Several lifers mentioned in the Pope thread that they were visiting Rome imminently. Whilst I can't guarantee what will be open currently, I hope that the following will help anyone planning to go there. I haven't included the Vatican in this, as that is well-documented on-line; instead I have mainly concentrated on items off the immediate tourist track. We stayed there a week, having been there for a couple of days the year before, and still didn't see everything.
- The Colosseum; don't visit this in the morning! It will be hot and rammed with coach parties. It is open until sunset, so go mid to late afternoon and avoid the crowds. There is a ticket that covers this along with the Forum (well worth a visit) and the Palatine. Avoid the "gladiators" outside offering to pose for photos with you, unless you like open wallet surgery.
- There are water fountains all round Rome with continual free, fresh drinking water. No need to buy bottled stuff, just take a container with you and fill up as required.
- Restaurant prices in the evening can be double the lunchtime prices (found this the hard way). If the weather is fine, have a big lunch then buy some rolls, cheese, ham and fruit and salad at a stall, add a bottle of red wine then sit in a park and watch the sun go down. Or find somewhere away from the tourist drag for more reasonable prices.
- Basilica of St Clement ;https://www.basilicasanclemente.com/i-luoghi-della-basilica/ This is fantastic - three layers of Roman history, down to the first century AD.
- The Church of Santo Stefano Rotondo al Celio; https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/church-santo-stefano-rotondo-al-celio , Rome's oldest church dating back to the 5th Century. The frescos showing the martyrdom of the saints is spectacularly gory.
- Place d'Argentina https://sovraintendenzaroma.it/i_luoghi/roma_antica/aree_archeologiche/area_sacra_di_largo_argentina . This has been opened to the public since I went there, although I looked at it from the road. It includes the temple where Julius Caesar was assassinated.
- Porta Maggiore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porta_Maggiore a Roman gate and aqueduct. We found this completely by accident, having a ride on the narrow-gauge trams! They are a short section of what used to be a large electrified network https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome–Giardinetti_railway#:~:text=The Roma–Giardinetti railway is,train railway in Rome, Italy. History and narrow-gauge trams - what more could you want?
- Pont Sant'Angelo, a lovely bridge and fort https://castelsantangeloroma.it/ponte-sant-angelo-roma/
- Piazza del Popolo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Popolo An attractive square with stairs up to a park that offers spectacular views across Rome
- Ostia Antica https://www.ostiaantica.beniculturali.it/en/home/ This was a fantastic find. It is the old Roman seaport, a short train ride from Rome. It was abandoned after the sack of Rome in the early 5th century and was then buried under sand until the early 19th century. Some buildings still have upper floors. The site is huge - we were there all day and still didn't see all of it.
- Free wi-fi is available in the city but check info https://www.turismoroma.it/en/page/wi-fi-rome
Comments
Was a victim of pickpockets on the metro, very clever how they operate. Be very, very careful.
I've been to Rome quite a few times, loved St Peter's square, there's some decent restaurants etc but I find Rome just too busy for what it is.
Much prefer Milan, Bologna and if you could wipe Americans off the planet, Florence.
We were lucky when we visited Rome in that we went with Italian friends so didn’t get ripped off or pick-pocketed!
If you visit the Vatican at any other time than the Pope’s funeral and the following Conclave and you want to climb to the top of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica, take the lift that you can buy tickets for to cover the first part. Otherwise it’s 551 steps and it nearly killed me! Mind you, we did do it in August!
In the same Square there's Santa Brigida, a catholic convent where you can book decent/basic rooms at a good price and the location is fantastic! The nuns are great and will also cook an evening meal if you book one. Was last there 10 or so years ago so please check this bit is all still true.
Restaurants/cafes which are close to major tourist places, i.e. the Pantheon, are usually average and expensive. Don't go there for the food but do go there for the view/opera singing etc. Have a wander and find places a few streets away from the tourist crowd and you may discover a gem be pleasantly surprised by the food and the price....... the Jewish Quarter for instance.
Don't know current prices but for Euro150+ (?) you can book a local guide who will show you round the Forum, for example. You will definitely see and be told things not in the tourist books and the guides will sometimes take you into the roped-off areas to have a closer, more detailed look. Well worth it if you're into Roman history.
It's a Catholic Jubilee Year this year so Rome is expecting millions more visitors........ and that was before the Pope dying....... so the expectation is that places to stay and eat will be very busy and at a premium? We were going to visit Rome again in September but have decided to wait until next year.
My tips; it's vast, expect to to lots of walking. The open top busses help with that, get a ticket where you can hop on and hop off.
Lots of restaurants, not all good. After all the walking you'll naturally go to the closest with availability. We went to one that had a disclaimer "food cooked from frozen". Check on trip advisor. Some of the best reasonable priced ones seem to be take away style, where the pasta is made on site etc.
I never forget walking the streets, turning a corner and then seeing the Pantheon.
One place I accidentally went to (literally the one time I didn't use google because I was worried I was becoming obsessed) was a place called Spaghetto's. Feel free to Google it, reviews are incredibly helpful.
We used the trams a lot, really cheap for a day travel card and covered most of the places we wanted to go.
Have been to Rome many times but doubt we've covered 25% of it so pace yourselves if going but imho it's the best city in the world.
Also, the canteen in the Vatican is crap. Nuns microwaving overpiced foods.
Your story reminds me when Shrek had to go to the Angolan Embassy in Jo'burg to get a visa to accompany me on a work trip to Luanda. They wouldn't let him in wearing shorts so he had to go to the nearest Woolworths to get some trousers. Trousers referred to since as Angolan trousers.
Can see why they might be required for the Sistine Chapel - but Luanda is a very expensive sh!thole!