MAPS, Audio Guides and Public Transportation

Good maps of Rome >>

My Personal Printable Map of Rome 

Rome audio tours with maps by Rick Steves' see here

Public Transportation

Here is a really good article on how to use the Tram Lines. Line 8 (the  lime green one) will connect you from Trastevere to Largo Argentina near Piazza Venezia (right in the center of Rome).

How to pay for public transport, see here.

Using Taxi

You can walk directly to one of the many taxi stands: Map of taxi stands,  or book one using a taxi apps.

Drinking Water

Rome has probably the best city water I know of, which is accessible via the drinking fountains: i Nasoni. Here is an app for them, as well as a map

RESERVATION HOTEL IN ROME

Casa  I Cappuccini        www.casacappucciniroma.it    +39 06 8880 3600

 Via Vittorio Veneto, 21, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Sep 5 – Sep 8, 2025 (3 nights)

• Patricia Mancesidor: 1 guest, Single Room, 3 nights; Res Code: FRVDZ9KVVJC

• Karen Uhl & Lisa Mackenzie: 2 guests, Double Room, 2 separate beds, 3 nights; Res Code: 9SBGBH5HWVC

Sep 6 – Sep 8, 2025 (2 nights)

• Danielle Hanlon: 1 guest, Single Room, 2 nights; Res Code: VYZJY67U82C

• Alessandra Scotti: 1 guest, Single Room, 2 nights; Res Code: 9GLS8TJ496C

• Candace Stokes & Marcia Delaney: 2 guests, Double Room, 2 separate beds, 2 nights; Res Code: Y5KFKX7XD6C

Sep 7 – Sep 8, 2025 (1 night)

• Plattner Betts: 1 guest, Single Room, 1 night; Res Code: G3BGBC9VJFC

• Naheed Yousaf & Denise Laurie Richman: 2 guests, Double Room, 2 separate beds, 1 night; Res Code: TDPKLENS7LC

Day 0 – Fri, Sept 5: Arrival in Rome (Optional Pre-Tour – Day 1)

For those arriving the day before:

Karen:  afternoon tea at the hotel.  Dinner at walking distance. Walk the Tiber in late afternoon. Palazzo Colonna the day after (Sat Sept 6) at 9:15 am

Patricia: will also arrive on the 5th

Day 1 – Sat, Sept 6: Arrival in Rome (Optional Pre-Tour – Day 1)

• Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

• Group pickup around 11:00 AM (final time may vary to accommodate arrivals).

• Check-in at centrally located hotel (Hotel Casa dei Cappuccini in Via Veneto, one of the best locations in Rome).

• “Best of Rome” chauffeured tour  (total 4 hours service including transfer from FCO). The ladies arriving the day before will be picked up at the hotel at time 12:00 or 1:00 pm depending on flight arrival times.

• 6:00 pm Welcome orientation + evening stroll with Alessandra, ending at a traditional Roman trattoria (Optional – dinner cost not included; estimated at €25–€40. Together, we’ll discover a cozy Roman trattoria where Alessandra will introduce you to the rich world of Roman food culture — what to order, how to pronounce it, and how locals truly enjoy it!)

Day 2 – Sun, Sept 7: Rome at Leisure (Optional Pre-Tour – Day 2)

• Breakfast at hotel

• Free day with curated suggestions from Alessandra. Please contact me directly so that I can help you define the best possible day for your preferences.

• Optional skip-the-line tickets or guided experiences (not included see below for various options).

• Evening neighborhood stroll to see Illuminated Rome with Alessandra

• Introduction to the Italian traditional aperitivo (cost of food and drinks is not included estimated at €10–€15)

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), Optional Aperitivo Add on not included'

Karen will do the Pantheon in the Morning, and has purchased tickets for St Peter's Basilica for 1:00 pm with the dome elevator at 2:30 , Castel Sant'Angelo afterwards

VATICAN (how to)

If you arrive on the 6th there will be no time to visit any part of the Vatican inside. The chauffeured tour will take you there for an outside visiy. Entering the vatican requires long standing time and is not suggested on arrival day.

• Basilica Of St Peter (in my opinion the most beautiful part of the vatican), can be visited the morning of the 6th (for those arriving a day earlier), or Sunday afternoons (as of now on Sunday entrance times are available at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pm). Note that  tickets may run out. They cost EUR 7 and they include an audio guide. See here to purchase Basilica and cupola tickets.

  • When to visit the Basilica

    • For those arriving a day early (the 5th) it would be possible to visit in the morning of the 6th or the 7th in the afternoon.  For those arriving on the 6th, you can reserve an entrance on the 7th in the afternoon. See the link above for reservations.

    • I do not advise visiting the Basilica on arrival day. If you have enough stamina and would like to arrange that please let me know.

