visit to piazza & fountain on the 25th Dec

Info on the "100 Crèches Exhibition":
Hours and tickets:
http://www.presepi.it/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=200&Itemid=123&lang=it
"The exhibition is open continuously from 9:30 to 20:00, from 26 November 2015 to 10 January in 2016.
Entrance fee:
Full € 8.00
Over 65 € 6.50
Metrebus Card Annual excluding weekends and holidays € 6.50
Children (4-10 years) € 5.50
Groups (minimum 25 people) reservation required € 6.50
Schools (minimum 25 students) with reservations required € 5.50"

Location (Sale del Bramante/ Santa Maria del Popolo):
http://www.presepi.it/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=201&Itemid=709&lang=en

History:
http://www.presepi.it/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=197&Itemid=102&lang=en

Unless you plan to get to the trevi fountain at 7am or so it really won't matter when you visit it. It will be packed with people trying to throw their coin in and getting pictures. Visit it when it best fits into your schedule. The four rivers fountain won't have the huge crowd that the Trevi will so just visit it when it fits best into your schedule.

Donna

The Four Rivers fountain is in Piazza Navona.

One thing you might consider, especially to save your mom some walking, is to hire a cab for 45-60 minutes to see the fountains and piazze lighted at night. I did this for a friend a couple of years ago, it was great. Agree on price and where you want to go before you start. Our "tour" (really just a taxi ride with stops for photos) was 50 euro for two.

Hi Kathy,
great info! thanks heaps for that. i thought it's an open air exhibition though

Hi Donna,
thanks for clarifying that Dear

Hi Zoe
great idea! especially w/ the uncertainty of public transport schedule on the 25th. there'd be 3 of us, perhaps we could get it for EUR60? How many places did you end up and for how long was the ride approximately? EDIT : sorry didn't read carefully, it's 45-60mnts ride which is quite plenty of time for the ride.

We started at the Colosseum and went to Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Piazza San Pietro, Piazza Barberini (no stopping here due to traffic), piazza del Pipolo, Piazza Della Repubblica, and a few other places the driver thought we should see; we skipped Piazza di Spagna and Fontana di Trevi because both were closed for restoration at the time.

Taxis can get closer to the monuments than any other type of transportation, and my friend had some mobility issues. Our driver did not speak English, but you will be able to find someone who can. Be sure to agree on the rate and what you want to see. There are tours of Roma by night but they are about 40-50€ per person and can't get as close.

someone mentioned a cab tour, which could be great. We did a golf cart tour when we were last in Rome and it was awesome. All the drivers do speak English and have lived in Rome for a long time. Those golf carts can get you everywhere. We used http://www.mybesttour.com/index.htm. We got in touch by email and it was a trip highlight! They are reviewed on tripadvisor and, when I looked to get the website for you, they were chosen as a "Certificate of Excellence winner" for 2015 by TripAdvisor.

Hi Zoe,
In regards to undergoing construction, i also just find out that piazza de spagna's trinita Dei Monti facade is totally covered. Also piazza de popollo's obelisk base is currently covered too which makes me think to skip these 2. Piazza de spagna without trinita Dei Monti seems like normal stairs anywhere else imo.

Hi Kate,
Ahh the golf cart, that's what it's called. I remembered my friend posting a very handsome driver of the golf cart. Lolz.

I don't find anything currently about the Trevi is under construction. The last review was on 2014. Does it finish getting renovated? Just want to make sure before getting myself disappointed getting there.

Now i plan to start at Trevi and quirinal area first then to st ignatius loyola church if it's open as it's said on its website holidays still open but i'm going to double check on that. Then to piazza Venezia, travestere area and jewish ghetto for dining. Finish at piazza venezia's Befana Christmas market. Is this a good idea? Any other input is appreciated.

Btw what's on Tiber Island? And for the travestere area, is there any other area worth sightseeing aside from st maria travestere piazza?

