On my bucket list is riding the around the Colosseum on a Vespa with my lady's arms around my waist. I rode motorcycles in my youth, so i am pretty confident it will be like riding a bike, so not too worried about the mechanics of it. Any brave souls out there that have done this? Are they easy to rent, easy to park when you find a spot to want to stop at? Any advice on the ins and outs of doing this would be greatly appreciated. Graze...
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Unless you've driven a vespa in Rome for a few years it's a very bad idea. Drive one out in the country but don't attempt to do it in Rome. You should to on Youtube to see traffic videos of Rome. The rules are not the same as they are anywhere else and I think you'll change your mind when you see how crazy it really is.
Donna
Posted by
Los Angeles
1825 posts
It'll probably be the last thing you do on that list.
Posted by
Green Bay
21414 posts
Did this about 15 years ago and we had a blast. Somehow, we all survived. Times may have changed, but they were available to rent for the day. With the bike came a heavy locking chain and we were told "don't even think about walking away from this without locking it up." After we got our sealegs, we were weaving in and out of traffic like pros. Parked at a cafe across from the Colosseum and ate our mandatory Pizza Margherita.
Risky? Yeh. In retrospect maybe it wasn't the smartest thing we ever did, but we lived to tell about it.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34357 posts
I suggest you read what the renowned and much missed Ron in Rome had to say on the topic - and play his embedded videos....
http://www.roninrome.com/%20transportation/riding-a-scooter-in-rome
Remember it isn't Hollywood...
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16779 posts
As Ron says, it ain't Roman Holiday. Not by a long shot. Personally, I wouldn't risk spending the rest of an Italian vacation in the ICU or the morgue!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
If you have experience on two wheels, it would be fun. However some streets in the historical center are not accessible to scooters either (at least not legally).
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
CRAZY NUTS!!!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
Our friends used Vespa Tours Roma last year and loved it. Experience on two-wheels required, OR they will take you as passengers, which is what our friends did.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Just don't stop traffic for a selfie!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16779 posts
Laughing at Zoe!
Yep, it's the center that isn't a great place for a maiden voyage on Vespa. Outer edges would probably be less insane and without so many pedestrianized areas.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I understood the main Colosseum route to be closed to most private vehicles, unless they've changed it back again. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10221445/Colosseum-road-closure-plan-divides-Rome.html