3 days in Rome

As usual, I found the highlight of my trip to be simply walking around the city and experiencing Rome the way the locals do on our many evening strolls. Of course, you can't visit Rome without experiencing thousands of years of history first hand, nor without tasting some great pasta and enticing pizza!

Quick Tips:

Wear the most comfortable non-sneaker shoes you can. White tennies will cause you to stand out like a sore thumb! But, the cobblestones and steps make comfy, stylish shoes a necessity. Prepare to join the Italians in the afternoon siesta, or plan on visiting the few open sites during the afternoon hous when everything else is closed.

Best Way To Get Around:

The 2 metro lines connect several of the major sites (The Vatican, the Spanish Steps, The Via Del Corso, the Coloseum and the Forum), but many others, such as the Pantheon and the V. Emmanuelle Monument are 15 minute hikes from the nearest stop. Get used to the buses, or walk.

Taxis are fairly inexpensive and not too tough to find. Head to the nearest taxi stand for easiest access.

Part of a small chain of pensions and guest houses, the Conte House I provided fairly clean and basic accomodations for a reasonable price.

Our double room included two twin beds and night-tables, a small desk, and a closet. Our window opened onto a quiet back alley. The bathrooms were private, but down the hall.

Conte House I has only four rooms, so the noise level was never bad, but the doors and locks were fairly loud and occasionally woke us up.

The location was excellent. A five-minute walk took us to the nearest Metro stop, and the Colosseum was only 15 minutes away. The neighborhood felt safe and quiet, and included several small shops and cafes.

We paid 70 Euros per night for the room, which was payable at check-in. The hotel only accepts cash.

For rates and reservations, please visit Conte House I

Few art museums are truly worth braving massive crowds, pushy tourists, and long lines. The Musei Vaticani is one of them, and is a must-see on even the shortest Roman journey.

Begin your visit by arriving before or shortly after the doors open at 8:45am, every day except Sunday. (Be prepared to wait in line outside for up to an hour. The line, though long, moves quickly.) Pay your entrance fee of 6 euros and head inside.

Many guidebooks contain excellent walking tours of the museum's many rooms. If yours is somewhat lacking, buy the audio tour in your language of choice. We used Rick Steve's Rome, which was informative and helpful.

The highlight of the museum is the many works of Renaissance art by masters such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Don't miss the Raphael rooms, with the magnificent School of Athens, a sort of "Where's Waldo" of Renaissance Italy.

Plan at least 30 minutes for the world-famous Sistine Chapel. Michaelangelo's masterwork is breathtaking and stunning, far more than can ever be conveyed in a book or on a slide.

Photos are not allowed in the Sistine Chapel. Elsewhere, bring high-speed film to photograph the works of art without a flash.

Don't miss the Laocoon and Bernini's David for excellent sculpture.

No visit to Rome would be complete without a trip to the Colosseum.

One of the greatest works of architecure in the ancient world, the Colosseum is a genius example of urban planning. Built to hold tens of thousands of spectators, the building allowed for easy entrance and exit, and events from bullfights to naval battles. (Yes, they frequently flooded the floor to allow for ships!)

We visited the Colosseum first by night. Lit up, it's a beautiful and breathtaking sight! Do make sure to come back during the daylight hours, when you can take a tour. It costs 8 euros and allows access to the inside of the structure.

Watch out for odd opening hours. Our guidebook said it would be open 'til 1 hour before sunset, but the Sunday we tried to visit, it closed at 3pm.

Immortalized on film and in literature, the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps are a popular tourist and local hangout in the historic center of Rome.

Accessible either on a fine walking tour (as found in many popular guidebooks) or from the Spagna metro stop, the piazza is often crowded and vibrant by night.

Our visit included several groups of revelers singing, romantic couples kissing in the shadows, and groups of young people gathering to rehash their weekend entertainment.

By day, the area around the piazza is lined with some of Rome's most exclusive boutiques: Valentino, Gucci, and other too-expensive to mention stops.

Watch for pickpockets and other scam artists and enjoy a bit of La Dolce Vita!

Among the many fashionable shops along the Via Del Corso and other fun shopping areas, Blu Sand has our vote for the most bang per buck.

A smallish boutique, Blu Sand's fun clothing style and rather reasonable prices make for an interesting diversion from the more touristy pursuits.

Our purchases included a stylish pair of black pants and a brown leather jacket. Both were under 200 euros total.

As with most Italian shops, sizes stop at 46--approximately a U.S. size 8.

Opening hours are approximately 10am to 7:30pm. Some locations may be closed for siesta or on Sundays.

We chose to spend an hour visiting the Roman Synagogue for a different perspective on the city's history.

After paying 3 euros each for a student fare (the normal entrance fee is 6 euros), we spent 15 minutes in the small but impressive museum.

Information sheets are available in many languages to explain some basics of Judaism, as well as the specific artifacts. Most impressive was the vast selection of Torah "skirts."

The only way to see the actual synagogue is on a short tour. Our group was only four people and was led by a knowledgable Italian guide who spoke very good English. We were free to ask many questions and got a good overview of both the history of Jews in Rome and the synagogue itself.

Opening hours are approximately 9am to noon.