Rome in July

Any suggestions on what to do during a weekend in Rome?

Gosh, where to begin? 

We were there about a year and a half ago. The DF says the Parthenon is a must. The Spanish steps are cool. It's hard not to include the Vatican and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel but it can be overwhelming if you're on a time budget. I liked the Piazza Navona.

The Trastavere area is good for a wander and we ate at a great seafood restaurant there (Alberto Ciarla - though the decor is a 1960s timewarp and it is a pricey).

I recommend Time Out's guide to Rome.

Edited to add: Rome is not that well known for it's restaurants but there is nothing better than sitting at a Roman cafe and watching the world go by (even the total touristy expensive ones are worth it for the location/view). Our hotel was near the Campo de' Fiore and it had a great market in the mornings.

Eat lots of gelato to combat the heat? 

Our hotel is near Piazza Della by Repubblica metro. It's something my brother arranged so I haven't a clue if it's a good spot (central to a lot of stuff) but it looks close to the train station and southeast of the big park. (My Rome geography is woeful!)

I see there are loads of Spanish steps...Regina, Leonardo, Fellini, Valentino...if you had to pick one in view of time, which?

Oh gosh, if this is going to be a whirlwind, I need to study up more!

Ciao! Grazi bella.
Oy vey.

 

I could be wrong, Lisa, but I think the Spanish Steps that Balmerhon is referring to may be the Piazza di Espana, a well-known spot in that city.

I don't know if you have any interest in poetry, but one of the things notable about Piazza di Espana is that the poets Keats and Shelley both lived at a house there.  In fact, it is at that house where Keats spent the last months of his life...it is where he died.   He is buried at the Protestant cemetary in Rome--which is also a well known place to visit. (there are other famous people who were buried there.  I cannot recall whom.)

Here is a site about the Keats-Shelley House.  You'll see a picture of the Piazza di Espana.

http://englishhistory.net/keats/rome.html

How I envy you--it is my dream to visit Rome oneday (primarily because of Keats.)

p.s.--If you scroll down that page a bit, it gives you some helpful info about sightseeing in the city.   

tam...I rushed back to correct my mistake, but I've been found out!
Okay, I confess...I was looking at a map that had all these Italian words and I saw "Spanish Steps" all over the place. What I didn't realize until I'd looked more closely, is that this was a map provided by an apartment rental company! They are all apartments! LOL! I found the "real" Spanish Steps in teeny tiny type. Problem sorted. 

I'm just scratching this surface, but there are SO many things to see in Rome! Yikes!
(I've printed the page of the link you gave..thanks!)

That's alright--I just realized I misspelled the name of the place...several times in my post...and this was right after having looked at the page I gave a link for!  LOL   

(It should be Piazza di Spagna.  D'oh!  )

Our hotel is near Piazza Della by Repubblica metro. It's something my brother arranged so I haven't a clue if it's a good spot (central to a lot of stuff) but it looks close to the train station and southeast of the big park. (My Rome geography is woeful!)

I see there are loads of Spanish steps...Regina, Leonardo, Fellini, Valentino...if you had to pick one in view of time, which?

Oh gosh, if this is going to be a whirlwind, I need to study up more!

Ciao! Grazi bella.
Oy vey.

 

Mazel tov!

Tam is right, it's the Spanish Steps at the Piazza di Spagna.

VNP is also right, eat lots of gelato.

Piazza della Rebubblica seems a good location though I can't vouch for the area itself. I didn't use the metro much at all. But if you do, you can take it to the Colosseum and the surrounding area.

I also highly recommend a church who's name I can't recall but will ask the DF when he gets up. Check back here again!



 

Hey Lisa,

Have a great time.  I went to school there and absolutely adore it.  Don't miss out on Villa Borghese it's a nice walk through the park.  That's near Piazza Del Popolo, at the beginning of the park and the piazza.  In the center of Piazza del Popolo there is an obelisk  was brought from the Massimo Circus (something to that effect).  Then if you're facing the entrance of PDP there's a beautiful small Church of 'Santa Maria del Populo' that not many tourist pay attention to because is not one of your better known churches.  If my memory serves me right there are two awesome pictures by Caravaggio (the ones I remember) are the "Conversion of Saint Paul" and "The Crucifixion of Saint Peter".  THere are also two other churches in that same area but I can't remember the name of them.  I think Bernini has some more artwork there (where does he NOT have artwork in Rome  )

Of course the Vatican!!  That's a whole day within it's self.  If you do go inside remember your shoulders cannot be exposed as well as any your legs (miniskirts, shorts, mid-driff, stuff like that).  They might have relaxed the dress code there while it's summer 'cause it gets sooo hot there.  Just a guess,  I don't know 'cause when I was there it was from December to May.  But I do remember I had a skirt on with boots when I first went and I could not go in  .

The Castel Sant' Angelo is an awesome site (one of my favorites) also if you're an arts/music fan you've got to go to Piazza Navona.  That was one of my hangouts when I went to school there.  Gorgeous fountains by Bernini, artists and muscians all around.  The main cafes that surround the area are quite touristy and pricey but it's nice to have a glass of vino there, hang out and just people watch.  Also in the Forum there is a off-the-beaten path where there's a little garden area that's great for a picnic.  I can't remember exactly where it is but I believe it's past the area of the Vestal Virgin statues.  The Trevi Fountain is another place you should not miss.  While you're there you need to throw some coins in the fountain, the theory goes that when you do throw a coin or two, you'll return to Rome.

Via Conditti is a popular street there and it meets up with two of the other main streets in Rome: Via del Corso and Via del Babuino (spl??).   There is where you'll find a lot of good shopping also that's where you'll find the courture designers in abundance.

I have a friend there who owns a bar called the Drunken Ship who I met while going to school there.   His name is Brian.  You should pop in for a drink.  The bar is located at Piazza Campo de Fiori, 20 (near the Pantheon).  If you do go, would you give him my love and my best.

I will try and see if I still have my list that I had saved of trattorias that are not known to the tourists but the locals (which are always the best places to go, if you're interested) that I compiled while living there.  Or if you do go for a drink at the Drunken Ship ask Brian he'll definitely know a lot more places than me (since it's been ***a long time*** since I've actually lived there.

Watch out for the gypsies especially the little tykes that run around the Spanish Steps and in the metro!!  They usually run in packs.

Enjoy your weekend.

OK, I'm back again...

The church is San Clemente. The very lowest level dates from 2BC layering up to about the late 9th C. It's fabulous. It's not far from the Colosseum.

We used Top 10 Rome (DK Publishers) which is really useful for whittling things down. Rome is indeed overwhelming so we found this extremely helpful.

As a fan of stone letter carving and typeface design I have to put in a plug for the Trajan Column, though when we were there is was under scaffolding.

Do be aware that many churches don't allow people in who are wearing shorts. I lived in long hippy skirts and the DF got away with those longish shorts that are about mid-calf.

When do you leave?

Wow! Thanks for the tips! I will definitely print out this whole thread!
We're going at just about the hottest time...mid July. The timing is based more on my family, whom we're meeting up with...and when my brother could get the best hotel deal. He has connections and apparently got us a really nice place for not much.