia was incredible, much more than I expected. We were there on a Saturday morning, reservation for 11:30am and the street in front was crazy crowded. We're going back this year and I plan to reserve the first opening time in the morning. That would be my recommendation. The lines outside on the street seem chaotic but are color coded based on ticket type/reservation time and organized. Once inside, the crowds were more maneagable than I expected. We really enjoyed San Marco museum, and didn't find it too crowded, but we did that before going to the Accademia.
The Uffizi is amazing but overwhelming, even though we had one of the earliest time slots in the morning on a week day, it was still pretty crowded inside. If you decide to skip it, don't worry about it.

we didn't do food tours in Florence, but used Eating Europe in Rome and did the Taste of Testaccio tour which was fantastic! If you decide to do that, don't eat anything for breakfast, and don't plan on needing much dinner!

I agree with the suggestion on visiting the Pantheon on the arrival day. Consider stopping at a cafe for drinks with a view of the Pantheon. Yes, overpriced, but you can't beat sitting in front of the Pantheon. The people-watching there is fun, too.

On your arrival day (I don't know where Rick Steves' Caesar shuffle or Pilgrim's Rome go), consider: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori. With the goal of walking slowly, taking it all in, and having a drink while sitting at a cafe in every location!

For your Wednesday day, you may be overwhelmed with ancient Rome after the Colosseum and the Forum; consider whether you also want to visit the Capitoline Hill on the same day. That area is even more ruinous than the Forum, so if there's one area where if you take a guided tour, I would suggest the Capitoline Hill. Also, San Clemente is nearby, so perhaps visit San Clemente on this day. I love San Clemente because of its layers of history (the current church, build over an older church, which was built on a Mithraic temple, which is on top of a Roman home).

St. Peter in Chains and San Pietro in Vincoli are the same place. I like visiting it because I love Michelangelo's work, but it is a bit out of the way if you're not so much into sculptures. Places to stop by if you are in the neighborhood or walking past: Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, I know you're not art people, but there are three magnificent paintings of Saint Matthew's life by Caravaggio there, and it's really special to see these paintings in the location where the artist meant them to be hung. Also Church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, which has a fun trompe d'oeil ceiling, it is actually flat but painted to look like a big dome.

Castel Sant'Angelo is ok; it's not on my top 10 places to visit in Rome. Try to spend some relaxing time at a cafe in either Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori.

Ostia Antica is very interesting. We took a picnic lunch there, you could consider that.

Re where you stay in Florence, it depends. I love sitting in a piazza at a cafe and people-watching, and that might be more difficult if you're staying at Hotel David. Also, if you're the type of people who might stop by your hotel sometime during the day, then obviously that would be difficult to do when staying at Hotel David. Another lodging to consider, possibly, is Casa dei Tintori. It's actually a B&B. And I love art, so would never skip the Uffizi, but you're right to consider what YOU enjoy - people don't do that enough, IMHO!

In Florence, San Croce church is magnificent, and a number of famous people, including Galileo, are buried there.

I suggest that you start a separate thread about food and restaurants. Do you like gelato?

Just one tip about food. If you are at all hungry when you get off the train at Termini ( train station), have a snack there. There are some good solid restaurants there. Our first trip a couple of years ago we headed to our hotel to drop luggage etc. By this time we were famished and ate at the first place we found ( horribly touristy) Last year, we had a relaxing coffee and lunch before heading out and were so much more ready to face the day.

Wow! Thanks so much for all of your replies and help! This is exactly what I needed!

@kathy, yes- he's definitely a keeper! Appreciate the guidance on the reality of viewing attractions each day. We're staying at the top of the Spanish Steps and decided to take the Twilight Travastere food tour with Eating Europe on our first afterboon/evening, so may go ahead and see the Pantheon that afternoon as well (on the way to the food tour). Didn't realize some of those churches were Holy Door churches (thought there was only the one near the Vatican). As you mentioned, the San Clemente is near the Colosseum... Is it realistic to see it and then Santa Scala early in the morning prior to Colosseum/Palatine/Forum? Just "working our way back" into the city as the day progresses? Take a train from Spanish Steps to Piazza to cut down on the early morning walking? Or, better to check out of hotel on Friday morning, leave luggage, take train to see Basilica dei Santi Apostoli, San Giovanni en Laterno, Santa scala. Then back to hotel to get luggage and catch train to Florence? Was hoping to see this early on as I'm sure the crowds will pick up on Friday in anticipation of the Jubilee days over the weekend.