  • Going to the Papal Mass:  Papal Masses require free tickets, which can be requested by emailing the Vatican’s Prefecture at prefettura@pontificalisdomus.va. Please note that attending a Papal Mass or General Audience is not a way to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. In fact, it can make visiting much more difficult due to the large crowds. Entry to the Basilica is limited and would require arriving several hours in advance.

• Sistine Chapel: surprisingly  it is impossible to visit just the Sistine Chapel, as it is located inside the Vatican Museums. Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays. To visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine chapel skip the lines tickets are absolutely necessary. For those that absolutely wish to enter them, you would have to arrive a day earlier. Official tickets are already sold-out, but resellers still have them. Let me know if you need to arrange for such visit.

Sites That Require Entrance Tickets

• 1. Vatican: see above

  2. Colosseum: tickets become available exactly 30 days before the intended visit date, the timing applies individually for each time slot. Official web site (often unavailable as they sell out very fast). Trusted reseller see here.

  3. Pantheon: requires EUR 5 per person entrance tickets. It appears that this year it is faster to go through the entrance with cash. For advance purchase see official site here. Note: advance purchase tickets for the Pantheon are only available for the current month.

  4. Palazzo Colonna only available on Friday and Saturday morning (9:15 to 1:15). See here for info and tickets.

  5. Galleria Borghese: official site here (look at the buy tickets button), additional information here

  6. Altare della Patria or Il Vittoriano: From Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (last entry at 6:45 pm). Free first Sunday of the month. No need to pre-purchase tickets.

     • Open daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM, Enter from Piazza Venezia or Capitoline Hill.   Official Web site.

     • In September, the Vittoriano will extend its opening hours every Friday evening until 11:30 PM (last admission at 10:45 PM).

     • Elevators to rooftop are at the rear (€12, free on Sunday Sept 7) for sweeping views of Colosseum and Roman forums as well as a Rooftop café 

  7. Castel Sant’Angelo Tuesday to Sunday 9:00am - 7:30pm (last admission 6:30pm). Entrance is Free on the first Sunday of the Month. Otherwise it costs €16 and can be purchased here.

Rome Hidden Gems (click on the names to see videos)

• Palazzo Colonna only available on Friday and Saturday morning (9:15 to 1:15). See here for info and tickets.

• Chiostro del Bramante ( a hidden Renaissance gem with elegant frescoed cloisters, a curated bookshop, and a stylish café)

• Grand Hotel Plaza Roma (one of the most elegant locations for an afternoon tea)

• Basilica di San Clemente—aka The Lasagna Church!

• Below Piazza Navona find the Stadium of Domitian, an ancient Roman stadium buried underground!  More info on Piazza Navona in this video.

• Il Vittoriano (Altare della Patria) see video (one of my favourite locations in Rome)

  • Open daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM, Enter from Piazza Venezia or Capitoline Hill.   Official Web site.

  • In September, the Vittoriano will extend its opening hours every Friday evening until 11:30 PM (last admission at 10:45 PM).

  • Elevators to rooftop are at the rear (€12, free on Sunday Sept 7) for sweeping views of Colosseum and Roman forums as well as a Rooftop café 

• Stunning optical Illusions:

  • Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola with it's mesmerizing optical illusion ceiling

  • Rooms of Sant’Ignazio and the corridor of Andrea Pozzo from Monday to Saturday from 4PM to 6PM and on Sundays from 10AM to 12PM. 

• Roman necropolis below the grottoes of the Vatican

• San Callisto Catacombs  (official web site) found along the Appia Antica road, the   2300 yo Roman Road you can walk, bike or drive on. 

• Capuchin Crypt (just next to our hotel)  hauntingly beautiful underground chapel decorated with the bones of over 3,700 friars.

• Rome street food:  what not to miss,   starting with Supplì, the city’s signature fried rice ball, or the unforgettable Venchi gelato and chocolate paradise. And my favourite Maritozzo con la panna

• Rome the Lasagna City 

Unusual Rome:

Alessandra will be available for discovering the less known Rome. Coordinate with her and refer to the videos posted in the "Italy with Ale" messenger community chat.

NOTE: for those the did not book the optional Pre-Tour in Rome the Villa escape tour starts here and can be picked up in a centrally located hotel in Rome.

Driver Contact

Our contact for the driver for the 2 transfers from Rome and back to Rome is Paolo (manager) +39 335 765 3762

VILLA Location & Contact

Our Villa is located 3.7 miles south of the town of Sarteano at the address  42°56'51.6"N 11°51'05.9"E off of the SP478 road.  See on google maps here.

