Is it a good idea to book ahead for the Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini?

You MUST pre-book. It usually sells out well in advance as it has become one of the hottest tickets in Rome. Make sure to book one of the English language times. (It's really cool - They'll love it.)

Michael - thanks for that feedback. Hopefully I'm not too late for mid-June tickets!

I bet you'll be okay if you have flexibility when looking at dates. But I wouldn't wait a day longer.

Here's a tip that they don't tell you. The entrance to the Domus is in the interior courtyard of a government building (Palazzo Valentini). The entrance into the courtyard is around on the north side, on Via IV Novembre, on the opposite side of the building from Trajan's (huge) column. You might have to show the guard your printed reservation sheet.

I can't remember how early they tell you to arrive for your reservation, but the groups are so small that there's no reason to arrive any earlier. You won't get any better view of anything by being first in line and there aren't really any places to sit while you wait to get in. Instead, you move from room to room as an amoeba-like clump, standing almost the entire time until near the end, when you sit down to watch a short film on Trajan's Column. (If you've ever wondered just how the heck anyone was supposed to read all the carvings on that column, this film answers that question.)

Got 'em! Thanks again for the advice.

Michael - thank you for those detailed directions; it'll be very helpful for my visit next month. One question though - I made a phone reservation for this tour (as well as the Gallerie Borghese) as my two choices for sites covered on the Roma Pass. Since I didn't purchase the Roma Pass online, I was only given a confirmation number to use at the sites. Do you think this may pose a problem if I don't have a printed confirmation to show the guard when I arrive?

As long as you have a confirmation number you'll be fine. They just use it to look up your reservation.

Donna

I agree. You'll be fine. They just don't want people wandering into that courtyard without a reason.

Great to hear...thanks very much!