@sabohm, I'm excited about our Eating Europe food tour in Rome - went with Travastere instead of Tesstacio this time- and also booked the Sunset one in Florence! Appreciate the guidance on when to reserve at Accademia. And yes, definitely have San Marcos on the list now. You reminded me about the Duomo! I didn't have this on the list... Now where to fit it in?

@lexma, definitely planning to follow your day one guide as we make our way from Spanish steps hotel to the food tour in Travastere. Thoughts on San Clemente early morning before Colosseum/Palatine/Forum? Is the Capitoline Hill a must if we're already seeing the other three? I must admit, I haven't done as much research on it. I do like gelato but have only ever had it in America sooo I'm sure it's fake. Haha. Definitely looking at all of the food suggestions on the forum and taking notes (though we booked the food tours to try to help with this too).

@Lisa, I SO appreciate this tip. We're actually considering taking a taxi from FCO to hotel since it's about the same cost and I'm a big concerned about jet lag while trying to avoid pickpockets on the train. But, we will definitely consider this on our way to/from Florence!

This may be an unpopular opinion, but the inside of the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) is not super spectacular, especially after you will have already seen San Pietro etc. in Rome. If there isn't much of a line, sure go ahead and pop in, but if there's a long line to enter I would be content just spending some time in Piazza del Duomo taking it in from the outside. It's really a gorgeous building. I do think it's worth seeing Santa Croce from both inside and outside. If you have time, you can visit the leather school close to Santa Croce for a unique souvenir from Florence.

Also, I Fratellini is my favorite panini spot in Florence and it's very close to the duomo.

I don't know where exactly your hotel is, but once you get into the city center, things in Florence are pretty compact. So that 20-30 min walk you'll really only be doing there and back, if that makes sense. I don't think that's a big deal, but if you're someone who might want to pop back into your hotel for a midday break you may want to consider that.

@Rachel, glad to hear the hotel walk won't impact much since Florence is compact. That makes me feel better about that decision, thanks. Also, adding your panini spot to my list! Appreciate the advice on the Duomo vs Santa Croce. Depending on how we're tolerating the art/sites this late in the game, might just take the outside pics and keep moving. ;-) Hoping to experience more culture here too, I suppose... So, the leather school sounds like a unique tip!

To add to what Lisa said, every single time we go through Termini, we make time to eat at the Mercato Centrale (even jet-lagged or haven't slept for 24 hours) --- it's kind of like a wonderful food court/food market and you can sit anywhere and choose from many places to eat. I usually sit at the first wine bar and babysit our suitcases and my husband forages for us. I like it that it's not weird to have suitcases there --- I would sort of hate to drag them into a real restaurant. Nice bathroom, too.

Also, right near your hotel in Florence is one of the stops for the C4 electric mini-buses --- its route can take you to many places, or, if you get tired of walking, just bring you home. People here have said that you can buy a ticket onboard, but unless someone is using the app or a credit card to pay, I have never ever seen someone buy a ticket from the driver in my 10 weeks of riding these buses almost every day. Go to a tobacconist or ask at your hotel.

I love San Miniato al Monte and have been there 5 times --- the view is great, the cemetery is very interesting, and the facade of the church and the interior frescoes, floor, and other art is fantastic. Art in situ, not in an art gallery or museum. And it's free. But, just so you aren't disappointed, the church is in the middle of a big renovation and the facade is covered up and there is scaffolding inside.

Have a great whirlwind trip and then go back!

P. S. We saw no reason to get married for 6 years, then did because we wanted to have kids, this October will be our 50th anniversary. And we will be spending it in Italy.

@nancys8, Oh my goodness! I love this! Happy 50th! Amazing. <3 Thanks for the tip about the market and the buses! So helpful to know. Definitely adding the San Miniato al Monte to our list. This sounds right up our alley with the art in situ kind of deal.
Hope you have a wonderful anniversary trip!

