Help Needed Rome for a few days

[JustTravel]

Thanks to SlowEurope prize, we are planning to spend five nights in Rome late October near Campo de Fiori. We first visited Rome in 1990, returned a few times but the last time was 2007 for a week. We have done the "biggies" and not interested in fighting the crowds to see them again. We like parks and churches, and simply walking, enjoying. Any suggestions? Places to visit away from crowds?

 

[Karen Frerichs]

I'm with you re: avoiding crowds at the "biggies", and Rome is full of great stuff no matter what.

Have you been to the Villa Giulia (Etruscan Museum)?
villa giulia etruscan rome

On my last trip, I went to the Baths of Caracalla, because I'd never been.... beautiful, not crowded (unless there's an opera on). Good for a wander, or take a picnic! https://www.coopculture.it/heritage.cfm?id=6

It will be crowded, but... Roscioli is a great bakery, near you

Home - Roscioli

Roscioli è un nome che racchiude tante situazioni in un’unica realtà.Il Ristorante la Salumeria, l’Antico Forno, il Caffè Pasticceria, la Rimessa e il Wine Club. Tutti luoghi del gusto sapientemente gestiti e coordinati, dove trovare il meglio della produzione romana, italiana e internazionale...

www.roscioli.com

And I had a lovely dinner on the very quiet (in the evening) Via Margutta (parallel to Babuino) at
Osteria Margutta, sit outside, might need a reservation

Osteria Margutta, Roma - Dal 1965 l'arte in cucina

www.osteriamargutta.it

Just a few ideas, you'll find lots of others

Have fun
Karen

 

[JustTravel]

Thanks, Karen. I don't remember going to Villa Giulia, so will plan on that as well as the Baths of Caracalla. I have heard of Roscioli, so looking forward that. We like eating in, so looking for shops to buy fresh ingredients.

 

[artnbarb]

Do you have any interest in CineCitta, the movie studio just outside of Rome? It's easy to get to via the subway, and it's right next to the station when you arrive.

 

[JustTravel]

Thanks, artnbarb, for the suggestions but unfortunately, we are not not interested in the movie studio. We are not really into movies.

 

[Christian]

It almost sound like you've been several times and are blasé about Rome! That being said, if I were you, I would simply enjoy long walks, explore Trastevere, sit on patios, eat great food, relax and enjoy your prize! Then I'd throw in a day trip or an overnight to fabulous Orvieto!

 

[JustTravel]

Not so much blasé but rather not interested in fighting the crowd. We will definitely do a lot of walking. We stayed a week in Trastevere back in 2007. It would be lovely to see Santa Maria in Trastevere again. Would also like to see St. Peter's again.

Would also like to revisit the various churches of Rome. Wondering how the crowd is in churches like Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, San Pietro in Vincoli, San Paolo fuori le Mura, San Clemente, etc.

 

[JustTravel]

By the way, we have been/stayed in Orvieto several times before. Maybe, we will take a daytrip there.

Here's a souvenir from Orvieto.....

 

[Penn251]

You could stroll over to Villa Doria Pamphilj. Although the Villa is not open to the public, the surrounding park is a really nice respite from the crowds of Rome and a nice place to walk. It's probably 2-3 km from Campo di Fiore. Perhaps stop at Roscioli (right at the end of your street) on the way and pick up something for a nice picnic lunch. Also, you could stop at the Orto Botanico on the way or the way back. Would make for a nice "green" day contrast to the "city" streets.

 

[JustTravel]

Thanks, Penn251. Sounds like a wonderful walk.

 

[ellen]

It would be lovely to see Santa Maria in Trastevere again.

Of the hundreds of churches in Rome, this is the one that hits all the church notes for me. It looks like a church, it smells like one, it sounds like one (the piped in chants), somehow for me it all comes together in this place.

 

[Alpinista]

Do you have any interest in CineCitta, the movie studio just outside of Rome? It's easy to get to via the subway, and it's right next to the station when you arrive.

Thanks for the great suggestion. We are transiting through Rome with a two day break on our way back from an African trip in October and are in much the same position as the OP as regards fighting crowds to see things we have experienced a number of times in the past. The Ara Pacis and the Domus Aurea things we have not seen before, so will also be adding those to our itinerary. We were also taken to the Trattoria da Enzo a few years ago with the promise that it was the best in town. We didn't get in and tried again last year and couldn't get reservations then either. This is year is a do or die try for eating there and hoping it's really as good as advertised (trying for lunch).

 

[GailS]

Any interest in Ostia Antica? It's an easy train ride from the Piramide metro stop.

 

[JustTravel]

GailS, I will add Ostia Antica. Haven't been there yet. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[Mom83]

As much as we enjoyed the Domus Aurea last visit, we almost enjoyed the Domus Romane more.

LE DOMUS ROMANE DI PALAZZO VALENTINI

www.palazzovalentini.it

 

[lisaonthecape]

The Villa Farnesina is lovely and generally not too crowded. A sunset walk along the Pincio is beautiful, as are the mosaics at San Prassede. There is a beautiful Caravaggio, the Madonna di Loreto, at the church of Sant'Agostino.

 

[JustTravel]

Thanks, Mom83 and lisaonthecape, for the suggestions. My list is getting longer but that's okay.

 

[HarveyK]

I second the Villa Farnesina. Been there a couple of times with no crowds. Raphael's last frescos are beautiful and so is the villa. Another favorite, slightly off the beaten track the Borromini's trick perspective corridor in the Palazzo Spada, near the Campo di Fiori. Going from Trastevere to St. Peter's, take the Passegiata del Gianicolo, through the park and up to Piazza Garibaldi, with incredible views.

 

[artnbarb]

You could stroll over to Villa Doria Pamphilj. Although the Villa is not open to the public, the surrounding park is a really nice respite from the crowds of Rome and a nice place to walk. It's probably 2-3 km from Campo di Fiore. Perhaps stop at Roscioli (right at the end of your street) on the way and pick up something for a nice picnic lunch. Also, you could stop at the Orto Botanico on the way or the way back. Would make for a nice "green" day contrast to the "city" streets.

We visited Villa Doria Pamphilj a few years ago - but maybe it was open for some special occasion?

 

[Penn251]

We visited Villa Doria Pamphilj a few years ago - but maybe it was open for some special occasion?

There are two places associated with Doria Pamphilij. The Gallery on Via Del Corso (lots of art and the family residence) which is open to the public and the Villa across the river on the park which generally is not. They are often confused. If it was the Villa you were in then it must have been a special occasion.