This is our second trip to Italy. We will be traveling as a family again and also bringing my daughter’s friend whom has never been to Rome. Five years ago we thoroughly enjoyed two 3 hour tours with Francesca of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel on one day and the Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill on the other day. We definitely want to repeat the three hour tour to the Vatican/ Sistine Chapel. My quandary is that we would like to see Orvieto for a day too. However, we don’t want my daugher’s friend to miss out seeing the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, etc. We realize there is so much we haven’t seen in Rome so are we making a mistake trying to see Orvieto with such a short stay in Rome? We would appreciate any advice on our two day stay! Thank you!
Posted by
99 posts
Certainly easy to go by the Tevi fountain.... takes only minutes. The Pantheon is one of my favorite sites and also takes a short amount of time. I am not sure if they've started charging the nominal admission amount for the Pantheon. I can not imagine visiting Rome for the first time and not seeing the Colosseum. I love the Vatican but I would at least walk to the Colosseum and by the Forum, arch and ancient Roman road. Orvieto is an easy trip from Rome and I've returned several times because I think it is a beautiful town. Have a good trip!
Posted by
Chicago
8231 posts
Split up the group for one day in a way that allows your daughters friend to see those sites. It is possible that not everyone is interested or would enjoy the same things. For example I am in Paris now and my sister recommended my 20 year old niece to go to the Louvre but after my niece researched what was there and read about the crowds she decided she wasn't interested and went to the Orangerie
Posted by
8460 posts
There is a lot more to see in Rome than the Vatican and Colosieum/Forum. We have been to Rome twice for a total of 12 days and still not seen everything. I suggest skipping Orvieto and stay in Rome. The list is long, but here are a few more things to see:
Trajan's Forum
Hardian's Mausoleum (Castel St. Angelo)
you mentioned Trevi Fountain and Pantheon
Catacombs
Did you go up to the roof of St. Peter's
Capitoiine Museum
Spanish Steps
Basilica St. Maria
Borghese Gallery and some other great museums
Piazza Novona
Palantine Hill
Posted by
Chicago
2124 posts
The absolute least amount of time you take can to go to Orvieto and back from Termini station is probably 7-8 hours, which would allow you to travel the 90 min by train to Orvieto station, take the funicular up to the town, see the cathedral, walk around, have lunch (food is awesome in Orvieto), then retrace your steps back to Rome.
It's a wonderful place, but with only 2 days, no way. If you can find a way to snag one more day, do it!
Posted by
Atlanta
5280 posts
"...are we making a mistake..."? I think so. We love Orvieto and it's a great place for a day trip. But it is not, in my opinion, worth giving up a full day in Rome --especially for your daughter's friend who has never been there. One (as you know) can only scratch the surface of Rome in your limited amount of time even going non stop all day long.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1003 posts
Have you talked to your daughter’s friend to see what she might be interested in seeing in Rome? Are you going to try and Hire Francesca as your guide again? She is so amazing! I had the pleasure of visiting the Borghese Gallery with her and so appreciated her expertise in art history.