The Domus Aurea is so worth seeing, it's almost other worldly. Book ahead because you have to be a part of a guided tour. When she mentions it's an active archaeological site, she means it, you even have to wear construction helmets.
Yes, I completely agree - it really does feel other-worldly! That's a great way of describing it. It's one of those sites I can visit several times over because it's never the same visit twice!
Trajans Forum and Ostia Antica have been on my must see list the last 4 visits to Rome. Unfortunately I always end up running out of time before I get to them. Rome is a city a person could spend years exploring and still miss so much.
In another post I mentioned a week but really ten days or more would be ideal. Even with pre-planning getting to know where sites were, I still got overwhelmed by the scale and the various time periods exposed by the ruins of the Forum. Rome is a place you really must research and make notes as there's too much to memorize. Sort of had the same experience down by Sorrento and Pompeii ruins. Again I'd done research to look for specific sites. But the place is so much bigger than photos/video can show. The "guide" which cost extra was mediocre to be nice. He didn't say anything I didn't know. Again the size can make you feel lost at times. If you're down by Naples/Sorrento do the hike to the top of Mt Vesuvius. There's a parking lot about halfway up, then you hoof it. Great panoramic view!! Told my family if I feel any shaking or odd noise, get out of my way as I'll set a land speed record getting off the mt.
I hear you! It's hard to know what you must see and then you wonder what you missed. My philosophy about Rome and pretty much anywhere in Italy, is that you just can't see it all, but no matter what you see, it will be amazing! Glad you got to hike to the top of Mt. Vesuvius. See, that is something I haven't done yet. Sounds like an amazing experience!
This video has been very helpful. I was in Rome for the first time in November 2023. I watched your video on weather in Rome in November, which was also helpful. I am taking my Wife Lori to Venice, Florence and Rome in February 2024. Thanks for the tips. We plan to move to Italy from Dallas Texas in about 6 years when our Daughter graduates from high school.
Thanks so much for letting me know your enjoy my videos and find them helpful! I'm so glad! I hope you and your wife have a wonderful visit this February! And that sounds like a great plan to move here after your daughter graduates. Best wishes!
Can I add the 11th? I sotterranei di Piazza Navona-Stadio di Domiziano (the undergrounds of Piazza Navona), it's not a huge area, but you will see something that even most Romans have never visited (isn't it fun to see a place that also the Romans know very little?), sorry for my English.
Absolutely that is another great spot! As I said, the list is very long so I had to cut it off at one point. But I do love the Stadio Domiziano and it is also a very un-crowded way to see Ancient Rome! Thanks for sharing!
My first advice for first time visitors is spend a week in Rome. There is so much to see. So much history to contemplate. I got overwhelmed and somehow missed the Arch of Titus which i wanted to closely photograph. Trajan's column was marvelous. The Vatican is a must see but I'd skip the museum, just my opinion. Don't forget pizza and gelato. Still crave real Italian gelato. Oh, one more thing....we rented an apartment instead of a hotel. Had so much more room than a hotel for less money. Plus we were about 50 meters from the Pantheon. Step out of our 1500s building take a left and a right and WHAM there was this amazing ancient building in front of you.!! I would put Rome as Number 1 on places to re-visit.
Absolutely great advice. Yes of course I would always recommend staying more time in Rome although I realize many people don't have the time available. The good news is that no matter how much time you spend here, or how often you return, there is always something new to see! Thanks for your comments and suggestions!
Thanks for the brisk introduction to places to visit. I've been to Rome several times have yet to really scratch the surface on what remains of this fascinating ancient city.
I hope you found the video helpful! Yes, I just wanted to share some optional sites to see...but there are of course many more that I couldn't mention, or the video would have been way too long - in Rome, a lifetime is not enough!
Thank you. I’ve been to Rome many times and you opened my eyes to things I have never seen! I’m going back again in December. Truly for Roma one life is not enough. Thank you
Thank you! I'm glad I could share something new with a seasoned Rome visitor. Even living here, I am always discovering new things. I hope you have a wonderful visit this December!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. I haven't had time to start publishing videos on TikTok but thanks for the suggestion!
