Rome - Planning

Tentative Schedule

Tuesday April 14

We arrive at about noon. We will take the Leonardo Express from the airport to the Rome Termini station. I originally thought that we would want to buy SIM cards at either the airport or the station. It appears that all the cell providers have shops at Termini. But I was able to purchase cards and activate them in advance, so this shouldn’t be necessary. More on SIM cards and internet.

We are staying at Hotel Paba, about a 15 minute walk from Rome Termini.

Pick up Papal Audience tickets between 4:30 and 6:15 at the Parish Office to the right of Santa Susanna Church map.

At 7 pm: Twilight City Stroll & Gelato-Tasting, starting at Spanish Steps map.

Wednesday April 15

Papal Audience: 10:30 am (arrive early for a good seat). Emperors & Gladiators Walk?: 1:45 pm

Thursday April 16

Ostia Antica: Opens 8:30 am. How to get there. Rick Steves’ audio tour, rent audio tour or possibly hire guide there.

Friday April 17

Vatican Museaums and Sistine Chapel tour at 7:35am. Borghese Gallery (reservations at 5pm) map.

Saturday April 18

• Depart for Florence, 9:50 am, Termini Station

Places to go and things to do

Rick Steves on things to do in Rome:

On the first day, do the “Caesar Shuffle” from the Colosseum to the Forum, then over Capitoline Hill to the Pantheon. After a siesta, join the locals strolling from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps. On the second day, see Vatican City (St. Peter’s, climb the dome, tour the Vatican Museum). Have dinner on the atmospheric Campo de’ Fiori, then walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. With a third day, add the Borghese Gallery (reservations required) and the Capitoline Museums.

Vatican Museum: Thursday or Friday and afternoons may be less crowded. Buy tickets or book a tour in advance. Official tours

Papal Audience: Wednesday April 15, 10:30am (arrive early for a good seat). Order tickets from the Church of Santa Susanna approximately two weeks in advance.

Ostia Antica: “just 30 minutes from the Colosseum, offers ancient thrills to rival Pompeii.”

Rome Walking Tours

• http://www.viator.com/Rome/d511-ttd?aid=facb281 Recommended by Kate Dowd’s friend Sarah. Looks like Viator is actually an aggregator/booking site owned by Tripadvisor.
• http://www.italy.artviva.com/ Recommeded by London Walks, Rick Steves
• http://www.contexttravel.com/ - “walking seminars” in Rome, Florence, Venice. Recommeded by Rick Steves.