Reply to: Long Weekend in Rome

[Lockhouse]

Beats me how it takes so long to get to the Cistine Chapel, the Vatican must be like the Tardis.

I thought some of the preceeding rooms were much nicer.

[Lockhouse]

Sorry about that, and glad to know; restaurants go up and down unfortunately and now at least I know. Just a shame you had to find out for me.

Rome isn't really 'food city' though, as any Italian from outside Rome will tell you. Bologna's better.

The wine though was superb. €25 would pretty much guarantee you a spot on bottle of red everywhere.

[Churchill]

Yes, it's a very large tardis full of stuff made of gold and some unfathomably expensive paintings, quite a contrast to the living standards of most of the world's catholics.

Ohhhh, hark at "Mr Controversial" over there...

[Mich the Tester]

Beats me how it takes so long to get to the Cistine Chapel, the Vatican must be like the Tardis.

Yes, it's a very large tardis full of stuff made of gold and some unfathomably expensive paintings, quite a contrast to the living standards of most of the world's catholics.

[xoggoth]

Beats me how it takes so long to get to the Cistine Chapel, the Vatican must be like the Tardis.

[Mich the Tester]

Food wise Il Matriciano was a real let down - not very good at all (food cold, wrong orders, repeatedly having to ask for things). Da Cesare (a well known fish restaurant) was very good indeed. Nowhere we ate was 10/10 though.

Sorry about that, and glad to know; restaurants go up and down unfortunately and now at least I know. Just a shame you had to find out for me.

Rome isn't really 'food city' though, as any Italian from outside Rome will tell you. Bologna's better.

[carlosLondon]

Just got back from our weekend in Rome.

Overrated: Sistine Chapel.

[Lockhouse]

Sistine Chapel - meh.

[TimberWolf]

Overrated: Sistine Chapel.

[Lockhouse]

Just got back from our weekend in Rome.

Things we saw and liked; Forum & Palantine Hill, St Peter's Basilica (the missus went to mass), Vatican Museum, Trevi Fountain.

Overrated: Sistine Chapel.

Didn't get a chance to see any of the other churches we wanted to - we were not there long enough unfortunately.


Food wise Il Matriciano was a real let down - not very good at all (food cold, wrong orders, repeatedly having to ask for things). Da Cesare (a well known fish restaurant) was very good indeed. Nowhere we ate was 10/10 though.

Thanks for the top tips.

[Mich the Tester]

If you're a foodie, go to Bologna for the next long weekend. Best food in all of Italy, and the local 'Colli Bolognesi' wines can match anything Tuscany or Piemont produces (possibly excepting Barolo) at a reasonable price. Any restaurant without pictures of the food or a little man who rushes out to usher you inside will probably be outstanding.

They like rugby too.

[Platypus]

You were scammed with the petition imho, it’s been going on for at least the last 10 years. Masquerades as a petition and then when they validate that you are a tourist they hit you for a donation. Bit like the Taxis having a max fare of 30E from the airports which no one enforces.

I checked it out later, and the drug thing is a scam. So I'm glad I told them to bugger off. (Even for good causes, I don't like being stopped in the street, and as they were clearly targetting tourists, my scam-o-meter was on red)

Damn! Well, next time I'll know.

just got vouchers for Villa Borghese last night, so if you’re serious PM me the poster details and I’ll see what I can do.

Thanks!! But let me check with GF Platypus, she may be stubborn and want to get it herself or not at all.

Castello Angelo. Don't bother eating there - the food was good, but portions small, expensive, and they still charged us a €6 cover charge...

You must have been at Castel Sant'Angelo about the same time as we were on Sunday! Lucky escape for us on the food then.... we visited the castle in the afternoon and made a reservation to eat at 9pm. When we returned at 9, the ticket office insisted that we must buy new castle entrance tickets. We showed them the tickets we'd bought just a few hours earlier, but no, they insisted, new tickets or no entry. We declined and ate elsewhere.

