I'm going to be in Rome for one day. It happens to be a Sunday. My friend and I are staying near the termini and we plan to walk. She has never been and I would like to show her St. Peters, colosseum, Pantheon, Roman forum, and the Spanish Steps. Is that reasonable? If not, what should we cut out and in what order would be best.
Thanks
Posted by
Northborough, MA
636 posts
I'm sure that others with more experience with Rome will chime in, but my gut reaction is this: Visit the Colosseum and the Forum in the morning, the Vatican in the afternoon (or, switch these around, doing the Vatican in the morning), and save the Pantheon and Spanish Steps for the evening.
It will be a very long day, but I think that it's doable.
Just my 2 (relatively inexperienced) cents ...
Posted by
In the Mountains, USA
689 posts
Sandy,
We did all that in a day (well, two half days, 1st PM 2nd am). It is a whirl. But walking it all is doable. Take a good map and enjoy the neighborhoods as you walk. Make your path through Pizza Navona between the Spanish Steps and the Forum. (The pantheon is only a couple blocks from the piazza)
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Sandy - are you coming the last Sunday in any month? The Vatican Museum is open and crowded that Sunday!
OK, it's a lot to see and I imagine you won't be spending much time anywhere... I would ride the metro from Termini to the Colosseum (B Line) and start my walk from there. To "enter" the Forum you will have to pay now.
OK - I guess I would go Colosseum to Forum (Via dei Fiori Imperiale closed to traffic on Sundays!) up the hill to Campodoglio, then down the Michelangelo stairs and go left to Theater Marcellus... Cut through the alley in front of the theatre to Jewish Ghetto, hang a right on Via Arenula and over to Largo Argentina (Caesar slain here), follow Via della Rotunda (left of bookstore) to Pantheon, then to Piazza Navona and over the bridge to Castel Sant' Angelo and walk down Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter's ... And similar to Leslie's comments, I would do Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps later in the evening. Great sunsets from the top of the Spanish Steps - Trevi is just beautiful at night... or you could do the Hop On, Hop off bus and see all of this without walking!
I actually did a similar "walk" for some friends but we shortcut it by hopping on and off city busses!
Note that on Sunday the ATAC system (bus/metro/etc.) are on Festival scheule and run more limited schedules! Wear comfortable shoes!