Our June trip will be my first time in Italy. On our first morning, we have roughly three or four hours in Rome before we catch a train to Florence. We're staying near the main train station. Any recommendations for what to see (or places to eat) on our brief stop? There is no need to hit any of the must-see sights since we'll be returning to Rome for 6 days later on our trip. I'm thinking more or a "Wow, we're really here" type of expierence.
Posted by
USA
16 posts
Since time is limited I'd recommend just taking a stroll through the center of Rome - even just walking down Via del Corso from the train station to Piazza Venezia/Colosseum area will give you a great first taste of the city. From there you can explore Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, or Trevi Fountain if you have time. Stop for an espresso somewhere along the way too. It may not be deep sightseeing but it'll wet your appetite for your full Rome days later! Buon viaggio!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11723 posts
Not far from Termini are the following:
Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria ( has Bernini's Ecstasy Of St Teresa)
Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano ( Baths of Diocletian)
Close enough to get some easy walking in, before a train ride.
Posted by
Seattle area
46 posts
Passing along a suggestion I picked up here and was truly happy I followed. Santa Maria Maggiore is not far from the Termini station and gives you a taste of earlier eras in Christianity, with spectacular mosaics and floors. Layers of history there - for example, the marble in the floor mosaics is from Roman ruins and the perfect circles are slices of Roman columns. One of the pleasures of Rome is seeing layer upon layer of visible history.
Posted by
465 posts
Less than 5 minutes from S. Maria Maggiore is Santa Prassede. Early Christian masterpiece, fantastic mosaics.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA (USA)
553 posts
I'd get a subway ticket, get off at Spagna station and wander around the Spanish Steps, grab a bite and jump back on the subway to the train station to catch your Florence-train.
Another idea is get a taxi, go to Pizza Novona/Pantheon, wander and enjoy the open air, get a espresso at Sant'Estachio, grab some something to eat at one of the Roscioli's, then taxi back to the train station
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
468 posts
What you have to work with is very similar to the brief Rome visit we had--mind you, way back in 2005, so not the crowds of today. It was a June trip as well. We just had a morning in Rome before taking the train to Arezzo for a wedding. We went out first thing in the morning for a coffee and pastry, then the Spanish Steps (no one there), then the Trevi Fountain (maybe 20 people there), then Trajan's Column square area, Piazza Venezia Square ("wedding cake building"), then the Pantheon (back then we just walked in), got some gelato, then off to the train station.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1034 posts
What is the plan for your luggage? For that short of a time, and since you'll be returning, I like joe32F's suggestion - close to Termini, yet interesting sights. For food you could visit Mercato Centrale, which is the upscale food court within the station. Allow adequate time, as it's a long walk from the food court to the entry to the platforms.
Posted by
Washington DC
27614 posts
I love Santa Prassede. For the best view of the mosaics, you'll need to feed coins into the light meters. I think they take 1-euro coins, though machines in some churches also take 2-euro coins and maybe also 50-cent coins.
It will take time to store and retrieve luggage, so don't cut things too close.