April 15th We arrived in Rome on Friday before beginning a 28 day Mediterranean cruise on the
Seabourn Legend on Sunday. On Saturday we walked about the city trying to orient our selves - not an easy
task as the streets are a maze in the old part of the city and we never did find a very good map. We
managed to wander through the forum. We stayed at the Residenza Cellini based upon its high rating in
Tripadvisor and were not disappointed, We were warmly welcomed back a month later at the conclusion of
our cruise. We would definitely stay here again on any future trip.
May 15th The Residenza Cellini arranged a limo to transport us from Civitavecchia back to Rome.
Traffic was very light on Sunday morning and we were settled in before noon.
May 15th to 22nd On Monday morning we had an early tour of the Vatican that we arranged with Walks
Inside Rome. While they limit the size of the group to 8, Marilena Barberi, who owns the company and was
our guide, told us they very seldom have more than six in a group. We were the first group to enter the
Vatican Museums shortly after 7:30 AM and went directly to the Sistine Chapel before the other tourists
began to arrive. We circled back through the Chapel later that morning and it was absolutely shoulder to
shoulder. We were well satisfied and highly recommend them as guides. Our tour concluded in St Peter's
Basilica where the casket of Pope John Paul II was on display in connection with his Beatification several
weeks earlier.
We also had arranged a full day private tour of the highlights of Rome on Wednesday with Easitaly Tours.
Once again this is a company we have no hesitancy to recommend and it was an excellent way to orient
ourselves and plan the remainder of our site-seeing in Rome. Max Rocca, who owns this company, was our
guide for the day and gave us lots of insight which we would not have been able to obtain on our own.
The remainder of our time in Rome we wandered the streets and by the end of our eight day stay felt we
were learning our way around the city. We highly recommend obtaining a good detailed street map of
Rome prior to a trip.
We can't say we were overwhelmed with the food we had, but we were not really looking very hard for top
rated places to eat. The pasta was definitely far superior to any we get at home. We were totally
comfortable in Rome and never felt intimidated or in any danger from pick pockets, etc. we had been
warned about.
We will probably not return to Rome as a destination on to itself in the future, but would enjoy a few days
prior to, or at the conclusion of any future cruise in the area. We have Paris running deep in our veins and
that is where we flew to on May 23rd!
I hope my photos will whet your appetite for a trip to "The Eternal City", or bring back pleasant memories of
your time in Rome.
PHOTOS