What are the best places to go to in Rome during early spring?

Question

I am going to Rome with a 45 year old and a 17 year old. We will be going in the spring sometime. Any suggestions on where to go, where to eat..etc.?? Thanks!

Answer 1

Trastevere's great...it's away from the really touristy stuff and is full of Roman flavor. Great winebars and restaurants (try Il Duco). Check out Bernini's La Beata Ludovica Albertoni in San Francesco a Ripa. Also, take a walk around on the Gianicolo for some beautiful scenery. A great way to enjoy Roman nightlife and culture, for people of all ages is to have a nice dinner (late, as the Romans do) and then just peruse a piazza (bound to be tons of people out, including street musicians and vendors). It's also nice time for sitting at an outside table, sipping wine and nibbling on cheese at a vinoteca (wine bar) and just people-watching.

Since y'all are going in early Spring, the really touristy stuff won't be too crowded. I LOVE the Forum. The Gallery at the Villa Borghese is a must-see for any art lover. Being a Bernini admirer, I'd say that the best parts for me were Bernini's David and Bernini's Apollo and Daphne. If you've made your way to the Villa Borghese, Santa Maria della Vittoria is just around the corner and houses Bernini's The Ecstasy of St. Theresa.

The Jewish Ghetto is the absolute, hands down, BEST place to eat in Rome. The bakeries are great, but if you decide to go to one of the restaurants, try carciofi al Giuda (Jewish Artichokes)...it's deep-fried artichokes, and no matter how it sounds, it's DELICIOUS...the leaves taste like really flavorful chips.

Teens might get a kick out of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, where you can find an ossuary. Here, bones of deceased members of the order are fashioned into elaborate chandeliers, etc.

Answer 2

Invest in a book, "Fodors Travel".
There are far too many places to to list.
As for restaurants, avoid the tourist ones if you can. There are so many great family owned restaurants. The Trattorias are always good choices. The working people eat there. Even the small ones are good choices. Usually very few tables, 6-12 or so. Good seafood on the Mediterranean beach. Expensive.
Ask the Concierge at your hotel where he eats dinner. Bear in mind that many are closed for lunch, not all.

Don't push the waiters. (Basta, enough), They will strike. The food is worth the wait.

Lose some weight before leaving, or, take some larger clothing for return. LOL Lunch and dinner are 3-4 hours. Dinner is usually eaten late, after the evening shift is off at 9:00 PM.

You won't miss the Colosseum or Vatican, but see the Roman baths. The Seven Hills. The Steps, that Christ ascended when accused.
You might like to see the Appian Way. Stone roads with the old Roman chariot tracks still there. (Ignore the burning tires. Those are prostitutes, advertising their location in the woods)

Don't overpack. You can be charged outrageously for over weight bags at airports. Take lots of mix and match outfits. Wear comfortable shoes.
Baggage handlers expect tips. Been a while for me, but a buck or so per bag. They are all union.

If you should encounter a labor strike, swing with it. Nothing else to do. Had a friend who used the same towel for a week. He went to the desk and when told there was nothing could be done, he grabbed the Concierge by the collar. Jail time. Go buy a towel.

Read Fodors.

Answer 3

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Tourist info is of course the obvious choice. www.romaturismo.it what to do in Rome in 48 hours etc. .And take a tour bus, or an audioguide. A free mp3 iaudioguide is available for download and covers
1 Saint Peter's Square 2 Saint Peter's Basilica - 1st part - the outside 3 Saint Peter's Basilica 2nd part - the interior 4 The Sistine Chapel 5 Castel Sant'Angelo 6 Piazza Navona 7 Piazza Venezia 8 The Colosseum 9 Trevi Fountain 10 Spanish Steps 11 Piazza del Popolo - 1st part - history 12 Piazza del Popolo - 2nd part - the churches

Answer 4

The only place you won't want to go is to the beach. Not quite warm enough yet, but every other major tourist draw is just as amazing in spring as any other time of year. In fact I probably like spring best when the flowers are blooming and they cover the spanish steps with Rhodendron's. One thing I would recommend is getting a tour booked for the digs under St-Peter's it is worth seeing, but has to booked far in advance. At least 6 weeks and 8 is even better. Here's the link:

Answer 5

Trevy Fountain (the little streets of that area have interesting places to poke around), Coliseum, St. Peter's Basilica (although that's in Vatican City)...I'm sure you'll have no problem finding sights and sites wherever you go!