Long Weekend in Rome

[Gibbon]

La Matriciana

The classic Italian city restaurant as it should be, run by the same family since, oooh, Noah's ark maybe, smartly dressed brusque but professional waiters in white jackets, excellent antipasti and perfect bucatini, often half filled with priests enjoying their expense accounts (some of whom have exceptionally attractive secretaries), sufficiently hidden from the tourists to attract a mostly local clientele and decidedly NO pictures of the meals or multi-language menus outside.

Enjoy. (tulip, I shouldn't really have told anyone about this place)

No you shouldn't and that's why I didn't.

Proper Carbonara (Cured pigs cheek), Coda and nice fried Artichokes influenced from the Jewish Quarter.

The lamb shoulders are great as well.

Booking for evenings is strongly advised as I found out to my cost.

[Mich the Tester]

No you shouldn't and that's why I didn't.

Proper Carbonara (Cured pigs cheek), Coda and nice fried Artichokes influenced from the Jewish Quarter.

The lamb shoulders are great as well.

Booking for evenings is strongly advised as I found out to my cost.

Sorry!

[TimberWolf]

Just do what the Romans are doing, that is what I was always told to do. Pickpocket, nip arses and throw your arms in the air when you talk.

Plus ride a Vespa, not forgetting to press the horn every second or so?

[Mich the Tester]

Plus ride a Vespa, not forgetting to press the horn every second or so?

They've replaced their Vespas with Smarts now; many have removed the front bumper so they fit into two moped parking spaces. This sort of behaviour would probably irritate us all here in northern Europe, but somehow in Italy you just laugh at it and enjoy life along with them.

[BoredBloke]

We are heading there for the August bank holiday weekend. So any tips would be welcome. I know nowt about Rome. The wife wants to see the popes place and all the touristy things. I don't even know how we get from the airport to the hotel yet!!

[Gibbon]

We are heading there for the August bank holiday weekend. So any tips would be welcome. I know nowt about Rome. The wife wants to see the popes place and all the touristy things. I don't even know how we get from the airport to the hotel yet!!

Which Airport?

Now here is the top most tip for visiting the Vatican Museums. They are now open until 6pm and the last entrance is at 4pm. Every fecking day tripper heads hell for leather to the Sistine Chapel.

So my advice borne out by experience is don't go until 2 - 3pm. When you get in look around the pinoteca etc and hold off from the Sistine until about 4:45 pm at which time it starts to empty and you will get it almost to yourself by 5:15. They do start to clear at 5:30 pm.

St Peters opens at 7am, get there then for no queues and to here the Masses.

[TimberWolf]

We are heading there for the August bank holiday weekend. So any tips would be welcome. I know nowt about Rome. The wife wants to see the popes place and all the touristy things. I don't even know how we get from the airport to the hotel yet!!

It appears thievery is rife, with the art of pickpocketing still going strong:
Rome travel guide - Wikitravel

[cailin maith]

Now here is the top most tip for visiting the Vatican Museums. They are now open until 6pm and the last entrance is at 4pm. Every fecking day tripper heads hell for leather to the Sistine Chapel.

So my advice borne out by experience is don't go until 2 - 3pm. When you get in look around the pinoteca etc and hold off from the Sistine until about 4:45 pm at which time it starts to empty and you will get it almost to yourself by 5:15. They do start to clear at 5:30 pm.

WHS

I love Rome - you will have the best time.

[BoredBloke]

Which Airport?

Now here is the top most tip for visiting the Vatican Museums. They are now open until 6pm and the last entrance is at 4pm. Every fecking day tripper heads hell for leather to the Sistine Chapel.

So my advice borne out by experience is don't go until 2 - 3pm. When you get in look around the pinoteca etc and hold off from the Sistine until about 4:45 pm at which time it starts to empty and you will get it almost to yourself by 5:15. They do start to clear at 5:30 pm.

St Peters opens at 7am, get there then for no queues and to here the Masses.

Err the one BA fly to!! Fiumicino. No idea how hard it is to get to the city or what's the best way.

[DaveB]

When crossing the road, follow a Nun. They are the only pedestrians the traffic will even slow down for!