Jen, I heard yesterday that the restoration of Chiesa di Trinità dei Monti is complete. Haven;t been by myself yet, but my source is reliable. :-)

Piazza del Popolo is still worth a visit: 3 famous churches and that is also where you will find the 100 Presepi exhibit.

Trevi was completed a few weeks ago. Join the crowds! (HINT: We go there a 7:30 AM and it is devoid of people. Last time we went there were 5 of us and 2 carabinieri.)

The Befana Christmas Market was (in years past) in Piazza Navona. Last year it was non-existent and it seems the city has shut it down again this year for security reasons, as I understnd it.

Not much on Tiber Island, just a hospital, but it's cool to walk around. As to Trastevere, I think the value there is wandering, shopping, maybe having lunch or dinner there one day. It's quite different from the Centro Storico.

Hi Laurel,
Trinita del montei just finished renovated yesterday..blessed me! :D. Thanks heaps for the info Darl.
Then back on again to piazza del popolo n spagna. Hmm before i was thinking to go to Trevi at 8am to avoid the crowd too. But now i have to put piazza del popolo n spagna first thing to visit as i stay around termini and after 2pm no bus or train would serve that area on the 25th dec (but perhaps I'm wrong about this)

Centro storico..i forgot about it. Is it more to see than travestere?

I am not aware of buses not running in the afternoon and evening. They are just on holiday schedule.

Centro Storico is the name of the historic section of Roma covering basically from the San Giovanni in Laterano to the Vatican. In fact some would say Trastevere is really a part of the C.S.

Hi Laurel,

I thought they're only on holidays schedule too but I find some travellers reviews that the Metro closes after 2pm and no buses found around 2-4pm. I'm not sure whether this is due to the schedule or it's because they're short-staffed during Christmas day. I still couldn't find any trusted info aside from other travellers review. I check from gmaps and put 2-4pm window time and the only suggestion is on foot. Not sure if gmaps schedule is trusted or not but so far that's my only source as I'm confused with the bus' ATAC website.

thanks for clarifying Centro Storico. before that, i thought it's only a small area such as the Jewish Ghetto :D

btw you're right about Piazza Navona. it might still open but not decided yet due to the local government battling w/ the local stalls and food trucks. even if the market proceeds, it might not be as festive as previous years. Last year was 'thanks' to the Mayor and now it's the commissioner. i think one RS member commented on my post that the Mayor has resigned (also half of the local gvt) . got my source from this website http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-cracks-down-on-piazza-navona-christmas-stalls/

The situation with the Roma city government is very strained right now due to the arrest and trial of more than 50 city officials. The mayor resigned for entirely different reasons. As to the market, last year It was kind of creepy. The involvement of organized crime and the valid concerns about security may kill it. We shall see. It's really more of a carnival atmosphere, not a class Christmas market like I understand they have in the northern countries. If it doesn't run, Piazza Navona is much more enjoyable.

Hi Laurel,
should i better visit the Fiumi fountain during the day then with the current situation?

If it doesn't run, Piazza Navona is much more enjoyable.

I would agree, Laurel. That piazza would be more picturesque without a bunch of tents cluttering up the ambiance.

And I wouldn't lose any time on the Spanish Steps; they are, IMHO, the most overrated 'attraction' in Rome, and there are better things to do. Trinità dei Monti is not nearly as interesting a church as, say, S. Maria del Popolo, either.

The Four Rivers fountain is lovely anytime, but best when there are not hordes around. At least it isn;t as crowded as the Trevi!

Kathy, It always cracks me up when I see "The Spanish Steps" on an itinerary like it will take an hour to see. It's a walk-by for sure, and if the crowds of young people part, sometimes you get to see the Barcaccia.

Jen - I hope you can relax and enjoy just strolling and not worry about ticking things off your list or seeing them at the exact "right" moment of the day. I traveled to Roma for 2 full weeks over two trips before moving here and after 3 1/2 years of living in Roma, there are still things on my list that I have not seen, but oh-so-many things discovered and experienced that I did not know about at first, that we stumbled upon. You have to schedule the big stuff: Vatican, Colosseo, et.al., Borghese, but let the little sights become walk-bys. Pop into a church you have never heard of, or take in a visiting art exhibit. Give yourself permission to skip something if you are tired, to stop and sit for awhile, or even go back to your room for a nap. It makes for a more robust travel experience if you can go with the flow.

