Rome 6 nights

Skip Palantine Hill and Circus Maximus. The palatine Hill museum was closed for renovation last Summer. Also, due to construction work - I was unable to view circus Maximus from Palatine Hill. Do the Roman forum first. Go to side entrance on Fiori Imperiali and get a combo. ticket. Plan on one hour and some bottled water for forum. Then, take a quick look at Arch of Constantine. Go to Colosseum last after 3 pm with your combo.ticket and you will avoid the long lines. Other ideas: see Santa Prassede in morning before it closes, then see Santa Maria Maggiore. Or, St. John Lateran with obelisk/Baptistry/ and the holy stairs. Be sure to see Pantheon when visiting Piazza Navona.

Old churches: Santa Prassede, San Clemente, Santo Stefano Rotondo, and in the northern area (express bus) Santa Costanza and the nearby catacombs of Priscilla.

I think you have a great plan and actually will have time to see more things. But check out Wednesday at the Vatican. That is most likely the worst day to go as that is the day the Pope has his papal audience so the place is packed! Make sure you can go to the Vatican that day. The Vatican is very, very crowded on a good day and that day will be even more crowded. And the Vatican can take anywhere ( seeing Vatican Museum, St Peters and Sistine Chapel) from a half morning to a full day, as the Vatican museum is very big and you can spend a couple of hours there at the least if your interested at the museum portion of the Vatican. Have done it and it is amazing. Make sure you make reservations for the Borghese Galley as you are not all allowed in without the reservation and your allowed 2hours only but that is enough time to see the museum. Piazza Novona, Spanish Steps are places you will see and stay a bit but still have time in the day. Trevi Fountain is under construction. Get the Rick Steves Rome guide book and it will be a weath of information. ( I have been on the RS Rome tour twice and went to Rome on the Best of Europe tour and Rome twice for a day so I have been to Rome enough to know the city a bit). Do go to the Pantheon and walk around that area. Also go to the churches ( that is where the great art is) that are listed in the RS Rome book. There are six churches right in walking distance of the Piazza della repubbila and very worth while to see! Read the Rick Steves week long tour on this web site to give you ideas as to how to plan your day. If you have more questions, pm me and I will give you more ideas and suggestions and places to eat. Have a great time! I hope to go back to Rome ( I have more to see). There is a museum near your hotel too, to see.

You can visit Ostia Antica for half a day.

Miguel, I especially enjoyed Orvieto, which is a 70 minute train ride from Termini. With such a limited time in Italy, I think it would be great to diversify your experience in Rome with a day in a small town with a slower pace. The Duomo in Orvieto is spectacular, especially the beautiful facade in the late afternoon before sunset, and the Signorelli Chapel. There are various other sites, some very interesting shops and excellent restaurants, and it's great just to wander the streets, including in the evening. My suggestion would be to go and stay through dinner, then return to Rome. I have a book entitled "The Pilgrim's Guide to Rome's Principal Churches" that I bought recently, and provides lots of information about many churches, both well-known and little-known. I don't know if you could get ahold of it in the 10 days before you travel, but you might try. Enjoy!

I disagree with the advice to skip the Palatine Hill. Circus Maximus is one of those "where something used to be" places that is uninspiring just to look at, but the Palatine Hill, brought to life by a good guide or guide book, is spectacular. It is one of the most historic sections of the city. In fact the whole Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseo area benefits from a good guide. A three-hour private tour could be the highlight of your Rome stay. Try Francesca Caruso ([email protected]) or Sonia Tavoletta ([email protected]) if you have a little budget to spare. I;ve gone three times and would go again as it is very confusing on your own. You can "see" the Colosseo, but a guide will make it come alive.

Agree that Weds is the least optimal day to go to the Vatican. If you want a great tour, try Walks of Italy and their Pristine Sistine tour.

Near Piazza della Repubblica, L'Asino d'Oro is a short walk (15 minutes?) away. It's unique and very good. Reservations a must. On the same street a more classically Italian place is Ristorante Crisciotti Al Boschetto. We took very weary visitors there last summer and everyone was pleased. We also find Pizzeria Est Est Est to our liking on occasion in that area. Do try to get to other areas of Rome to eat some nights, though.

Good advice above on Santa Prassede, Santa Maria Maggiore. So many beautiful churches!

Miguel,

It's good to hear that you have finalized your trip.

My mom & I were in Rome in 2001 & after walking all day, we got on a bus looking for some gardens, I forgot the name,
but we were so tired, that when the bus driver announced our stop,
we decided to stay on the bus & got off where most of the people (non-tourists) got off & we found a great bakery & gelateria.
We took our time eating our gelato & pastry then took the next bus back into the city center.

Enjoy your days in Rome!

Orvieto is a great idea. The oldest church in the city, San Giovenale, has reopened after being closed for sevral years for restoration - it's on the other side of the town from the Duomo. If you go to the top floor of the museum across the piazza from the Duomo, you will get great views of the mosaics on the facade.

In Rome, you might enjoy a couple of hours at the Aventine Hill, the Church of Santa Sabina has original metal grillwork on the windows, and wooden doors that wew carved about 1600 years ago, with inset reliefs of biblical scenes. There is a nice public garden next door to it with more great views. Further up the street are several more churches and the Knights of Malta "keyhole" (look for the only line of people on the Hill, or just ask).

Another thing to do in Rome is take the elevator to the roof of the Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele for views of Rome (photo murals are labeled so you know what you are seeing). There's a nice cafe there, too.

Thanks everyone (so far!). Orvieto does sound like a great side trip - we were reading about it last night in RS' guidebook. And we will look into the various tours before buying tickets for the Vatican Museum.