Pre Tour Rome
Rome again? YES. We have such great memories of our last trip there (about 10 years ago). There is simply too much to take in a under a week, so we wanted to go back and see a few things again. St. Peter’s, the Borghese Gallery, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Pizza Navona and Campo de Fiori to name a few…So go a few days early and get those done before the tour hits some sights. And help get over jet lag…We even booked a private car to meet us at the airport (not much more than a taxi) to take us directly to our hotel since we knew we would be tired from a long set of flights.
Top left to right – Nanerella where we ate our first dinner, Trastevere Square, some graffiti near the Campo de' Fiori, a pizza place on the square where we had a snack, “pasquino” or Roman “talking statue” where folks go to attach anonymous criticisms, the famous oculus of the Pantheon, some of the flowers still for sale in Campo de’ Fiori. 3rd row: typical Aperol Spritz beverages, the outside of our Hotel, statues over the tomb of Raffello inside the Pantheon, a bit of the fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. 4th row: Trevi Fountain by Nicola Salvi, one of the most famous in the world, the Victor Emmanuel Monument aka the typewriter, outside of the Pantheon and finally, us on the Ponte Fabricio, built in 62 BC and the oldest bridge in Rome.
Top left to right – Nanerella where we ate our first dinner, Trastevere Square, some graffiti near the Campo de' Fiori, a pizza place on the square where we had a snack, “pasquino” or Roman “talking statue” where folks go to attach anonymous criticisms, the famous oculus of the Pantheon, some of the flowers still for sale in Campo de’ Fiori. 3rd row: typical Aperol Spritz beverages, the outside of our Hotel, statues over the tomb of Raffello inside the Pantheon, a bit of the fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. 4th row: Trevi Fountain by Nicola Salvi, one of the most famous in the world, the Victor Emmanuel Monument aka the typewriter, outside of the Pantheon and finally, us on the Ponte Fabricio, built in 62 BC and the oldest bridge in Rome.
Savvy Traveler Tip: arrive a day or two before the tour to allow for getting over jet lag, seeing sights not on tour and most importantly, in case of travel delays.
Day prior to tour: up and out early to the Spanish Steps and a stroll through the park to the Borghese Gallery where we had a tour set up to make the most of this 2 hour experience (we had been years ago and HAD to go back).
Heading back to our hotel we stopped for some gelato near the bridge to Trastevere and a quick visit to “turtle" fountain. Enjoyed a food tour of Trastevere this evening to help us adjust to the time change. The brass plaques in the streets denoting where Jewish residents lived until they were taken to the death camps. It was a full day, with great sights and tastes.
Savvy Travel Tip: if there is a sight not on your tour – book tickets in advance (or a tour) to avoid waiting in long lines. Guides can add a lot to an experience and you don’t have to have your nose in your tour book or glued to your phone – You can just be in the moment.
Savvy Travel Tip: if there is a sight not on your tour – book tickets in advance (or a tour) to avoid waiting in long lines. Guides can add a lot to an experience and you don’t have to have your nose in your tour book or glued to your phone – You can just be in the moment.