Hi all, I am overwhelmed by the amount of tour groups and sights to see in Rome.
Two places I think we should tour are the Vatican and the Colosseum. We are two adults late 40s, early 50s and two adult daughters 19 and 20. We are not big on museums, but we definitely want to visit the vatican (we are catholic).
Also, how hard is it to go to Sunday mass at the vatican?
We will be in Rome 6 nights with about 5 days to tour. I was thinking of one day going half day to the vatican and another day going half day to the colesseum. One day at a beach side town near Rome (take the train). Two days to wander Rome, see some sights on our own, watch people, etc...
Any must do's in your book. Any great tours to the above? (Good company names is appreciated) We will be there the last week of May/first week of June. Thanks so much!!!!
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Are you from the US? There is a Bishop's office that helps visits for the Catholics:
http://www.pnac.org/pilgrim-information/bishops-office-for-us-visitors-to-the-vatican/
>>>Also, how hard is it to go to Sunday mass at the vatican?<<<
The Pope does the Sunday Blessing in the square (if he's in town). You can just show up for that.
Thank you both!
Rick Steves has a number of free podcasts for Rome on his website and iTunes. I used them for tours of the Vatican museum and Coliseum/Roman Forum. I don't recall if there was one for St. Peter's.
The Pope's Sunday blessing is done from his apartment window. However, the Wednesday audience has him going around the Square in the Pope mobile. I was about 2 arm's length away from him (obviously with security between me and him!). You need tickets to attend but they are free (donation is requested). See Gregg's website for ticket info.
We have used Context Rome for a tour of the Vatican and the Colesseum/Forum in the past and were very happy, though they are expensive.
We are headed back to Rome next month and I have booked a Vatican tour with WalksofItaly.com for my parents(they get good reviews here) and a tour of Colesseum/Forum/St Clemente church with Alessandra Mazzoccoli (alemazzoccoli@gmail.com). She also gets good reviews here and has been very responsive to my emails and I think reasonably priced. We will be joining my parents for this tour as there are new parts of the Colesseum that are open that weren't open the last time we were there.
Here are links to our two previous trips to Rome. Our kids were a bit younger than yours at the time, but our daughter is now 20 and studying in Rome, so we will be going to visit her next month.
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/2012/05/rome-2005/
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/2012/06/rome/
I, too, recommend Context Rome for a tour of the Vatican. It is well worth the money. I am not familiar with the other tour companies mentioned.
If you have any interest in sculpture, look into booking an English tour at the Borghese Gallery. It is an unbelievable place. Oh, do have a good time!
Thank you for the tour company recommendations! I have seen Walks of Italy recommended on trip advisor as well. We will check into all of these. I like your blogs and can't wait to read it all!