The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum — The Eternal City awaits

Day by Day

Our Rome days, hour by hour. ✓ = confirmed. Tap a place name for more on Wikipedia.

MonJune 15 · Drive Day & Arrive Rome
8:00 am
Two vans depart Florence (8:00 am sharp) Stops in Montepulciano & Orvieto — full detail on the Hill Towns page →
~7:30 pm
Arrive Rome · check in Apartment near Termini, Via dell'Esquilino 38 · rest after the long drive
Evening
Light dinner Explore the nearby Monti neighborhood — casual dinner
TueJune 16 · Vatican Day & Iconic Evening Walk
Morning
Free — Monti wander & laundry Explore the Monti streets · coffee and a cornetto
12:45 pm
Depart for the Vatican Walk to Termini (~4 min) · Metro Line A toward Battistini → Ottaviano · ~9 min · €1.50/person
1:20 pm
Meet Dr. Sara Magister Art historian · at the Vatican Museums entrance
1:30 pm
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Booked 1:30 pm entry
4:00 pm
St. Peter's Basilica Booked 4:00 pm · photos in Piazza San Pietro
After
Metro back to Termini & home Quick refresh before the evening walk
5:45 pm
Depart for the evening walk Metro Line A → Spagna · ~15 min door to steps
6:00 pm
Spanish Steps Climb all 135 steps · golden-hour views · the Barcaccia fountain
6:40 pm
Trevi Fountain ~12 min walk · €2 entry · coin toss: right hand over left shoulder = return to Rome
7:10 pm
Pantheon exterior Spectacular at dusk · coffee or gelato at Piazza della Rotonda
7:30 pm
Piazza Navona Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers lit up · aperitivo
8:15 pm
Dinner — Ponte e Parione Via di Santa Maria dell'Anima 62 · 1 min from Navona · bring cash backup · +39 06 6819 2278
After
Navona by night & home Gelato · Campo de' Fiori 5 min away · Metro from Barberini → Termini
The full evening route is mapped in Walking Routes below.
WedJune 17 · Colosseum & Trastevere 🎂 Happy Birthday Emily!
Morning
Free — Monti wander Coffee · explore Via dei Serpenti
11:15 am
Depart for the Colosseum Metro Line B from Termini to Colosseo — 2 stops
11:45 am
Ancient Rome tour — Patrizia Sfligiotti (~3.5 hrs) Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
~3:30 pm
Late lunch on the way back Fuorinorma · La Pressemolina · Saporizzo (see Lunch Options below)
~4:30 pm
Hotel reset Rest & refresh
5:00–5:30
Monti aperitivo (optional) Piazza della Madonna dei Monti · Negroni or Spritz
6:00–6:30
Tram 8 to Trastevere Board at Largo di Torre Argentina · ~20 min · buy tickets at a tabacchi first
~6:30 pm
Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere Basilica facade & gold mosaics (free) · fountain · aperitivo · street musicians
~7:00 pm
Via della Lungaretta wander Ivy-covered walls, laundry lines — classic Trastevere
8:00 pm
Dinner — Roma Sparita Piazza Santa Cecilia 24 · famous cacio e pepe in a parmesan bowl · +39 06 580 0757
After
Gelato & walk home Come il Latte (rec. Tonya) · cross Ponte Sisto · drift through the centro storico
ThuJune 18 · Rome → Gaeta
Morning
Final Rome morning Coffee at Sant'Eustachio or the Pantheon area
11:00–12
Check out · depart for Gaeta with Roberto ~1.5 hours · +39 349 093 0300
Afternoon
Arrive Gaeta — beach time begins Continues on the Gaeta page →

🚶 Walking Routes

Two evening walks for our Rome nights, plus a classic bonus stroll.

Walk 1Iconic Rome by Night

Tue June 16 • depart ~5:45 pm • dinner at Ponte e Parione 8:15 pm

5:45–6:00
Depart Via dell'Esquilino Metro Line A → Spagna · ~15 min door to steps · €1.50/person
6:00 pm
Spanish Steps Metro exit is at the base · 135 steps · Trinità dei Monti · Barcaccia fountain
6:40 pm
Trevi Fountain ~12 min walk · €2 entry · coin toss
7:10 pm
Pantheon & Piazza della Rotonda Spectacular lit at dusk · gelato or coffee
7:30 pm
Piazza Navona Bernini fountain lit up · street performers · aperitivo · linger ~30 min
8:15 pm
Dinner — Ponte e Parione Via di Santa Maria dell'Anima 62 · 1 min from Navona
After
Navona by night & home Gelato · Campo de' Fiori 5 min · Metro Barberini → Termini
Walk 2Trastevere Evening

Wed June 17 • depart 5:00–5:30 pm • dinner at Roma Sparita 8:00 pm

5:00–5:30
Monti aperitivo (optional) Piazza della Madonna dei Monti · Negroni or Spritz
6:00–6:30
Tram 8 to Trastevere Board at Largo di Torre Argentina · ~20 min · buy tickets at a tabacchi in advance
Trastevere
Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere Basilica facade · gold mosaics inside (free) · fountain · aperitivo tables · musicians
 