Happy Travels!

From ATAC's website, it does look like the transportation plan for Dec 25th is Metro 08:00-13:00 only, buses from 08:30-`13:00 and 16:30-21:00. Cabs are cheap, so if you need a lift outside of those hours, it's not a bank-breaker. Hopefully, you will have a working cell phone and can call a taxi as there may not be many at the stands. There are, however, usually plenty of cabs near Piazza del Popolo. It's not a long walk from PdP to Piazza Navona.

It cracks me up too, Laurel! :O)

Thanks a bunch for posting the public transit schedules. I'd run across info for limited holiday schedules but I wasn't completely sure of my sources so had asked for the "RS crack Rome team" to confirm if possible. I'd had noted what I'd found (with confirmation request) on another of Jen's threads as:

"...metro running only from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM, and buses from 8:00 AM to 1 PM and 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM."

What you picked up from ATAC is nearly the same with the exception of 8:30 versus 8:00 buses. Whew!

Hi Ladies,

really appreciate all your inputs. thanks for confirming the public transport schedule. i check from gmaps and even the earliest train from Republicca to Barberini is at 8.20am so really expect public transport scarcity on that day. i wouldn't have any mobile connectivity as well so I really need to pay attention on the public transport schedules otherwise we might end up walking the whole city (and i could imagine my mum and hubby rolling their eyes already :D)

i proceed w/ my initial plan, still visiting Piazza Navona Christmas Market. I've never been there but agreed it wouldn't be enjoyable if there're too many stalls especially if the pathway is disrupted. just hope that all the 70 stalls licenses are sold out and the previous stall owners not making any commotion out of it.

Laurel, when you mention about security issue in Piazza Navona, i thought it's about the current attack not realizing that Rome itself currently facing its own security issue too. i found this Barcaccia article http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_febbraio_19/barcaccia-come-discarica-restauro-costato-200-mila-euro-32a202d6-b84f-11e4-8ec8-87480054a31d.shtml?refresh_ce-cp
what a shame, some irresponsible people treating national and cultural inheritage like garbage. i think i visit the spanish steps after trevi so as to avoid the hordes and hopefully there won't be any rubbish left from the Christmas Eve too.

btw any info in regards to Chiesa Sant' Ignazio de Loyola opening hour. On its website mentioned it still opens during Holidays but I think it's too good to be true as it's a minor church.

Sant'Ignazio is not really a minor church and it is incredibly beautiful.

The Barcaccia has long been repaired.

The security issues are A) concern after Paris attacks and B) the Jubilee hordes. There's always rubbish. ;-)

i proceed w/ my initial plan, still visiting Piazza Navona Christmas
Market. I've never been there but agreed it wouldn't be enjoyable if
there're too many stalls especially if the pathway is disrupted.

Jen what Laurel and I were saying earlier is that this piazza will be more enjoyable if there is no market AT ALL. Its beauty is to be able to see from one end to the other - the original shape when it was a Roman circus - with as few obstructions as possible. As she mentioned earlier, the previous market was not exactly a class act.

Whether a church is a 'major' or 'minor' can have little to do with opening hours. They are whenever the individual church decides their hours will be, and may shift abruptly to accommodate private services.

Yes, there are definitely security concerns in Rome but they have nothing at all to do with trash. That's why there have been multiple mentions in various of your threads to make allowances for things which may not go according to plan: unusually stringent security checks; changes in bag allowances; sudden closure/evacuation of an attraction or crowded space; etc. That's unlikely to happen but I would imagine that the authorities will be taking no chances should something concern them.

Sant'Ignazio is not a Papal Basilica or a pilgrimage church, but it is the home church of the Jesuits in Roma. It's quite beautiful.