[NotAllThere]

I checked it out later, and the drug thing is a scam. So I'm glad I told them to bugger off. (Even for good causes, I don't like being stopped in the street, and as they were clearly targetting tourists, my scam-o-meter was on red).

The max fare to/from the airport is €40 + waiting time + baggage. We paid €40 both ways. (There's a shuttle service to most hotels in rome at €20 a head as well).

We did a few churches, ( hugged some nice cold pillars ), walked around the Colloseum and the Pallantine hill as part of a tour - well work the €45 to avoid the queues. Sunday we went to church - i.e. Pete's Bassilica, and the Castello Angelo. Don't bother eating there - the food was good, but portions small, expensive, and they still charged us a €6 cover charge...

[Gibbon]

Jolly Good! But bloody hot (as you know!)

Friday - general wander around, walked miles, worthy of note was the trip to Santa Maria Maggiore which was indeed spectacular (good recommendation, thanks Gibbon). Plus a walk around (but not into) the Forum. Was disappointed that there's now a €12 charge to walk through the Forum.

Saturday, train down to Ostica Antica. Well worth a look, despite a very humid and uncomfortable train ride.

Sunday Museo Villa Borghese. Wonderful (as ever). GF finally got the poster she wanted of Apollo and Daphne from the gift shop, only to leave it at a café on the way back! Then to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Monday, back to Villa Borghese to re-buy the lost poster, only to find it's now closed on Mondays Then up the Janiculum hill (spectacular views) and to the botanic gardens, where I got eaten alive by bitey bugs.




Ah...... I gave €20 and signed it
It was for a drug rehab centre and seemed genuine.

All in all, fantastic! Was quite downhearted to return this morning. I'm glad you and the Mrs enjoyed your visit. I hope you threw a Euro into the Trevi to ensure your return!


P.S. Anyone else going to Rome in 2011? Please PM me if you're going to visit the Museo Villa Borghese, there's a poster I'd like you to buy for me.............

Glad you enjoyed Santa Maria Maggiore, I’m going for a week in October, infact just got vouchers for Villa Borghese last night, so if you’re serious PM me the poster details and I’ll see what I can do. This will be my 21st visit so I’ll be visiting some old favourites. Yeah the Forum is now a rip off, they brought the charging in around 2008 and I haven’t been in since. Still at least all the churches are free and they still largely contain the art that was produced for them, unlike Florence.

You were scammed with the petition imho, it’s been going on for at least the last 10 years. Masquerades as a petition and then when they validate that you are a tourist they hit you for a donation. Bit like the Taxis having a max fare of 30E from the airports which no one enforces.

[Platypus]

So, Platypus - how was it?

Jolly Good! But bloody hot (as you know!)

Friday - general wander around, walked miles, worthy of note was the trip to Santa Maria Maggiore which was indeed spectacular (good recommendation, thanks Gibbon). Plus a walk around (but not into) the Forum. Was disappointed that there's now a €12 charge to walk through the Forum.

Saturday, train down to Ostica Antica. Well worth a look, despite a very humid and uncomfortable train ride.

Sunday Museo Villa Borghese. Wonderful (as ever). GF finally got the poster she wanted of Apollo and Daphne from the gift shop, only to leave it at a café on the way back! Then to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Monday, back to Villa Borghese to re-buy the lost poster, only to find it's now closed on Mondays Then up the Janiculum hill (spectacular views) and to the botanic gardens, where I got eaten alive by bitey bugs.

But who were those guys trying to get us to sign a petitiion "against drugs". I work in the pharma industry for goodness sake.

Ah...... I gave €20 and signed it
It was for a drug rehab centre and seemed genuine.

All in all, fantastic! Was quite downhearted to return this morning. I'm glad you and the Mrs enjoyed your visit. I hope you threw a Euro into the Trevi to ensure your return!


P.S. Anyone else going to Rome in 2011? Please PM me if you're going to visit the Museo Villa Borghese, there's a poster I'd like you to buy for me.............