Our host is lady Letitia +39  328 472 8719

Day 3 – Mon, Sept 8: Transfer from Rome - Civita di Bagnoregio & Villa Arrival

• 10:00 am Depart Rome for Tuscany with your professional Chauffeur/guide from the Hotel Casa  I Cappuccini    Via Vittorio Veneto, 21, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

• Stop to visit Civita di Bagnoregio 

• Arrive at private villa in Val d’Orcia (estimated time of arrival 4:00 pm)

• Settle in with a welcome aperitivo around our private pool

• Dinner at a local tuscan trattoria

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), Typical Italian snacks and finger food while at the Villa (included), Dinner (included with the Free Early Booking Meals add on - limited availability)

⚠️ Note: Days 4–7 may occur in a different order depending on local weather and conditions. All activities listed are included.

Day 4 – Tues, Sept 9: Florence Day Trip

Good map of Florence >>. Florence audio tours with maps by Rick Steves' see here

Note: the plan is to reach Florence by train, in case the local current conditions will not be ideal, we will be traveling by car. 

Transfer time by car 1.5 - 2 hours each way

Transfer by train: 

• We will leave the Villa at 8:00 am to catch the 8:42 train that will arrive in Florence at 10:48 am

• Depart Florence at 6:14 pm - arrive at Chiusi train station 7:48, arrive at villa at 8:10 pm

• Once in Florence we will have an orientation  walk with Alessandra

• We’ll stop for lunch at a typical Florentine location — everyone is welcome to join, and for guests with the Free Early Booking Meals Add-On, the meal is included.

• Afternoon after 2.30 pm free to explore museums, shops, or cafés

  • • FOR KAREN (since you want to buy both the Uffizi Gallery + Palazzo Pitti and Boboli gardens) it costs less to buy the 5 days PassePartout ticket here. The cost is  EUR 40 pp, and you only select the entrance time for the Uffizi, which must be the first museum you visit, then you can see the rest whenever you wish.

    • Academia (for those that want to see the Original David by Michelangelo) and Uffizi Gallery (contains the 

      • Official web site for Academia and Uffizi Gallery skip the lines Tickets  EUR 20 pp.  Choose entrance time: 14:30 - 14:45 Or 14:45 - 15:00 

      • Group guided tour with skip the lines tickets: from EUR 45 per person here. I have not used them because I usually book private tours with my guide, but they have high reviews.  Select time 2:55 pm

    • The Uffizi Gallery holds the greatest collection of Renaissance art anywhere, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo’s Annunciation, Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo, major works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, Giotto, Cimabue, and more, all inside a historic Medici palace overlooking the Arno.  Official web site for Academia and Uffizi Gallery skip the lines Tickets  EUR 20 pp.

    • DUOMO for skip the lines tickets you need need the "Brunelleschi Pass" EUR 30 pp, see official site here

    • Combo tour Guide Academia and David + Guided Duomo and Brunelleschi dome climb  €82.68 (select the 2:30 time, lasts 3 hours). This is a reputable company safe to book.

    • Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace) open on Tuesday  8.15am to 6.30pm. You can walk in to Palazzo Pitti without an advance reservation,  Skip-the-Line pre-booked timed entrance is recommended for faster entry. See official site where you can also get combo tickets including the Boboli garden: https://www.uffizi.it/en/pitti-palace 

• Leave Florence at 6:00 pm Return to the villa at approximately 8:00 pm for and aperitivo by the pool.

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), Lunch in Florence (included with the Free Early Booking Meals add on - limited availability),  typical Italian snacks and finger food while at the Villa (included

Day 5 – Sept 10: Geothermal Spa & Bagno Vignoni

• On the way to bagno Vignoni we will have the opportunity to visit the Bagni Di San Filippo, a  natural hot spring and waterfall (the White Whale). See info here. 30 min.drive from our Villa.

• From Bagni Di San Filippo it is only a 15-20 min drive to reach Bagno Vignoni. Once there we will have:

  • Full day access to either  the 5-Star ADLER Spa Resort (requires booking at least one spa service) 

    • • Danielle Hanlon: Luxury Visage 75 min.

      • Karen Uhl: Body Scrub p10, 50 min. requested a female 

      • Lisa Mackenzie: Body Thalasso, p10, 50 minutes

      • Candace Stokes: top ADLER Tuscany Massage 50 min

      • Marcia Delaney: LUXURY BODY 75 Mins.

  • or a the 5-Star La Posta Hotel & Resort (all-inclusive package). See details here.

    • • Denise Laurie Richman: La Posta La Dolce Vita Dream experienced

      • Patricia Mancesidor: La Posta La Dolce Vita Dream.

      • Edie Knowles Perra: La Posta soothing facial under hydrating on the first page of facial treatments

      • Lois Plattner Betts La Posta Harmony 25 min face

  • Time to visit Bagno Vignoni at walking distance for coffee or lunch in the charming thermal water pool square.