Via della Lungaretta wander Ivy-covered walls · laundry lines · classic Trastevere
8:00 pm
Dinner — Roma Sparita Piazza Santa Cecilia 24 · cacio e pepe in a parmesan basket
After
Come il Latte gelato Trastevere · recommended by Tonya
Late
Cross Ponte Sisto & walk home Beautiful pedestrian bridge · Tiber views at night · drift east through the centro storico
BonusRick Steves' Dolce Vita Stroll

Optional • best Mon–Sat, 5:00–7:00 pm

Start
Piazza del Popolo Metro Line A to Flaminio · twin baroque churches · Egyptian obelisk · ancient north gate of Rome
Walk
Via del Corso Rome's main street — window-shop and people-watch heading south
Stop
Mausoleum of Augustus Ancient tomb of the first emperor · Ara Pacis beside it
Stop
Piazza Colonna Column of Marcus Aurelius · Palazzo Chigi (PM's office)
Stop
Via Condotti Rome's luxury shopping street leading to the Spanish Steps
End
Spanish Steps at sunset Piazza di Spagna · Barcaccia fountain · gelato & people-watching

🏛️ Sights & Lunch Options

Top Sights (tap for more)

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

One of the greatest art collections on earth, ending at Michelangelo's ceiling. Booked June 16.

St. Peter's Basilica

The largest church in the world. Booked June 16, 4:00 pm.

🏟️

Colosseum, Forum & Palatine

Walk through ancient Rome with Patrizia. Booked June 17.

Trevi Fountain

Toss a coin to return to Rome. €2 entry.

🏛️

Pantheon

The most perfectly preserved ancient building in Rome.

Piazza Navona

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, lit up at night.

👟

Spanish Steps

135 steps, golden-hour views, the Barcaccia fountain.

🌆

Trastevere

Rome's most romantic neighborhood — best in the evening.

🎨

Galleria Borghese

Bernini & Caravaggio in a villa setting. Book well ahead if you go.

Lunch Options (from the brochure)

NameWhereWhat it is
FuorinormaNear Colosseum / MontiFocaccia sandwiches · perfect on the walk back after the Ancient Rome tour (~3:30 pm)
La PressemolinaNear Colosseum / MontiPizza by the slice · great grab-and-go after the tour
SaporizzoNear Colosseum / MontiGrab & go sandwiches · on the way back to Monti
Forno Campo de' FioriCampo de' Fiori 22Legendary bakery · pizza bianca & pizza al taglio · near the Vatican walk
PizzariumVia della Meloria 43, PratiBonci's famous by-weight pizza · near the Vatican · best pizza al taglio in Rome
Dar BruttoneVia dei Serpenti 113, MontiCounter-order trattoria near the hotel · great for a quick group lunch
Mercato TestaccioVia Beniamino Franklin, TestaccioRome's best indoor food market · everything from pasta to supplì

Swipe sideways to see all columns · more eats on the Food Quick Reference →

🏠 Home Base, Guides & Neighborhoods

🏠
Apartment near Termini (VRBO — Guido) — 3 nights
Via dell'Esquilino 38, 00185 Roma • Ref HA-Z95DW8
~300 sqm • 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, elevator, A/C, washer & dryer • check-in 3 pm / out 11 am • walkable to Monti

🎨 Dr. Sara Magister

Art historian — our guide for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's (June 16). +39 339 379 3813

🏛️ Patrizia Sfligiotti

Archaeologist — our guide for the Colosseum, Forum & Palatine (June 17). +39 347 366 7668

Key Neighborhoods

Monti (near our apartment)

Rome's most charming rione, walkable from Via dell'Esquilino. Via dei Serpenti & Via del Boschetto are lined with cafes, wine bars and boutiques — great for morning coffee and evening wandering.

Centro Storico

The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori & Piazza Venezia. Where we walk June 16 after the Vatican — dinner at Ponte e Parione is right in the heart of it.

Trastevere

Cobblestone alleys, ivy-covered facades, lantern-lit piazzas — Rome's most romantic neighborhood. Dinner at Roma Sparita on June 17, then wander.

Prati (near the Vatican)

Upscale residential area north of the Vatican. Via Cola di Rienzo has good lunch & coffee — much calmer than St. Peter's Square.

📇 Rome Contacts

Dr. Sara MagisterGuide — Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's (Jun 16)
+39 339 379 3813
Patrizia SfligiottiGuide — Colosseum, Forum & Palatine (Jun 17)
+39 347 366 7668
Paola MiglioriniTwo vans, Florence → Rome (Jun 15)
+39 347 657 2611
Ponte e ParioneDinner — Jun 16, 8:15 pm
+39 06 6819 2278
Roma SparitaDinner — Jun 17, 8:00 pm
+39 06 580 0757

Next: Gaeta →