My husband and I are planning a15-day trip to Rome/Amalfi Coast/Naples in August. Yes, I realize it will be very hot, but we are from Texas where the temperature is 106 today. Furthermore, this is the only time available due to our vacation time and availability of Marriott Reward points at booking. We are approximately 60 years of age and in good mobile health. I have read the daily postings in recent months and finally ready to ask for opinions for the Rome leg of our trip. We are arriving early on a Thursday morning and staying at the Marriot Grand Flora. We made reservations for the Gallery Borghese Tour at 15:00. As time permits, we plan to get acquainted with the city prior to tour (perhaps Catacombs of Priscilla) and do an early stroll per RS 2012 book. Friday: Concerned about a difficult day Hope to arrive at St. Peter's early for a RS audio tour ahead of any tour groups (Worried that this will not be enough time prior to our following reservation) Reservation for Scavi Tour at 9:00, then plan to go up to dome Break for lunch Reservations for Vatican Museum at 13:30 Relax Night...more strolling Saturday: Plan to do Caesar Shuffle with reservations for Underground Colosseo at 12:40 Relax More strolling...maybe RS Heart of Rome Sunday: This is where I am having the most trouble Do we just enjoy Rome going to places that we have not seen such as some of the churches on our list or do we escape Rome for a day to see such places as Tivoli or Ostia Antica? (We will go to Pompeii on the third leg of our trip) More strolling Monday: Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto and some churches/ Holy Stairs Tuesday: Mid-morning train reservations to Naples witharranged transportation to Amalfi Coast
We would appreciate any suggestions or opinions on our planned itinerary that can be altered. Karen
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Your first day looks too ambitious to me. With jet lag it's usually better to stay outside and not do indoor activities such as the catacombs and the Borghese. I would suggest switching these to another day when you'll have more energy. The basilica opens at 7 so if you get there right when it opens you should have enough time before the scavi tour to do the tour. I would play the morning by ear unless you know how you'll react to jet lag. You can always visit the basilica in the afternoon after your visit to the museums. This day seems very full. Sunday, I would plan for the things you haven't mentioned like the pantheon, piazza navona, trevi fountain and all the wonderful churches of Rome. I wouldn't do a day trip. If you really wish to visit Pompeii you can do it while you're in Naples. You might want to switch your first day with Sunday. This will get you outside more and help you adjust to the jet lag a lot easier than being in a dark, cool catacomb or a nice, quiet gallery would. Donna
Posted by
Oakhurst, CA, USA
101 posts
I agree with Donna. I would stick with Borghese for Thursday and play the rest of the day by ear. Enjoy getting familiar with the city and enjoying some gelato. You should definitely take Sunday easy, no day trip. You won't regret it. Do a bit of shopping down Via Del Corso, stroll past the Pantheon, have some more gelato by the Trevi, count the number of drinking fountains you pass and just enjoy the beauty of the city. The rest of your itinerary sounds good.
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
One comment about your Sunday plans: I wouldn't plan on focusing much on churches on Sunday; many will be closed all morning and into the early afternoon for Masses. You might have just a short window in the afternoon during which you can visit. I'd do ancient Roman sites or the Jewish ghetto on Sunday. You could also do Trastevere on Sunday, but you might miss the churches, and a couple of spectacularly beautiful. Another possibility would be Orvieto (my choice) or Tivoli. I probably wouldn't do Ostia Antica, if you are later visiting Pompeii. And time church visits carefully. While the main papal basillicas stay open all day, most churches close from noon through 3 or 4 pm (and then close again before evening Mass). So it's best to visit churches starting very early in the morning or late in the day.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
You're right next to the Borghese Gardens so I suggest planning a nice stroll through them on your first day. Lots of trees and shade. The Romans will be out in force, so that adds to the charm of the place. As for the heat, yes, it can be like Texas heat, but Texans are used to driving everywhere in air conditioned cars. (My parents live in a Dallas suburb.) On the other hand, in Rome you will be wandering around on foot during the heat of the day, possibly for hours and often surrounded by lots of cars. It's a very different situation. Consider using taxis to get around if the heat starts to get to you. The buses will likely be way too hot and cabs are pretty reasonable within Rome. You're not far from a Metro stop, so that's another option, although the Metro doesn't provide great access to the historic center. (They hit more ruins every time they dig, making it a difficult project to add more lines.) And plan to go back to your hotel for a nap during the hottest time of the day - say 3 to 5 pm. That will help. Happy travels.
Posted by
Farmingville, New York, USA
381 posts
I don't think the schedule is too rough but I would take Sunday to stay in Rome and take it in more. There are a few places I might have missed but don't see on your schedule that you may want to add to Sunday, they include the Forum, Trevi Fountain area (nice things to see in that area). I might disagree with some in that the Borghese might be okay for the first day. It isn't really that long and you can relax in the park after. Just make sure you have enough time to get there if you flight is a little delayed. You get a block of time to see the the Borghese. Of course you need reservations for it so you are probably locked in already as with the Scavi tour. The Scavi tour was great. I thought it was the highlight of the trip so don't miss it. If you don't have reservations yet you better make them. Difficult to get.