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), typical Italian snacks and finger food while at the Villa (included), Dinner or Lunch (included with the Free Early Booking Meals add on - limited availability)

Day 6 – Sept 11: Siena & San Gimignano

• depart from the Villa right after breakfast.

• Drive to Siena, and later to San Gimignano.

• Introductory walks with Alessandra in both towns (Siena and San Gimignano)

• Enjoy world-famous gelato in San Gimignano and free time in both towns

• Explore wine country scenery 

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), Lunch (included with the Free Early Booking Meals add on - limited availability), Aperitivo with typical Italian snacks and finger food while at the Villa (included)

Day 7 – Sept 12: Val d’Orcia Towns & Cooking Class

• (40 min drive) 10 AM to 4:00 pm - Hands-on Tuscan cooking class at a traditional farmhouse and farm house visit

  1. •  Fattoria Pulcino: Strada per Chianciano 146, 37, 53045 Montepulciano SI, Italy. Phone (landline): 0578 758711, Mobile (Cecilia): +39 339 1403162

• Enjoy the meal you create with the group

• Visit charming towns of Montepulciano: watch Rick Steve's video, and see this useful article with interactive map

  1. • A cypress-lined road leads to the 16th-century Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio overlooking the countryside.

• Relaxed evening at the villa

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included), Cooking Class with traditional tuscan meal included,  Aperitivo with typical Italian snacks and finger food while at the Villa (included)

Day 8 – Sept 13: Transfer from Villa - Orvieto & Return to Rome

• 9:30 am - Depart villa after breakfast with your professional chauffeur/guide

• Drive to Orvieto (1 hour)

• Scenic stop to explore the stunning hill town of Orvieto (about 3.5 hours)

• Drive to Rome (1.5 hours)

• 3:30 to 4:00 pm Drop-off at Rome Termini Station for onward travel (optional group drop-off at a different central Rome location)

• 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast (included),  Lunch in Orvieto (included with the Free Early Booking Meals add on - limited availability)

****** TOUR ENDS HERE ******

Additional night in Rome and Transfer to Airport

For those of you that will have their flight back on Sept 14, arrangements could be made to book shared stay in Rome and shared transfer to the Airport the next morning. 

Overnight in Rome (availability is limited)

Hotel near FCO (Rome airport) additional charges apply to be dropped off at near the airport on the 14th:  

• 3*  https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotel/roma-fiumicino-aeroporto-fiera-2  

PROS: very good price, very safe area near the airport. Has a shuttle. Is in front of a really good outdoor mall with great restaurants and shopping. Good to spend n easy evening. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto

• 4*   Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport or Hilton Rome Airport

PROS: at the airport. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto

• 5*   QC Termeroma

PROS: thermal resort, large villa style right across from the airport. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto

Rome 

I could not really find something in the "walk anywhere" downtown that had enough rooms for everybody,  but you have 2 very interesting options you want to be together. 

Hotel in Trastevere  

B&B HOTEL Roma Trastevere  3* 

UNA Hotels Trastevere Roma  4*

PROS: easy to use tram line (Number 8) can take you from the hotel to the center of Trastevere or Largo Argentina (really close to the absolute center and next to "the Wedding Cake: or Altare della Patria.

Tram n.8 (green/yellow color line): 1 min walk from B&B hotel to tram stop (T. Pascarella).   Map showing  the Tram and Metro (subway) lines. 

Hotel in Via Nazionale   

Hotel Artemide 4* 

PROS: great shopping street with good restaurants on side streets. Relatively walking distance to historical center

Transfer to Airport

To go from Rome to the FCO airport you have the following options:

• Direct Train from Termini Station to FCO airport - travel time 30 min. cost EUR 14 per person

• Taxi from Hotel to FCO airport - travel time about 40 min. Cost EUR 55 fixed price per taxi (can take 3 people, possibly 4). 

• Limo chauffeur service from Hotel to FCO cost varies from number of people: from EUR 130 (3 people) to EUR 190 (8 people)

Denises' message about reading books and sharing a conversation about them as if in a "book Club" related to this trip.

Ciao belle signore, I have chosen two books for our book club. You can choose to read either or both or none. The first is She Seduced Me: A Love Affair with Rome by Mark Tedesco. I was able to download this from my library with Hoopla. It’s not too long so we will schedule a video conference in about 2 weeks.

The second book is The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. It takes place in Florence. I was able to download the audio version from Libby. There’s also a hard copy in my local library so should be easy to get.

Sorry but I would like to change our first book to A Rome of One’s Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire  by Emma Southon. I think it will more engaging for discussion. It’s longer so we’ll take a little more time for reading.