We finally visited Rome last May (2022) and we were able to tour the Mausoleum of Augustus. At that time the only way to visit was with their guided tour which was only offered in Italian. I don't speak a word of Italian but it was so high on my priority list that I booked the tickets anyway. Luckily the tour guide took pity on us and the other English speakers in the group and gave the entire tour in both Italian and English. We also visited the Ara Pacis across the street which was another must see on my list. It is so well preserved and you can walk right through it. To be able to stand in the exact same spot where Augustus once stood, absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for your wonderful videos, they are appreciated and enjoyed more than you know. I would love to see you visit the Villa Jovis on Capri at some point in a future video.
That's great that you got to visit the Mausoleum of Augustus. I am confident it will reopen fairly soon, as the super luxury Bulgari hotel is opening there this summer and I am sure they will only open if that site in front of the hotel is in tip top shape and not a construction site! Glad you also visited the Ara Pacis. It's a museum I think many people miss. It's really amazing isn't it? Thanks for your support and kind words. And thanks for your suggestion for me to do a video about the Villa Jovis - I will put it on the list!
Ive been to Rome 4 times and it is my favorite city. Love your videos and I’m going solo end of March 2024…and expanding my sites I am able to see. So excited. Thanks for your great work.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you find my videos helpful! Rome is such a fabulous city, you can't visit it too much, in my opinion! You may find these videos helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EL7bhjgncqk.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WqTQJjQj1dQ.html Have a wonderful visit!
Thank you. I started following your channel when planning our 2020 trip that was cancelled due to lockdowns. I'm dreaming of visiting in May or September!
Will be there in a week. Every time I think I have a “completed” itinerary, you go and add more cool places to see!!!! How am I supposed to see everything in 5 days!?!? Ahhhh!
Ahhh Rome is like that! The Romans say "Non basta una vita" - A lifetime is not enough! Believe me, I live here and I am always discovering new things. Glad you are coming back and that there's new stuff for you to see. Let me know in the comments if you go to any on the list in this video!
Merci ! I am addicted to RomeWise and its website. I could easily book guided visits of Rome, thanks to Elyssa. Next year, maybe Florence, now that FlorenceWise is born!
Once again a wonderful set of different places to visit we can recommend the Castel Saint Angelo, it is fantastic you will not be disappointed especially the cafe, one of my wife's favourite cafes the view is wonderful.
We are so happy to have found your channel as we are planning our trip to Rome in a few weeks. We will visit some of these locations now because of two magic phrases.... ancient Rome and hardly ever crowded!!! I can't wait to see your channel grow as it's one of the best I've seen. Thank you for sharing! Surprised you mentioned Nero without including that he martyrd so many of the early Christian's. I think people these days need that context. But we do love your channel, Susan and Ted
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad you find my videos helpful! Yes, I just gave minimal history of each site or this video would have been way too long. I'll soon be doing a video about Saint Peter's square and I'll be talking about Saint Peter's crucifixion there. Stay tuned!
Yeah that's the Domus Romana at Palazzo Valentini which is another excellent site. I almost added it to this list but I had to add a disclaimer that it gave me vertigo because of all the light effects they do, so I thought I'd leave it off. But it is a very cool site! Amazing mosaic floors!
Great video!! My sister and I will be in Rome for 3 weeks in Sept/Oct. We ate going to visit every place you mentioned in this video. All of your videos have been so helpful!! Thank you😊
Very informative video. I have read and heard that Rome has over 900 churches. How accurate is this, and if one made a trip to Rome just to explore churches, what pathway(s) would you recommend to visit the churches of Rome? Thank you.
Thanks so much for watching my video. Yes, Rome has nearly 1,000 churches. I still have not visited them all although I visit quite a few of them very often. The churches are all over the city. Depending on how much time you have, I'd go neighbourhood by neighbourhood. For example, the Caelian hill has some of the oldest and most beautiful medieval churches in Rome. These include Santi Quattro, Santo Stefano, and San Clemente. But you would need months to really explore all of Rome's churches!
