To ask you for your most loved places to go in Rome?

[Igetknockeddownbutgetupagain]

I’m going to Rome. Alone.

Absolutely cacking myself, but also very excited. I’ve done some travelling alone, but not entirely alone for the entire period, and I’m going for 5 days, this month.

I love food, fashion, wine, culture. I’m staying in a lovely hotel in the Trastevere area of Rome. I don’t have endless cash, but I can splurge a little, if that makes sense.

Where have you been, what have you seen?
Particularly keen to hear about lovely friendly restaurants

[Hippee]

I loved the Forum and St Peter's. Can't recommend any restaurants because I went as a student, so mainly ate from the pizza shops that sell slices by weight - loved chocolate pizza too!

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

This thread is making me very happy

[SuzieSunshine]

Wow - sounds like the OP needs to book a longer holiday!! This sounds like a fantastic place to go and I'm afraid to say I have never been to Rome but it's now on my list. Oh and don't forget no screaming in the Sistine Chapel................

[cptartapp]

Placemarking. Going next month.

[DorisDances]

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is closed at the moment .

[Igetknockeddownbutgetupagain]

You guyyyyyys!

You’ve done me proud. Thank you. So many tabs open now

[Hearthside]

We went on holiday to Rome in August and love it .Hadrian's Villa , the catacombs , Pompeii all just amazing .Museum of the Fatherland is good too .And if you like cats there is a cat sanctuary where Julius Caesar was killed we went and it was lovely .Trevi fountain , Spanish steps .We found an amazing little cafe think it was called Domi Cafe .And the Gelatto .Vacation and Sistene Chapel. We went for 10 days would have happily stayed longer .

[Hearthside]

CluelessBeetroot that is were our apartment was Campo de Fiori .We loved it and at night too it comes alive .

[Davros]

A walk in the Villa Borghese on a Sunday is nice with ice cream at the cafe near the top of the Spanish steps where they used to have swing seats. Haven't been for a long time, it may have gone

[Igetknockeddownbutgetupagain]

I am quite nervous about the pick pocketing now. A few people have mentioned this in real life too. I really don’t want to have to get a bum bag to put my money in...🤣

[Ratonastick]

I wouldn’t worry too much. Be sensible, keep your valuables in a zipped handbag not a backpack or an open bag. Hang on to your bag in crowds, wrap your bag handle round your foot and keep your bag between your feet in restaurants, don’t put things in your back pocket, etc. Pickpockets operate in all big cities and they go for the easy grabs. My experience is that Rome is no worse than any other tourist destination or city.

[Sgtmajormummy]

There is a huge difference security-wise in the Rome I saw this summer.
No more organized groups of little Rom children swarming around tourists, touching them from all sides and waving newspapers. That WAS distressing.
Armed police (Carabinieri, so military) in flak jackets guarding tourist sites. They were brought in after the Paris attacks, when Rome and the Pope were thought to be the next target.
Airport-style security to get into St. Peter’s.
There are still homeless people on the street and kneeling beggars but you can see they’re harmless lost souls. People “selling” tat or over-priced bottles of water are regularly moved on with a quick siren blast from the local police in their cars.
I saw one scene in 5 days. A person with a shopping bag of food had obviously done a runner from a supermarket. Two security guards chased him and “bumper-car” diverted him into a dead end side street. The police were there in seconds to take over.

One thing for you to bear in mind. You can’t sit down on the Spanish Steps any more! Or any other national monument (same in Venice). There are high-vis vested people who move you on. Is it to stop loitering or to safeguard monuments from damage? Nobody knows but as of this year you can be fined.
I can’t say about public transport but in general I would say keep your money and phone in an inside pocket or use a cross-body bag and you’ll have no problems.

[Hearthside]

Stmajormummy yes we noticed that too a very heavy police/military presence at the tourist sites .And the whistle at the Spanish steps etc if someone sits .We found the buses really packed and bit unnerving as my youngest is 10 and we had to keep a tight hold as it was so packed at times .
I had a Travelon cross body bag , got mine off Amazon they are anti theft they can't be cut anywhere and they locked and it does work .We were on a bus my youngest clocked this guy get hold of what he thought was the zip handle to open the side pocket my bag , it wasn't it is a false end the true end locks .He realised it was false saw my daughter clock him and jumped off at the next stop .I never felt a thing so he was very sly as the bus was packed so they are well worth investing in .

[Spam88]

I don't think it's worse than any other big city for pick pocketing? I've heard the buses on tourist routes can be dodgy but we didn't go on any ourselves.

I always use a cross body bag, generally with the bag more in front of me than to the side if that makes sense, and if I'm wearing a jacket then that goes over the bag

[Helenluvsrob]

I felt no more worried about safety or pickpocketing than I do in London and it sounds like the anti terrorism stuff has beefed up but Rome was ahead with defensive street furniture etc anyway

[Sewrainbow]

Definitely pre book Vatican if you're going there.

I loved Rome, wasn't fussed about Coliseum but loved the forum and pantheon