We will be in Rome for at least 1 week in July 2003 (we actually don't mind crowds and the summer heat!). Any suggestions for day trips out of Rome? I realize that there is A LOT to see in Rome, but we would consider getting out of the city to explore other places, for a change of scenery. Also, are there any nice beach resorts around Rome that can be reached by bus/train?
Christian
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Oh! well, yeah, ok, sure. There will be two of us, male, late thirties (but look MUCH younger!) Our interests? We like the arts, history, litterature, museums, churches, food, wine, food, wine, food etc. We will not be renting a car, this time around. We like doing things on our own, discover places without a guide, getting lost!
Christian: You obviously have a good sense of humor, given your response to the request for tell-all specifics from Infotrack, (who I'm sure is just trying to be helpful).
I think you and your travel partner may wind up looking and feeling WAY younger than your late thirties after hanging out in and near Rome for over a week! It's wonderful!
Maybe you should consider some hefty sight-seeing days in the Eternal City, followed by a few days in, say, Sperlonga, a charming Arabic-looking town with great beaches (on the south and north side of the cliff village) about two hours south of Rome. There are some nice hotels of the modern persuasion on the north beach, and (my preference) the very romantic old town on a bluff with a few accomodations. Train plus taxi will take you there from Rome, or perhaps a bus service. Whatever you decide, have a great time!
Well, it is helpful to know Christian's interests, and that they'll be using public transportation ... For a day trip from Rome, I recommend Orvieto, for the wonderful walkability of its winding streets, beautiful ceramics and the splendid Cathedral. The church facade is simply stunning. Unfortunately, it's the one place I broke my own rule about visiting any church with its doors open, and I missed the opportunity to see the Simone Martini frescoes (and other glories, I'm sure) because I decided to have lunch first. Live and learn ... Take the train from Rome Termini to Orvieto, and purchase a ticket for the funiculare, which includes a ride on the small shuttle bus up to the cathedral piazza.
Colleen in California
Posts: 13642 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
I second Nancy's Sperlonga recommendation - she advised us to go there too and we loved it. I am going to make a page about Sperlonga with some photos. Since you will be there in July, a few days at the beach might be nice.
Thanks for the suggestions. I had heard of Orvieto before, but not Sperlonga. So now, i'm intrigued. Pauline, if you can post more info on Sperlonga as mentioned, I would be eternally grateful. I surfed the Net for a while last night and didn't find much information. Plus, the only photos I found were the size of a postage stamp and way too dark to appreciate anything.
What surprises me is that no one suggested Tivoli!
Sperlonga is very lovely, and relaxing (Sperlonga pictures). Cerveteri, and its Etruscan necropolis, is another good day out from Rome.
The Castelli Romani, esp. Frascati, are nice hill-towns where you can admire views and architecture, eat well, and try the local wine.
Tivoli is great, I guess no-one recommended it because it's a bit touristy and in all the books. It's still a good day out though.. you can decide which was more grandiose, the massive fountain spectacle of the Villa d'Este or Hadrian's architectural fantasies. If you go there by public transport, bear in mind that Hadrian's Villa is a bus-ride from the town.
If you want to travel further, towns like Spoleto and even Naples and Florence are all do-able by train.
Posts: 51 | Location: Rome | Registered: 24 April 2002
Christian, if you are interested in Roman history and ruins, a trip to Ostia Antica would be an excellent day trip. We went by metro with one transfer to a train, and it is an easy walk from the station. If you wish more information I will look it up and repost for you.
Giovanna I am planning to do a day trip to Ostia Antica from Rome in June and would love any information you can post re public transit etc. Thank you!
Tracy: I think the best way to get to Ostia Antica is by metro and train. Take Line B to the Magliana Station. Transfer there to a suburban train (different platform but well marked) to Ostia Lido. Get off at Ostia Scavi. The train continues to the beach. We had intended to go to the beach, but got so involved at the ruins we didn't have time.
The ruins are a short walk from the station, over the highway and a little further to the entrance. We stopped at a little cafe and had lunch before our visit. Unfortunately the museum had closed before we got there, but I did manage to get a paperback book about the site in the gift shop. Wish we were close enough that I could lend it to you!
We have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum, and consider Ostia one of the most interesting sites in Italy. I'm sure you will enjoy it.
I mentioned Tivoli because my parents went there 25 years ago and still talk about it! And I'm not kidding... Anyway, Luke suggests going as far as Florence or Naples, as a possibility. We were in Florence this year and loved every minute of it. As for Naples, I was afraid to mention it because I thought it might be a tad far for a day trip. And please do correct me if I'm wrong! I have heard great things about Naples, but wouldn't that be more like a day trip with an overnight stay? And how can we go to Naples and skip Capri, right?!!!
Arrgh! So many choices! I think we should simply move there! (don't laugh...if I ever win the lottery...!)
If you didn't get to Pisa when you were in Florence, you may want to consider it as a day trip from Rome. Just enough time to see the Leaning Tower, Doumo and Baptistry, visit the wonderful little art museum and walk around the old quarter before getting back on the train to Rome, arriving in time for dinner. I wouldn't do Naples in a day trip. Naples reveals her charms slowly and to buzz in and out of Naples in a day is doing that wonderful city a diservice as well as being a bit overwhelming to the daytripper.
Posts: 395 | Location: Somers, WI | Registered: 24 June 2002
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