Rome & Pompeii at half term - what to wear & what to buy?

[MaeMobley]

We will be doing a lot of sight seeing & I am not worried about blending in. I will never be that elegant.

I am assuming some sort of trainers/ comfy shoes, nothing too revealing for churches.

and do I need to cover my head in churches?

Not your head , but definitely shoulders and not skimpy shorts. A sarong or lightweight scarf may be useful.

Thanks LIZS!

It will be hot at P

Pompeii (probably) so hat and bag to carry water. Comfy shoes suitable for climbing around (they're not as vigilant as they should be and you can get into interesting bits). Rome is more walking than you think because there isways something interesting nearby and you will think that it's fine to just walk there because it's only five minutes - at the end of the day you will realise you have walked miles and are covered in blisters and have black bogeys from all the exhaust fumes. The strange thing about Rome is that the streets are very shady because of the heights of the buildings so you might get chilly even on a warm day.

You will have a wonderful time!

What to buy: lots of stylish things but actually what you really want is Vatican kitsch. It is very hard to beat a sop-on-a-rope shaped like the Pope.

Decent shoes for Rome. Lots of cobbled streets.

Or a blinking pope ruler. Always regret not buying one

Definately take a cover up for Pompeii. Can get unbearably hot and there is very little shade. Maybe a sunhat too.
Some Chinese tourists had pretty shad brollies!

Agree, there's very little shade at Pompeii

I wore fit flops to both and was fine (if grubby of foot by the end of the day)

You can also get a brilliant hologram of Jesus on the cross. Some of the stuff has to be seen to be believed. If you can get an item of religious significance that a) has a secret compartment b) glows in the dark c) has fairy lights and d) moves when you're not looking, you have done well, my child.

You need to have your shoulders covered for the Vatican (I think) and not too short shorts. A cardi or a pashmina or a sarong does the job.

Comfy shoes and a hat!

Thank you for your help. Notnow, I will think of you when I make my kitsch purchases.

Sorry to go on and on. It's absolutely my favourite thing. You can also get a nodding Jesus, like a nodding dog. Have a lovely time - sounds like a dream holiday.

Google Up Pompeii for some fashion ideas

And the "hot priests" calendar - it'll be just outside the Vatican as it's not approved merchandise, but it's a classic already.

Active sandals are a good choice of shoe.

In Rome, either cough up the extra for a timed ticket for entrance to the big sites (eg Sistine Chapel, Colosseum) or resign yourself to a lot of queuing or just cross them off your to do list.

I would go for comfort as to be honest I didn't find italians particularly stylish. I thought it would be all Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. In actual fact the women had THE worst taste in jeans I've even seen. Awful wash, awful cut and often combined with a denim jacket and not in a double denim way. More a denim suit type thing.
Pompeii I'd definitely recommend really solid footwear and a bag to carry water and it can be bloody roasting. I went in May.

I love Rome, it's fantastic. It's a city you can spend they whole day wandering and people watching at fountains.

european cities always disappoint on the fashun.
its because you are generally with other tourists.

Yes hot priests calender. And sexy pasta.

Don't wear mini skirts or bikinis to St. Peter's basillica. We saw people get turned away despite the signs. And their protests that they were catholic.

Decent shoes for Rome. Sunscreen. We didn't take any. And I got a bit burnt walking round the colluseum.

Pompeii need decent shoes.

Ooh am jealous.

Agree with all that has been said. Be well covered and wear comfy shoes. I wore a skirt and t shirt and wore trainers. Comfort more important to me than style!

Take a hat and sun glasses.

Buon viagio!

Watch your bag. I've been to Rome twice, and both times someone tried to rob me. The second time my cross-body back was slit underneath while I was wearing it.

Oldnew - astonishing! I'm always vigilant (cross body bags, limited cash etc) - never occurred to me that they would just slit the bags open! IME there are so many careless tourists with bags hanging open I wouldn't have thought it necessary

Thanks y'all. I am very excited. I am planning on taking this bag and wearing it across my body: www.asos.com/Orla-Kiely/Orla-Kiely-Tiny-Teacup-Print-Classic-Super-Maxi-Bag/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=822405&cid=0.

Hopefully that is ok.