Hello there, well this will be the first of several posts as we now have the outline of our trip to Italy, Aug 9-24th, tickets and accomodations. Going on this trip are my husband and I, and our daughter and son-in-law. My husband and I have been to Piedmonte (loved it!!!), I've been briefly to Florence and neither our daughter or son-in law have ever been to Italy, although our daughter has taken two years of Italian at the University, and as a family we love all things Italian, so we're all really looking forward to the trip together. We all enjoy a mix of activities, some historic, cathedrals, some art/archictecture, shops, great food, just taking in the scene and photography. The rough outline of the trip will be Rome 3 days, Tuscany with a car 5 days to explore, Venice 3 days, Milan 1 1/2 days, finishing with London 2 days.

In Rome we're interested in seeing the Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, possibly catacombs and other antiquity sites, between that enjoying the cafes, eating gelato, and enjoying a nice meal or two. We'll be staying at Caesar House hotel in Rome until Sunday morning, Aug 13th, when we'll pickup a car and drive up into Tuscany and to our accomodation there at Villa Il Poggiale.

Now that we know the days of the week when we'll be in Rome, Thursday afternoon when we arrive, all day Friday and Saturday, what order would you suggest to see some of the items above that I've mentioned. So far, I understand that the Vatican may be best to do on Friday rather than Saturday for instance. Any other advice as to what to see first, second etc and about how much time to alot for each item would be appreciated.

Thanks so much, I'm sure I'll have more questions

Since you didn't ask for general suggestions, I won't overly emphasize that I think you are trying to do way too much for the time allowed.
I'd suggest drop either Rome or Venice.I can't believe I actually would recommend someone to skip my favorite city in the world (Rome), but two full days is just not enough time.
That said, let me make some suggestions concerning your specific questions:

In Rome we're interested in seeing the Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, possibly catacombs and other antiquity sites, between that enjoying the cafes, eating gelato, and enjoying a nice meal or two....what order would you suggest to see some of the items above that I've mentioned

You may try something our friends did last year when they had only 3 nights in Rome. They elected to go to Sorrento for three nights instead of Rome for 6-something they now admit was a wrong decision.They did a tour (through the concierge at our hotel)that included the Colosseum, Vatican, the Forum, the Pantheon and a couple Piazza's. It was a very long day and I believe was around 150E pp. You also could hire one of the fine guides listed at ST to do much the same.

If you elect to do it on your own ,I'd recommend that you get to the Forum (do not skip this) early and get an English tour from the Forum's staff (you can go to Palatine Hill while waiting for tour to begin). Go directly to the Colosseum from there and take a tour. You can be finished around noon. Take a taxi to the Vatican. The museum lines will be short at that time. After that, go and tour St. Peter's. I do not recommend the catacombs on this trip. They just are too far out.
This leaves you a day to see the Pantheon (close to the most popular piazza's) and a chance to enjoy Rome a little.
You do realize that Aug. is not generally the best time to visit Italy don't you? Lots of closures.

I think this trip sounds very fast paced, especially for August when it will be so hot. Personally, I'd skip Milan and London (unless you're flying home from London?).

I think Jabez's plan for Rome is good, but I would not be willing to do the forum, colosseum, and Vatican all in one day. I don't think you'll really enjoy any of them! Seriously - you won't want to overdo it or you will die of heat.

I'd do one thing in the morning (like the forum/colosseum, which can be combined easily) or the Vatican, and then do general walking around (hot hot hot), piazza/fountain visiting (do Pantheon here), cafe-sitting the rest of the day. I wouldn't want to miss the famous churches of Rome such as Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Church of St. Ignazzio, Gesu Church, and St Peter in Chains (oh my gosh you can not miss Michelangelo's Moses here) - they were my MOST favorite thing, but a little hard to schedule because they are closed after lunch.

Have fun, dress cooly, bring hats, and carry water bottles to fill at many of Rome's water spigots.

First off, Rome is my favorite city in Italy. We love it and our very first trip to Italy some years ago was with 3-days in Rome. We did it, it was fantastic BUT we didn't do most of what we wanted. We did NOT do the Vatican on that trip for instance. The Vatican took the better part of an entire day on a much later trip. So, that said...

Visiting the Forum/Colosseum and Vatican in one day is a KILLER (and in my opinion can't be done while giving any of it the time they deserve) especially in August in the heat and sun when just the stroll through the Forum will be draining simply from the heat. Take my word for it....it's hot, hot, hot and there's no-where in the Forum to take cover under shade not to mention the throngs of people you will most likely be sharing it with during August. So, I'd recommend a visit to the Forum in the morning (bring hats and lots of water),you might be able to squeeze in the Colosseum before lunch, break for a nice leisurely lunch and then a visit to the Palentine Museums in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day and forget the Vatican for that day. If you want to see the Vatican and St. Peter's, schedule a tour for your second day because, in our experience, it will take almost the entire day anyway. Use the rest of the late afternoon for cafe sitting, strolling/window-shopping, go to the Pantheon, sit and eat gelato.

