I’m doing the Southern Italy tour in September and have arranged a few days (flying into Rome) before the tour starts and also in Naples at the end of the trip. I’d love to hear what others have done! Thanks.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9844 posts
Hi Nancy, there’s always plenty to do in Rome. Your RS guidebook has great ideas, plus I stop briefly into any church in Rome I walk by because so many are gorgeous inside!
If you would like an additional city, stay some place like Hotel Mecenate Palace across from the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore which is very handy to take the direct 1-hour fast train from Roma Termini the next morning to Caserta. The royal palace at Caserta is very close to the train station, and there’s B&B’s & a few hotels there. It’s an amazing site - both the palace & the huge gardens.
https://reggiadicaserta.cultura.gov.it/en/
I’ve never been to Naples, so I can’t help at that end.
Posted by
Bend, OR
2078 posts
Before the tour started , we came in a couple of days early and took a cab from our hotel in the Trastevere area to the Borghese (reservations made ahead of time) and then spent the day walking and wandering back. After the tour we took the trains from Naples to Varenna for two full days in the Lake District and then two days in Milan where we saw the Last Supper (reservations made ahead of time) and took a tour of the top of the Duomo. It was a very relaxing and beautiful way to end our trip. Flew out of Milan.
To add, we also did an Eating Europe food tour which was fun and really good food in the Trastevere.
Posted by
Placerville, ca, us
197 posts
We did a lovely food tour in Trastevere and got tixs for the Borghese which was super. We did not end up staying longer in Naples but I lived there in the 80's so did not feel the need! Enjoy, it is a great tour.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1191 posts
I did a food tour of Testaccio which is a way less touristy area and is full of interesting food stores, a great market and restaurants. Did the tour offered by Eating Europe, book with them, not through Viator. Lasted 3.5 to 4 hours and visited some non-food sites like the Pyramide and Monte Testaccio.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, Ca
312 posts
We did the Sicily tour prior and arrived in Rome 3 days early, staying in the tour hotel.
It’s so easy to fill up those extra days in Rome. After the tour we took the train to Orvieto, the on to Assisi. It was an easy train trip, with one change in Rome. Rome was quite busy as we were there right after Easter.