"weekends in Rome" Top 5 Page for this destination Rome by brendareed

Rome Travel Guide: 11,941 reviews and 26,475 photos

Hubby and I celebrated our 28th anniversary in Rome – a place neither of us had been to before but always near the top of our bucket list. What an experience! Everything cooperated for us, including the weather, to make this a very memorable trip. We spent five days in the city and still feel like we only scratched the surface of places to see, foods to eat, and things to experience. We went at the end of February/early March so the crowds were not bad and we didn’t have to wait for very long, if at all, to see anything.

We started with many of the must-see items – the Vatican, St. Peter’s, the Roman Forum and Colosseum – and added to that many of the churches and sculptures that fill this magnificent city. As someone that loves art and history, I could spend many more days in Rome. The place is filled with Bernini, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and Raphael…just to drop a couple names!

Rome is a walking city! And we walked! Hubby kept a pedometer going to keep track and over the course of the week we tallied up over 120,000 steps – the side benefit was that there was some guilt-free pizza and pasta eating going on! We were generally surprised at the size of the city (smaller than we imagined) and how close things were to each other. Before we arrived, we had planned to use the subway and bus system, but found that we really didn’t need to do that, it was typically just as quick or quicker to walk to where we wanted to get to – plus we could see so much more above ground than under it!

Rome from the top of St. Peter's Basilica

A quick list of the places we visited is below – my plan to write about each of them, but I realize that will take some time to review my experiences and go through the photos. However, there are many other places not listed here that I enjoyed going to and have tips about, so I hope you will take the time to enjoy all of them.

Vatican Museum
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter's Square
climbing the dome of St. Peter's
Pantheon
Roman Forum
Colosseum
Palatine Hill
Capitoline Hill
Temple of Hadrian
Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria in Trastevere
Piazza Navona
Trajan’s Column
Arch of Constantine
San Luigi dei Francesi
Jewish Ghetto
Piazza Argentina
Gesu Church
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Santa Maria del Popolo
Santa Maria della Vittoria
San Pietro in Vincoli
Castel Sant’Angelo
Borghese Gardens
Sant' Agostino
Triton Fountain

Rome from Castel Sant'Angelo

Rome is definitely a must-see city and should be on everyone’s bucket list! I highly recommend traveling in the off-season to avoid the heat and the crowds and prepare for some heavy walking. You will be rewarded with magnificent sights and phenomenal food! A great experience overall! And one that I hope to repeat in the near future with another trip to this magnificent city of art, history, and culture!

Pros and Cons

Pros:history, art, pizza, pasta, wine, and so much more!
Cons:as with most tourist towns, it can get crowded
In a nutshell:should be on everyone's bucket list

Last visit to Rome: Mar 2012
Intro Updated May 22, 2013
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Reviews (100)

Forum: Curia Things to Do (79)

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Capitoline Hill: Piazza del Campidoglio - Rome

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The arch of Septimius Severus is a triple arch – one larger taller arch in the center with two smaller arches on either... more travel advice

mosaics in Santa Maria in Trastevere - Rome

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Transportation (4)
See All Walking around the city
Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All Papal Coat of Arms
Local Customs (2)
See All Church hours in Rome -closed for lunch
Favorites (2)
See All Getting the good shots - photography...
Restaurants (4)
See All try the gelato

Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Scammers - when it sounds too good to be...
Tourist Traps (1)
Gladiators
What to Pack (2)
See All Books, maps, and audio tours
Hotels (1)
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Comments (10)

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Nemorino May 27, 2013 at 2:53 PM

Brenda, I am totally impressed with your texts and photos on these tips. I have only read the first thirty so far, but will be back for more! Going to Rome in February sounds like a good idea – but a glance at my calendar for next February shows that I won’t be able to. Maybe some other year, or some other season. In any case, I will make a point of re-reading your tips before I go.
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  brendareed May 28, 2013 at 5:29 AM
  
