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Rome adventures and misadventures

Posted by on

Use Rick Steves guides exclusively for my travels.

First, Rome now has monster crowds plus bumbling Italian security at the major sights. Waits can be hours.

I escaped on a Sunday PM to Villa Torlonia north of Termini but not that far from Metro stop. Calm, placid gardens, plus Villa and outlying buildings [including the Owl House] were a real treat. Gardens filled with suburban Romans, but the sights were delightfully uncrowded. No tour groups!

RIP OFF WARNING. The Ara Pacis museum has gone up to 10.5 E. Despite the tourbook's glowing recommendation, this was a 15 minute sight. The emperor's tomb which abuts the site on the east, is walled off with ugly metal fence and overgrown with weeds. Spend you time and money elsewhere!

Posted by
6528 posts

Thanks, epipac. We went to Ara Pacis when we were in Rome last year, and were underwhelmed.

Posted by
86 posts

I actually loved the Ara Pacis, because of its huge historical and cultural significance. While in uni I spent a significant amount of time writing multiple papers on it, so for me it was as amazing as seeing the pantheon, which I also hold in high regard. That being said, my friend waited outside and watched the filming of a movie because she didn't think it was a good value, so I can definitely see both sides here.

Posted by
5697 posts

We must have visited a different Rome than epipac7 did -- yes, lots of people everywhere but no waits in line more than 15 minutes and security, while evident, seemed efficient. OK, at St Peter's the pilgrimagers going through the Holy Door got priority (they had tickets!) But at the Colosseum we looked at the line, walked across the street and got a Forum/Colosseum ticket quickly, and enjoyed the Forum, coming back the next day at an earlier time for quick entry to the Colosseum through the ticket-holder lIne.

Only major annoyance in Rome was a pair of selfie-stick people staring into their cameras as they walked along the street (and almost into us) filming themselves walking towards the Colosseum (which meant the Colosseum was NOT in their videos.)

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