What to do in Rome?

[ILoveMondeo]

Just about to book 3-4 days away for me, the GF and 13 year old son in Rome.

He's dead into history and the Colosseum will be top of the list to visit.

After that I'm a bit stuck... He's a miniature Richard Dawkins so probably wont have much interest in pope spotting/vatican...

What's worth doing?

Also, where's worth eating? The GF and the boy are big lovers of Italian food so want to take them somewhere nice rather than the usual tourist pizza place... Actually may post something in food about that one...

Cheers

Dave

[g3org3y]

- Colosseum
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Piazza del Popolo
- Worthwhile seeing the Vatican imo, some epic art on show including the Sistine Chapel.
- Roman Forum

If you're planning to see a lot of stuff, might be worthwhile investing in the Roma Card.

[vinopete]

what the romans do

[MiniMan64]

g3org3y said:

- Colosseum
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Piazza del Popolo
- Worthwhile seeing the Vatican imo, some epic art on show including the Sistine Chapel.
- Roman Forum

If you're planning to see a lot of stuff, might be worthwhile investing in the Roma Card.

Definitely get a Roma pass, if I remember right it's about 25E and gets you free bus/Metro travel for 3/4 days plus you get two queue jumps at any major attractions (like the Coleseum) plus to free entries to any major attractions. Works out quite well I think. You can buy them at pretty much any shop or a paper stand.

Oh and visit Trevi at night, far more impressive and sometimes marginally quieter.

[fatboy b]

If your son likes history, he'll love this place.

http://www.palazzovalentini.it/index.php?lang=eng

Make sure you book though.

[RealSquirrels]

go to ostia antica, it's great.

[DocArbathnot]

Trastevere for lunch and just to chill.

[whirly]

If you want to go to the Colosseum, go to the Palatine hill first. The ticket covers both, but there is rarely any queue at the Palatine hill. The Palatine will take a couple of hours to look around, which is the normal length of the Colosseum queue.

I would also recommend climbing the dome at St Peters. You climb between the outer and inner dome, and as you go up the stairs start to tilt. There is a cafe on top of the main Basillica and the view from the top is spectacular.

A little bit out from the centre (bus ride) is Stadio Olimpico. The Fascist mosaics, statues and old stadium are something worth seeing.

[a311]

You can pre-book your coliseum tickets, I went for my birthday and my Mrs sorted it out but I think it was direct. We had an escorted tour and got to see the upper and lower levels which I believe you can only see with one of their guides.

Everything else depends on your preferences. Sounds obvious but it’s the most touristy place I’ve ever been to, Vatican definitely worth it but avoid a day when cruise ships dock, it was wall to wall bodies and you could barely move. I think you have to make the choice to squeeze in as much as possible as you can in a shorter stay and accept you’ll be knackered or go at a leisurely pace and say you’ll go back to see the rest.

ETA What I should have added is if you pre-book your tickets you can skip the lines.

Edited by a311 on Monday 19th August 08:20

[jmorgan]

We went to the Colosseum and the Forum on the same day. Run out of time really, be careful of what you do time wise, found it easy to spend too long anywhere.

Vatican and Hadrians tomb we did in a day. That was two days alone, and then manged to squeeze in the Trevi (quick there) and the Pantheon and a few other bits. I think not enough time will be the problem.

Loads we missed out on.

Edit. The Vatican has an amazing collection and the ceiling art is amazing. No need to spot the pope but watch out for the days when you cannot go up the dome cos of paryers and stuff down below.

[Kenty]

definitely get the 'tourist ticket', don't buy tickets from anybody but official sellers.
The catacombs are really good, a little out of Rome but a good trip. Climb up St Peters, stunning views and right up a 13yo street!

Watch pickpockets, new tricks all the time, the one when we were there is giving you a baby to hold and then empty your pockets. Romanians mostly.
Don't pose for pics with a 'Centurion'

[heebeegeetee]

ILoveMondeo said:

After that I'm a bit stuck... He's a miniature Richard Dawkins so probably wont have much interest in pope spotting/vatican...

We had a few days in Rome back in April and really, really enjoyed it.

One thing I would say, there are hundreds of churches and basillicas etc in Rome. I would say don't ignore them, poke your heads inside some and marvel at the treasures and artworks inside them. If your son has 'views' on religion these visits might back them up.

I have to say though, and all joking aside, the catholic church still seems to be able to engage with young people in a way that few/any other old established organisations or institutions can manage.

The 13 year old might enjoy this place: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=capuchin+monks+r...fficial&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ewkSUvTkBKqx0AW1jYGoAw&ved=0CGEQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=638

[andyjo1982]

whirly said:

I would also recommend climbing the dome at St Peters. You climb between the outer and inner dome, and as you go up the stairs start to tilt. There is a cafe on top of the main Basillica and the view from the top is spectacular.

Definately this. When I went last January, it actually started snowing when we at the top of the dome. Bloody cold, but a brilliant view of the city.

Pretty much everything else worth doing has been mentioned, but we did also visit 2 or 3 other churches, one of which had an absolutly stunning gold ceiling, but the name escapes me, I seem to think it was somewhere near the train station. We also went to this crypt place which is located near the hard rock cafe, a slightly strange place in that all the displays are made from the bones of former monks IIRC. Granted, thats a little bit leftfield, but we thought it was worth the look.

[matrignano]

few other suggestions, sligtly less obvious
- villa borghese: park close to piazza del popolo, has a few museums and galleries in it
- visit castel sant'angelo
- walk down the appia antica
- brunch in villa pamphili
- ara pacis museum
- definitely eat at taverna trilussa!

[Condi]

The museum of criminology is very good if you are bored of churches, old remains, and more churches. A lot in Italian, but enough English to get by.

Wonderful city, very touristy but enough places to wander to away from the crowds as well.

[jas xjr]

you will not have a problem filling your time in rome . there is so much to see . we spent two weeks there and did not get bored .

[g3org3y]

Spanish Steps as well. Might be worth a look if you are lacking in stuff to see. Not that exciting though.

[jas xjr]

just chilling out by the trevi fountain with an ice cream and a good book is a good way of spending your time.

[ILoveMondeo]

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thanks very much for the hints and tips!

As we've only got 2 and a half days in the city we've booked a few guided tours, "Le Domus Romane" is one of them, half a day doing the works at the Colosseum and a half day bike tour which whizzes around the majority of the other landmarks you've all mentioned!

We'll then have a couple of afternoons spare to visit anything we want to spend more time at, or take in a gallery, or the Vatican.

We're leaving early-doors on Wednesday, will report back on our return!

thanks again!

Dave

[audidoody]

.. do as the Romans do