  Hi Don~ Thanks for your very kind comments and ratings on my Rome page. It is a page I enjoy working on. I hope you get to Rome - February was a good time for us. I am already planning my next trip there, this time with my daughter; it will be fun to show her around. Although I don't recall seeing too many bicycles in the city... ~Brenda
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breughel Dec 22, 2012 at 7:45 AM

I came back on your Rome reviews. Things I have not visited or forgot about.
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  brendareed Dec 23, 2012 at 12:40 AM
  
  Eddy~ Thanks so much for revisiting so many of my tips! I very much admire your knowledge of art and architecture so I feel very privileged that you would reread my pages. :-) ~Brenda
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tvor Aug 2, 2012 at 11:59 AM

Most excellent Rome pages and tips! We're planning for November and this has a wealth of information and great ideas! Thank you so much for the time you took on it. Great pictures too!
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ettiewyn Jun 30, 2012 at 1:33 AM

Hi Brenda, like Ingrid, I am speechless - what a fantastic, exceptional page!!! It was a joy to read, so interesting, and your passion and love for art and travelling shows in every tip. I love how you combine information about the things you saw, personal impressions, and practical info (for example the guide books, closing of churches, how to visit St Peter's etc.) And also the story of the scammer, a good warning! I don't know much about art, but I really learnt so much reading your page. Thanks for your work!
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JessH Jun 27, 2012 at 3:25 AM

Hello Brenda! Hubby and I will be visiting Venice, Florence AND Rome this autumn (I am soooo excited!) and your pages are so helpful! How on earth will we decide what to see in "only" 7 days! I am building my trip planner thanks to your tips. Wonderful page. Thank you! Greetings from a German in the desert / Jess :-)
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Trekki Jun 23, 2012 at 2:18 AM

Wow... I am speechless, dear Brenda!! You have not only written a marvellous tour through Rome but have created an artwork with this! Fantastic, wonderful, marvellous - thank you so much for a perfect Saturday morning read :-)) I love your sequence, it is not only logical but very flowing (don't find a better word). Love that you have started with the artists and that you list their work. Love the books & maps tip, very valuable!! Love your photo locations tip, very valuable. And love every single review and all the details like that the angels on Ponte Sant'Angelo carry passion instruments and the "dirty feet" idea of Caravaggio :-) Haha, had to smile when I saw that Chigi Chapel is closed for renovation. Maybee too many Dan Brown addicts have created a mess? Love that the money thrown into Fontana di Trevi is being used to feed the homeless, and I love that you mention it :-)

Wow!!! I will nominate your page for the Barney Awards! Fantastic!!!!!
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breughel May 19, 2012 at 9:26 AM

Bon giorno,
Once you start writing about Rome you will not be able to stop.

Hello Brenda,
I liked your quite informative review on the Colosseo ( and other recent tips) and your photos from February with a bleu sky. In April this year we had rain and showers! Personally my wife and I prefer the Colosseo from outside at night just because there are fewer crowds.

Hello Brenda, excellent and practical reviews on the Vatican museum and San Pietro.
The "Spanish Steps" enchanted me with all the azaleas but that was more than 25 years ago; nowadays it's just like you describe it.
Looking forward to read more of your tips.
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GracesTrips Apr 25, 2012 at 12:15 PM

I went to Italy for the first time last year. We had an amazing trip! I look forward to going back again one day!
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riorich55 Apr 22, 2012 at 4:35 AM

Brenda, such great tips and pictures. I'm glad you're a member of VT. Have the tickets for the Vatican at 11:00 a.m. on a Wednesday. I just hope the crowds aren't too crazy right after the Wednesday morning pope sightings at 10:30 a.m.
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goodfish Mar 22, 2012 at 4:22 AM

OMG - how DID you get those shots of the Sistine???!!! The guards were on shutterbugs like flies when I was there! I could use your advice on a recommended route through the Vatican Museums - we're doing it solo this time. :)