I can’t remember the days and times it’s available but look into the Gregorian chanting at San Miniato Al Monte. Such a cool experience

San Clemente, yes you could visit it before the Colosseum, Forum, etc., if it's open. There are restaurants on the street near San Clemente, so I know that one time, we had lunch first, then visited San Clemente because we were nearby. San Clemente also has very good mosaics. I LOVE mosaics, and they are often very old, dating back to only a couple hundred years after Christianity began. Those in the apse in San Clemente date back to the 1130s. (I have trekked all over Rome to see the churches with the oldest mosaics, but you have more than enough to see on your list already, of places that are important to you.)

In terms of use of your time and enjoyment, I wouldn't say the Capitoline Hill area is a "must-see." We did not visit there on our first trip to Rome, and I wanted to visit there because I'm a big history buff. We took a very good (and slightly expensive) small group tour, and were glad that we did.

I also meant to say, it will very much help your enjoyment of the Colosseum, Forum etc. if you can get your hands on a book called either "Rome: Then and Now," or "Rome Monuments Past and Present"; it has overlays of various sites that show what it looks like now, and what it would have looked like then. There are probably websites that do this, too. Sometimes, street vendors have copies. Otherwise (and this is a comment from my lovely spouse), the various old very important buildings in the Forum or the Capitoline Hill can look like just a bunch of rocks.

I would suggest that you group the Scali Santi with your visit to Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, as they are next to each other.

Gelato, I could go on for hours. The best are the places that make their own gelato, "produzione propria," or it might say "artigianale." Most places make many interesting flavors, and it's most common to get several different flavors. You can get it in a cone (cono) or a cup (coppetto), and in different sizes - there will be signs in the store showing how many scoops in each size. In some places, you pay first, get a ticket, then hand the ticket to the person behind the gelato counter. In Rome, my favorite is the long-standing Giolitti, and in Florence, Vivoli (though I also like Gelateria Dei Neri). Note, that there can be mob scenes at the gelaterie, because gelato is loved by locals and tourists; it's part of the experience!

You reminded me about the Duomo! I didn't have this on the list... Now
where to fit it in?

Honestly? With so little time - and faced with standing in a line of undetermined length to get in - I'd confine a visit to the cathedral to viewing of the exterior only, and doing it at night. We found the outside of the thing to be more interesting than the inside (rare for an Italian church!). We also thought it took on a completely different aura when illuminated against the night sky. Besides, it'll give you something to do when the doors to INSIDE attractions are shut for the day. The historic center is a great place to walk after dark.

Didn't realize some of those churches were Holy Door churches (thought
there was only the one near the Vatican).

That one "near the Vatican" is IN Vatican City: into St Peter's. :O)
A little more about the 4:
https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/pellegrinaggio/cammini-giubilari-dentro-roma/basiliche-papali.html

Is it realistic to see it and then Santa Scala early in the morning
prior to Colosseum/Palatine/Forum? Just "working our way back" into
the city as the day progresses? Take a train from Spanish Steps to
Piazza to cut down on the early morning walking? Or, better to check
out of hotel on Friday morning, leave luggage, take train to see
Basilica dei Santi Apostoli, San Giovanni en Laterno, Santa scala.
Then back to hotel to get luggage and catch train to Florence?

I wish I could give you a fail-safe itinerary but I can't. Trying to work in these additional churches will depend on their visiting hours, how much time you'll need for the other attractions, and your stamina. Basilica dei Santi Apostoli is an interesting choice: can't say as I've ever seen that one on a list of must-do churches but there must be a reason it's on your list so that's OK.

Okay, how are y'all replying with the quote part from the previous post? Haha... I can't figure it out.

Anyway, really appreciate all of the advice. This has been so helpful. I've been able to tweak the days and give myself a more realistic plan without being TOO planned, if that makes sense.

@kathy, wanted to go see Basilica dei Santi Apostoli because it houses James the lesser and Philip. :-) I think I can swing this during the first afternoon after we check into hotel on our way to the food tour in Travastere, pending the church's hours.