I'd really recommend visiting one of the most wonderful museums in Rome...The Galleria Borghese. I think this museum should be a MUST on everyones list of what to do in Rome. Believe me, if you go to the Borghese you will be more than happy you did. It is lovely and the gardens that surround it are lovely as well. The tour only takes 1/2 day (you can do this in the afternoon) and visit some of Romes incredible churches in the morning....

Don't forget to eat as much gelato as you can while there

I've been to Rome twice now in August -- it can be VERY hot, but I did not find it unbearable.

I just returned from Rome with my mom & sisters last week. I can highly recommend 2 things: 1. Daphne Inn Veneto -- fantastic! We had 2 rooms next to each other on the ground floor, with a private sitting room with computer between the rooms. They like to reserve these for people who need two rooms, making their accomodations more like a suite, than 2 rooms.

The rooms were wonderful, the area was great, and the staff was absolutely fantastic! They not only will make restaurant reservations for you (among many of their other services), but will type out directions and good things to order from the menu and staple a business card to the directions. They even sent me an email when I returned home thanking us for staying with them. I will definitely stay with them again on my next visit to Rome. They book up months in advance, I already tried to book my in-laws there for the end of August, but they were booked.

2. Icon Tours -- we did a private tour for 5 hours, with Mike, which included the Colosseum/Palentine Hill/Forum (roughly 3-3.5 hours) and then a walk through Rome with highlights including Piazza Venezia/Vittorio Emanuelle Monument, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain (lots of churches and sights in between.) Mike was incredible, very intelligent & a wonderful story-teller.

The 2nd day we had scheduled a group tour at the Vatican Museum (also did the scavi tour that day, in the morning) , also through Icon Tours. We ended up having a private tour again with Mike, since no one else showed up. Instead of the 2 hours scheduled for the tour, he spent 3.5 hours with us. It was such a wonderful learning experience -- I only would have gotten a fraction of the knowledge/experience gained at the museum if we had been on our own.

Having given you all these rec's, though, I agree with the others that it might be better to only do Venice OR Rome, or else cancel Milan and London and add those nights onto Venice & Rome. There is just too much to see AND it takes so much time to change locations. You'll be back!

Thanks very much everyone for the great advice. The reason why we have 2 days in London on the way back is because we route through there. I'm sure we'll be back to Rome again and appreciate the ideas for using the time while there. We were just in India and have been in the middle east before in year's past, so we know what hot is, but then that's what gelato is for right?

I agree that it's far from 'slow travel,' but the plan you've outlined is just what many people do and enjoy.

Best wishes,

You pace sounds too hectic for me, especially in the heat. I wilt. The tip below will maybe save you some money, but for sure will save you a hassle. The cashiers at the Colosseum always want exact change.
If you get one of these Archeologica Rome Cards,
http://www.pierreci.it/do/show/article/01111
You don't have to worry about having change at the colosseum. It covers the colosseum palatine, and many other Rome museums. If you visit I think 3 museums, it pays for the cost of the card. you can buy it online, print the voucher you get, and you take it to the ticket window at the Colossseum to get the card.

You don't have to pre-order the Archeologia card and pick it up at the Colosseo.

It costs 20 Euro and is valid for 7 days, allowing admission to 9 sites:

Museo Nazionale Romano at Palazzo Massimo, at Palazzo Altemps, at Crypta Balbi, and at Terme di Diocleziano; Colosseo; Palatino; Terme di Caracalla; Villa dei Quintili; Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella (the last two are on the Via Appia Antica).

There is an additional 2 Euro charge for temporary exhibitions at any of the sites.

You can buy the 20 Euro card at Museo Nazionale Romano at Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi and Terme di Diocleziano as well as at the Palatino.

It's much easier to buy it at the Palatino than to have to pick it up at the Colosseo. The line at the Palatino is always much shorter: Via di San Gregorio 30.

You can also buy a card for 9 Euro, also valid for 7 days, but only for Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi and Terme di Diocleziano.

The Palatino ticket alone (which includes admission to the Colosseo) is 8 Euro.

When I was at the Palatino last Feb, there was nobody who could take a credit card payment for it. It looked like you could have probably paid cash for it (exact change please probably). I was atg the entrance at Forum Romana. is there another entrance? Maybe at the Colosseum you could pay with a credit card. The biggest advantage in my mind for these cards is prepaying with a credit card so that you don't have to use up your liquid cash on Museum fees and have to come up with change at the door. There was a separate line at the Colosseum for internet cashier form the regualr entrance fee. It was a lot shorter than the regular line.