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Advice for First Trip to Rome
My wife and mother-in-law are traveling to Rome for the first time next month and are looking for advice about touring and eating. Three days (including their arrival day) in Rome and then off to a cruise. So, we have a few questions:
Please note that my mother-in-law has trouble walking, so itineraries that require her to walk great amounts or go up and down (especially down) lots of stairs are not good for her. So, my wife may set out on her own at times... Thanks in advance for your advice! |
I'm sure you know all the must see sights in Rome so I won't get into those. However, I was there in July and we took a taxi to see the Catacombs outside the city and they were fantastic. It's a bit out of the way, but well worth the trip IMO. I think it was a 15 euro taxi ride from the Trevi Fountain. But the tour was great and it was amazing to see.
As far as restaraunts go we didn't really know where to go aside from two reccomendations from family members. Pizza Re was a great little pizza place in Piazza Navono. Apparently there's a few more throughout the city but that was the only one we found. Great pizza at a reasonable price. It was under 20 euro for the two of us and we both had pizza and drinks. Another reccomendation would be Alfredos but it was very pricey. Great pasta, steaks, and all that. It's where the fettucine alfredo was invented so it had to be good. Make sure to eat lots of gelato when you're going around the city as it's amazing. Enjoy your time in Rome! |
I recommend this:
http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Rom...11-3523ROMOPEN Explore Rome at your own pace on an extensive hop on hop off itinerary through the heart of Rome. The buses are open top which allows you to enjoy full 360 degree panoramic views as you travel along your route. The buses are equipped with a personalized throwaway audio system which functions in 6 different languages, providing recorded commentary throughout the tour. There is also an English and Italian speaking host onboard each bus to assist with any queries. You will be provided with a set of earphones which you keep and use for the duration of your ticket. You have the choice of a 24 or 48 hours ticket with which to make use of the 9 stops in the most beautiful, cultural and evocative areas of the Eternal city. The tour operates 365 days per year. The double decker green bus departs Termini Station every 15 to 20 minutes giving you plenty of opportunities to explore each stop in detail. If you were to stay on the bus for the entire loop, it would take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Departure Dates: Daily Departure Point: You may board the bus at any of the 9 stops throughout the city. Departure Time: First tour departs from Termini Station at 9:00am. The last tour departs from Termini Station at 7:15pm. Tours depart every 15 to 20 minutes, subject to traffic conditions. Return details: You may disembark the bus at any of the 9 stops throughout the city ...we arrived to Piazza Navona, which is a beautiful place, shape like a boat, situated in the old Rome. You can not go to Rome without going there. And once you're there, you're only a few yards away from Pizzeria Da Baffetto. We were quite excited to go there, we were in Rome and we were going to the best Pizzeria in Rome. After a short walk through the narrow streets, we arrive in front of a small pizzeria, looking quite poor really. If it was not for the 20 people queuing in front of the door in winter, I would never have believed that was it… But yes, it was. This small place just bigger than my local kebab shop, was it! The place where you eat the best Pizza in Rome.... We also had good food in the Jewish quarter.... Rome's "Carciofi alla Giudia", which means Jewish-style Artichokes, very good! |
Originally Posted by Nick90274
(Post 8413338)
I'm sure you know all the must see sights in Rome so I won't get into those. However, I was there in July and we took a taxi to see the Catacombs outside the city and they were fantastic. It's a bit out of the way, but well worth the trip IMO. I think it was a 15 euro taxi ride from the Trevi Fountain.
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There are a lot of catacombs it seems. Which ones did you go to, or which ones would you recommend?
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A Private tour of Rome--2 half days--was one of the best investments we made the first time we went. Call your hotel for reccomendations. We used Peter Kilby ( google him) an Australian expatriate with opinions about everything. We enjoyed him but I am not sure everyone would. A private tour is more valuable becasue you get to tell the guide what is important to you ( Musems,? Restaurants? Shops? ) and how much walking is good for you. You get an overview and know what you want to see later. He/She can also give you information about public transportation.
We loved our Acess Rome and Eyewitness Rome Guidebooks ( an Italian once borrowed Acess from us because it had information he did not have). We are partial to staying near the Pantheon--it is a great walking area. Rome is one of my favorite cities --enjoy! |
I almost forgot. One Amazing tour was of the catacombs beneath St. Peters including the presumed grave of the saint. You have to arrange with the Catholic chuch in advance to do this. I is a walking kind of thing but absolutely unique.
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http://slowtalk.com/groupee/
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2 These two websites are "musts" for travellers to Italy. |
Originally Posted by gungadin
(Post 8501179)
the presumed grave of the saint.
"The identity of the bones have been verified with DNA testing." While you're there, checkout these souvenirs. LINK>> |
One bit of advice-if they do go to the Vatican, they will be on their feet for a long time waiting in lineups, and the elevator to the Cupola at the Basilica only goes up about half way-it's another 320 steps up to the top!
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In retrospect, a guide would have been helpful for a lot of these sites. Rome had the most poorly-marked sights that I can remember. For example, the main marking @ the Vatican was a hand drawn paper sign that said SISTINE CHAPEL and an arrow pointing to the left. This is superior to the Palatine Hill which had no signage at all and no map provided upon entering. It was clear that we were walking on, and looking at, significant sites there; but we certainly didnt have any idea what they were.
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There are MP3 player guides you can rent, I think ours was called "Giorgio", and it comes with decent maps, and verbal directions for all of the main attractions of Rome. Some of the narratives were a little weak but for 8 euro for 2 fulls days, and both of us could use it, it was certainly worth it!
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We used Access Italy for private tour guides in Venice, Rome and Florence. It was expensive but very well worth it!! You can have them make advance reservations at the Vatican as well as other sites. We went to the Trevi fountain and he drove down a little side street (wouldn't know it was there) and we were just steps away. I would use this company again and actually liked the guides so much that we'll call them for drinks when we go back. Linda^
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Also a lot of self promoting of travel services. |
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