Hi!

I'm traveling to Rome next week by myself. I studied in Orvieto a few years ago and have been to Rome and the surrounding areas a few times since then, so I've seen most of the big attractions a couple of times.

This trip, I'd like to explore some of the lesser known gems I'm sure I missed on previous trips. In addition, I'd love to participate in a wine tasting and/or a cooking class. Unfortunately, I'm on a pretty tight budget.

I decided to base myself in Rome and get around via public transport. I'm hoping someone can make some suggestions for must-see attractions off the beaten path and/or budget-conscious cooking or wine classes. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

If you like mosaics the Mausoluem of S. Constanza is great. Other than the bus fare admission to the churches was free. The last two "photos" tell you how to get there.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=4057
If you go at the right time, you can go on a tour of the catacombs under S Agnese for a small fee. The tour was in English becaseu the day we went the English-speakers were in the majority.

Ostia Antica is only 30 minutes by commuter train from the Piramide metro stop. Great mosaics, and buildings.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=4034

There is Ara pacis also that has only recently had it's restoration completed. It is by the Mausoleum of Augustus. I went to Rome 3 times before I got to see it.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=4051

Thanks! I'm definitely interested in checking those out. Ostia is right on the coast, right? If I'm thinking of the right place, I think I remember how to get there...Your pictures are fantastic. Thanks for the response. I can't wait to get there already!

Pompeian Red is showing at Museo Nazionale Villa Massimo which is, itself, fabulous. On Saturdays, you can see the new unearthed ancient villa under the Provincia di Lazio office at Piazza Venezia. The Museum in the Severian Walls (at the beginning of the Via Appia Antica) is great. You can get to the hot springs in Viterbo (bus to Terme di Papa leaves at 8:45 from Lepanto Metro Station).

And of course there are the annual clothes sales.

Great time of year to come. You are going to have a blast!

Lisa

Ostia Lido (the last stop on the train) is actually on the coast.
Ostia Antica used tp be on the coast because it used to be the port of Ancient Rome. Even on the upper floors of Ostia's ruins, you can't see the sea/coast. YhThe attchement shows the trains stops.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=33358&cat=4034

ohhh! Ok, that makes sense now. I'll definitely have to check out Ostia Antica.

In response to Ifin, thanks for your suggestions. 'Saldi' was one of my favorite words when I was there. All your recommendations sound great - especially the villa under Provincia di Lazio.

Hi Lexie - welcome to Slow Travel Talk.

Have you been over to the SlowTrav website that this message board supports?

We have lots of great information about traveling in Italy (and other countries) in general, and Rome in particular - including ideas for day trips from Rome using public transportation, "Lesser Rome" (off the beaten path sites), and recommended guidebooks.

Sounds like you're planning a great trip!

Colleen

Hi Lexi,
I, too, am a solo traveler. One of the things I like to do is take small group tours every now and then. It gives me a chance to meet new people while seeing things I enjoy.

I have taken a wine tour with this company. The tours were fun, the guides gracious and well-informed, and it was not super expensive.

Another tour I took was an evening walk around Rome. Unlike you, I had not been there before, so it was an orientation for me. But, I met some nice people and got to see all sorts of interesting things.

Questions? Just ask. This board is a treasure trove.

DMae

Thank you so much! That's perfect. I've been looking at a couple of options for smaller group day tours and I hadn't come across that company yet. I'm so glad I found this forum.

I'm sure I'll be back on with more questions today!

We just got back from Rome and found the weekly transit pass (for bus and metro) was a really good value. There is info on this site for the Scavi tour at the Vatican (which is wonderful) and the Vatican tour thru the Vatican (which was excellent). I recommend both of those tours. They are small groups and would be perfect for a solo traveler.

quote:

We just got back from Rome and found the weekly transit pass (for bus and metro) was a really good value.

Yes, I think that this is called the CIS pass. I bought one before there were Roma passes. You have to buy them with your cash. Not all the tobacco stores have them, but if you go to one near a metro stop in one of the larger Piazzas, you have a better chance of finding one that sells them.

quote:

CIS pass

We bought ours from a machine at the metro station at the Spanish Steps. These machines will only give back 4 euros in change and I think the tickets were 16 euros each.

quote:

I'd like to explore some of the lesser known gems I'm sure I missed on previous trips. In addition, I'd love to participate in a wine tasting and/or a cooking class. Unfortunately, I'm on a pretty tight budget.

GTG's!
I repeat...GTG's!
Plan a GTG (get-together) in Rome...I started 2 of 'em last fall and had a blast. Not only did I meet a huge number of funny, lovely and gorgeous Slowtravellers, but I had fantastic food at a couple of restaurants that I'd never have found otherwise!
If you want to do this, let us know and we'll show you the way...it's easy as pie. Just post the idea on the GTG section of the board and let everyone else join in...that's it. Someone will suggest a great place to meet for lunch or dinner and y'all get together there, eat, talk, laugh, take ga-zillions of photos, eat more...that's it!
Plan it early in your trip then you have people to hang with for the rest of the time you are in Rome...someone to go on a wine tour with you, and Tony da Roma just might be at the GTG, as well as being your tour guide.
Interested? It's a great way to meet very cool fellow travellers...

“Traveling is the ruin of all happiness! There's no looking at a building after seeing Italy.”
~ Fanny Burney
Brenda

If you are looking for something other than ancient, I spent a lovely afternoon looking at the wonderful Art Nouveau buildings around Piazza Mincio close to where Via Salaria crosses Viale Regina Margherita and the Casina Della Civette in Villa Torlonia Park not far away. This is an Arts and Crafts structure decorated in the Art Nouveau style with some lovely stained glass windows. All of these sights are in North Rome.

Hi Lexi, I'm also a solo traveler, leaving tomorrow for two weeks in Rome.

As Brenda mentioned above, get-togethers with other Slow travellers are great, they're fun and it's a good chance to exchange information and ideas about travel.

In fact, a few of us are meeting in Rome next week for lunch near the Colossium. A discussion of our plans is listed in the GTG section of the board, in case you're interested in joining us.

We're going to meet at 1:30 on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at a place called Taverna dei Fori Imperiali, Via Madonna Dei Monti, 16. There's a link to some reviews of the restaurant, on the GTG section.
Tony da Roma, who lives in Rome, will be coming and he's always got lots of good ideas for things to do and see.

Hope you can join us, and good luck with your planning!

Cheers,
Sandra

Thanks, Sandra. A GTG sounds great! Unfortunately, I don't arrive in Rome until Jan. 10! I'll have to go over to the GTG section though and check out the options.