Hi All,
Thanks so much to all of you for answering my questions as I finalize our itinerary for Rome. We fly from Boston non-stop to Rome. We will start our trip with a few days in Assisi and then return to Rome for 6 full days (arrive back to Rome Sunday afternoon and leave early the following Sunday).
I am hoping you experts can have a look at what I’m thinking and lmk if it’s too much or not enough! I seem to have a lot of free afternoons. With the early tours, maybe a break in the afternoon will be welcome, but I don't want to have "not enough" I don't have good sense of how far between sites/events. We are staying on the Vatican side of the Tiber, and the closest taxi stand is a 6 min walk from our AirBnB (Piazza Pasquale Paoli). I know we will want the option of a lift on the days of early tours that are a big distance from our flat.
Here is what I have:
SUNDAY
Arrive from Assisi early/late afternoon. Settle into AirBnB on Vatican side of Tiber.
I’m thinking we will want to get out walking this evening to see Rome lit up!
DINNER IDEAS?
MONDAY
I booked the “Between the Holy Doors” tour through Treasures of Rome 9am -12:30 pm
Tour ends at 12:30 at St. John Lateran. I’m sure we will stay there longer.
After tour:
--15 minute walk to St. Clement Church to make a visit and see catacombs (timed ticket, not yet purchased.)
--Parco del Cielo is 6 min walk from St Clement. Depending on timing (timed tix for St. Clement) could explore this area before or after St. Clement
LUNCH places in this area?
Late afternoon/evening open…Any ideas? I'd love to look at leather pocketbooks!
TUESDAY
8am—noon Booked small group tour of Colosseum, Forum, Palentine Hill w/ Liv Tours (hubby is civil engineer and can’t wait!)
Arrive by 7:45 at Colosseum Metro Station. We will take taxi since 1 hour ‘s walk away.
After the tour, we can check out Circo Massimo if not on tour (15 minute walk from Palentine Hill). Also, Teatro di Massimo (theater built by Cesar) is 8 minute walk from Circo Massimo. Explore this area.
Lunch in some piazza to people watch?
Afternoon is wide open
WEDNESDAY
Head out by 7am for our own DIY walking tour
--walk to Spanish Steps (30 min walk)
---10 min walk to (empty for cleaning) Trevi Fountain
---10 min walk to Pantheon. (Tix not booked yet. Looks like plenty left rn. Some have posted better to just walk up to counter and do “cash line” and get in that way)
--After Pantheon, 3 min walk to Basilica de Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
---7 min walk to Piazza Novona
---From there it’s a 15 min stroll back to our flat.
Need to be home by noon to prep to meet Nick at Pontifical College (5 min walk from our flat)
Lunch/Tour w/ Nick at Pontifical College (12:45—2:30)
Afternoon free--- NICE DINNER TONIGHT? Ideas?
THURSDAY
Go to St. Peter’s Basilica for 7 am opening (arrive 6:30. 15 min walk from flat)
Do dome climb first, hen explore church, crypt. Adoration , mass, confession
Guessing 7—10 am ??
Grab lunch /other things to do in that area?
Afternoon: St. Paul Outside the Walls by 2:50 for 3pm tour by Seminarians. (1 hour tour). Per Julia, great gift shop (pocket rosaries).
Take taxi since over 1 hour walk
After tour---what to do out that way???
FRIDAY
Do 10:30 tour Priscilla Catacombs
--Walk to Borghese Gallery for tour 1-3 (not booked yet…tix still avail for various time slots. This time would work w timing at Catacomb
--Enjoy park outside gallery.
Things in this area? Walk home /dinner on way home?
SATURDAY
9:30—1:30 bike tour of Appian Way E-bike tour w/ TopBike Rental & Tours, Via Labicana, 49, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Not booked yet. Tour won’t run if under 4 people.. If that is the case, we could rent bikes from there and do it on our own.
Vigil mass at St Peter’s
Please have a look and lmk what you think. Any suggestions/comments welcome!
Thanks,
Joanne