Rome

Careful with taxis, honestly thought I was going to die on the journey from the airport to out hotel

 

Safe yourself some cash and ask JAQ if she can organise you a tour of the west stand. It was built around the same time

 

I'd take a packed lunch mate, heard the food is a bit rubbish in Italy. I think Rome's a bit out in the sticks too, so take a pack of cards or something.

 

The gaff of Francesco Totti.

 

Apart from the usual sights get thisssen across to the Trastevere. It's 'the other side of the river' and used to be the poor quarter. Now it's packed with bars and places to eat and a lot cheaper. Can't go wrong.

 

Oh crikey... Where to start?

Just about any church... Particularly if it has IHS on its front and is a Jesuit church. The interiors, ceilings in particular are stunning. I think to the left of the emanuelle Vittorio monument (that huge white gate thing) there is Gesu, which had a stunning frescoed ceiling. Sort of up and behind that monument is a staircase that Michelangelo designed, and on the corner is a sculpture of Romulus and remus. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore had a stunning coffered ceiling but I think 6 years or more when we went, it was undergoing some serious renovation. Church St Louis of the French was another stunning one.

Off the regular tourist run, I think it was in Testaccio area, is a cemetery for non locals. It had some of the most stunning sculptures i've seen.

Trevi fountain, at night ideally when its lit up. The forum. It's effectively a huge archaeological dig. Trajan's column (in front of the Vittorio monument).

I'd dodge the Spanish steps, not too fussed about the Pantheon (other than wondering how they managed that hole in the ceiling 2000 years ago. Colosseum... You'll see it well enough from outside. If you had hours, the Vatican museum and seeing Michelangelo's ceiling in the cistine chapel are pretty humbling, and if you want to go in the Vatican... Pretend to be in a tour and go through the side door... Otherwise you have a very long wait to get in the Vatican with everyone else.

Trastevere area, I loved, and loads of authentic osteria, we ate around there a few times.

Drink wise, I think there were a few craft beer places back then (easy to google), so there may be a few more, but most areas will have squares, bars, Osteria, snack places galore and you can take your pick. But maybe avoid anywhere next door to a major sight or you'll pay a hell of a lot more.

Very envious, Rome is my favourite city by a distance. It still staggers me that such a major city can have so many old monuments right in its very heart along with ongoing archaeological digs.

Enjoy! Oh... And eat Gelato... Daily... At least!

 

Don't take your shirt off unless you want an angry Italian policeman to gesture wildly at you with his gun...

Don't wear shorts or ripped jeans if you want to see the Sistene Chapel - although you might get in we didn't (it was 1991).

At least the Coliseum is now open every day.

 

The pantheon is incredible! A fully formed and beautiful 2000 year old temple that just appears crammed smack in the middle of the city as you walk through.
I also love the the Spanish steps, but partly because I'm a literature scholar and the link with John Keats. But both are beautiful, tranquil spaces

 

I shed a tear the first time i saw the view across the forum. Bit George Spicer but not ashamed to admit it

 

Both are far from tranquil!

 

I'd recommend walking up the Aventine hill as a pretty easy way to get a stunning city view (from hazy memory)

 

Hm, I went in winter and spring, so maybe that's why

 

In what year?

 

Best place I've ever been. Went to watch Roma when we went and followed them ever since. Don't buy a stein near the tourist attractions, we paid 30 euros for 2 and that was 14 years ago

 

Just thinking back, you could access the Forum (and Capitoline Hill) for free on the first Sunday of every month... Think we accessed it through some little sub terrain shrine or something. Not sure if its still the case, particularly as Italy and Spain seem to be under significant tourist strain.

 

Eat in the restaurants away from the tourist destinations, will always be cheaper. A guided tour of the Coliseum is a must if you are interested in that sort of thing, especially the tour under the arena floor. The Vatican City and the Sistine chapel, the Pantheon, Trevor fountain to name just a few. Other than that, you will have to never have enough time to do Rome justice ver 2 or 3 days. Enjoy though, beautiful city

 

Were you a member of Wham? Ripped jeans and no top on indeed....

 

I enjoyed the Pantheon as well as having a beer in the Vatician without any Catholic guilt. However, and without being too contrarian, the main highlight of my trip was the district of EUR. It's a short train ride south of the centre and it's filled will amazing examples of Fascist architecture that had been used as backdrops in Bertolucci and Fellini films.

If you want to do anything cultural then book well in advance. Unfortunatley, I missed the opportunity of the tour under the arena floor at the Colosseum.