Thanks for watching! I hope I have inspired you to visit some of these sites. If you do, I'd love to hear what you think - please come back and let me know in the comments. Have a great visit to Rome!
@@Romewise Rome is fantastic and Edinburgh is magical. Two of the best ‘tourist’ cities in Europe, though in different ways. Rome is chaotic and lively while Edinburgh is calmer and more subdued.
Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoy my content. You might like these videos about visiting Rome in May and how to pack for Rome in spring: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6aaBZibWnEU.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WqTQJjQj1dQ.html
Hi there! Can u also cover where to shop in Rome? I like Mandarina duck which is an Italian leather shop. Love the smell of leather and the price is good. What other things we can buy there? Coz my last stop is Rome so need to know what to buy for gifts, for me, etc 😅 I am from Singapore.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I will be happy to add this topic to my list of videos to make. In the meantime, you can check the pages on my website here: www.romewise.com/rome-shopping-guide.html www.romewise.com/shopping-near-rome-pantheon.html www.romewise.com/vintage-shops-in-rome.html www.romewise.com/gifts-in-rome.html
Thank you for making all these wonderful videos! I’ll be visiting Rome with my family soon for the first time, and your videos are so informative and fun!
I loved this video. Thank you, Elyssa! I always go to the Trajan Forum, but I’ve never been able to figure out HOW to get down into it to actually walk the floors! Hopefully in June, I will figure that out. Really great. Grazie mille!
Terry you are always the best! I am so grateful to you for all your support. Thank you for watching my video. I'm glad if I showed you something new, as I know you know Rome so well! For Trajan's Forum, you can enter either by Trajan's Column, or you can actually come in now via Julius Caesar's Forum, by walking underneath the via dei Fori Imperiali!! It's pretty amazing! Hope you get to do it next time. A presto! 💞🌸☀
Excellent list, Elyssa. Domus Aurea is amazing. Also, because you prebook and restricted group size, it's good if you don't like crowds and a relief in the summer heat. I am hoping it's third time lucky and make it to the Etruscan Museum this year. Santo Stefano Rotondo on the Celio worth a visit. The roman houses were closed. Ostia Antica is definitely worth the trip. Definitely recommend the Baths of Diocletian.
Thank you Lorna! I'm glad you got to visit the Domus Aurea. I highly recommend the Villa Giulia Etruscan Museum. Yes, I was just at Santo Stefano the other day. So peaceful and beautiful! Thanks for your comments and suggestions!
Thank you Lorna! I'm glad you got to visit the Domus Aurea. I highly recommend the Villa Giulia Etruscan Museum. Yes, I was just at Santo Stefano the other day. So peaceful and beautiful! Thanks for your comments and suggestions!
Thank you so much for this list, Elyssa! You always have very interesting content in your videos, and thank you for taking us to some wonderful (and less visited) sights! I've visited your beautiful city twice, and if I ever get back, I now know more great ruins to visit without the crowds. Grazie!
Thank you so much Mary for your kind comments! I hope you'll get to visit Rome again soon and check out some of these sites. Thanks for taking the time to let me know you enjoy my content!
On the way to or from Ostia Antica, given that the station Basilica San Paolo is a good one in which to change from the metro B to the train line extraurbana FC2 to get there, it is very convenient to include a visit to the very impressive Papal Basilica which is close to the station. By the way, even when going straight to Ostia Antica, I’ve had problems in 2022 with the standard €1.50 timed metro ticket which wouldn’t let me (legally) transfer to the extraurbana and the public transport web-site said that a more expensive 24h ticket was needed to allow that flexibility. Perhaps things have changed before you made this video 9 months ago.
Thanks a lot for letting me know about the ticket issue you had. I'm not sure why you had this problem as I have done it with the standard ticket fairly recently. Also, the ATAC website shows that it costs 1.50€ to get from Rome center to Ostia Antica. If I find out anything has changed, I'll report back here! I do have a page on the website about San Paolo Fuori le Mura, one of my favorite basilicas in Rome: www.romewise.com/saint-paul-outside-the-walls.html
Thanks for watching! Please visit my page here where you will find everything you need: www.romewise.com/what-to-pack-for-rome.html You might also be interested in joining the Romewise Facebook group, where members help each other out with trip suggestions.
Another great video. And for me, very informative. I'm coming to Rome in Mid May and on my list (among other sites) are the Tomb of Hadrian, the Mausoleum of Augustus (with the Altar of Peace) and the Appian Way. I did not know that the Mausoleum of Augustus is closed but I'll still go just to visit the site. Hopefully there will be some access. The Appian Way is a must; just to imagine the ghosts of the Legions marching up and down (Sulla coming up, Yikes!!). I purchased an Underground Tour of the Colosseum which includes (I think) admission to the Palatine Hill and the Forum. I just have to figure out how to get tickets to the SUPER Sites. I know you cover this quite well so I'll review your video about that. Thanks so much.
Hi Bill and thanks for your kind words as always! I hope you will enjoy all these sites. I would hope the Mausoleum of Augustus would be open when you come but I am not sure. It might be! Agree about the Appia Antica - I just love it! Yes, your underground Colosseum ticket includes a 2nd day (if you want to go the day prior or the day after), to the Palatine Hill/Roman Forum and SUPER sites. I do have a video about that, so I hope you'll check it out. Have a wonderful time!
@RomeWise Yes, I did review your Coloseum video. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Augustus Mausoleum, but I'll be happy just to view the resting site of the great man. It's really not far from the Spanish Steps, so I'm sure I'll enjoy the walk and the Altar of Peace. Thanks for your invaluable information.
Great video as always. We'll be in Rome 4 days this May, last time was 1999. We're right across the street from the Colloseum, so planning the first day to go to Baths of Caracella, the houses of Cello. Then wanted to just meander through the beauty of the forum, circus maximus and maybe end at the Victoe Emmanuel. Is it worth just using google maps and trying to hit spots, or do you recommend and special walk aps? Thanks as always.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you find my video helpful! It sounds like you have a good plan for sightseeing. You may also be interested in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F-4xRpiMGuw.html I also have some walking itineraries on the channel. Otherwise, you almost can't go wrong just walking around and enjoying the open air museum that is Rome! - Have a great trip!
Sure - what would you like to know? It's an easy day trip from Florence or Lucca and some say it's not worth the time it takes and other say it is. As an art lover, I believe Pisa is worth visiting as there is a lot more to see than just the tower. But if you have a specific questions, please let me know here in the comments.
Yes, briefly. I have a page all about them on my website: www.romewise.com/catacombs-of-rome.html I also have talks about both Necropolis sites at the Vatican in separate videos: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g5Bjen8g4Gc.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z-fP9C5Fo8A.html It's not that easy to do a video about the catacombs most of the time, you are not allowed to take photos and film inside, but I do have some footage from a visit where I was able to film once. I'll add the topic to my list!
When I was in Rome decades ago I stumbled upon a church on the top of a long staircase that was situated right above the Roman Forum. It was very ancient with a dark interior and hardly any frescoes but the view of the Forum from the ballustrade was spectacular. Do you know what church it is because I can’t find it on Google Maps?
Is it possible the church you are talking about is Santa Maria in Ara Coeli? It's one of the most beautiful churches in Rome and has a lot of things to see inside, not to mention a fascinating history. Would you be interested in a video about this church?
I think I must have been in a time machine because the interior was very dark with candles and there was none of the marble embellishments. It was just ancient brick walls like it was in the sixth century.@@Romewise
At times it is only lit by chandeliers so maybe that's when you were inside. Or perhaps it was a different church but none like you describe comes to mind in this area....@@jacknicholasny
Yes, that's another great site. I include it in my video about things to do near the Colosseum: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-amDynC-KmXs.html
I have a page all about this. I'll be making a video too! In the meantime here is the page with everything you need to know: www.romewise.com/tivoli-day-trip.html
