Rome!

[ChristinaTherese]

I want to go there October 30-November 3 or October 31-November 3, depending on class schedules. Any suggestions or advice? I have 3 or 4 days to spend there. I pretty much don't know anything about what I should go see, I just know that it's Rome and I want to spend my longest long weekend there because it's Rome.

[Nihil Obstat]

My favourite places in Rome:

Mass at Ss. Trinitas Dei Pellegrini, the FSSP's Roman parish. Walking distance from St. Peter's Basilica. Catch Mass there if you can.

Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Right across the street from the Basilica, the Santa Scala. Definitely climb the stairs on your knees.

Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. My very favourite statue in Rome is this one, on your left as you walk in.

Michaelangelo's statue of Moses is also there, and then the obvious thing. :P

[pippo buono]

Santa Maria in Vallicella - Chiesa Nuova

Besides one of the church and home of one of my favorite saints, Philip Neri (the reason for my username), the church is beautiful.

[pippo buono]

Speaking of which, you can do St. Philip Neri's famous pilgrimage of the seven churches. It's a tradition that goes back to his time. I spent a whole day doing it because I did it on foot and it involves visiting some churches outside "the walls" of Rome.

[ChristinaTherese]

I'll be back with planning details, but for now I'm popping in to say that I bought the plane tickets and reserved a bed and I'll have 2.5 days to spend.

[reminiscere]

I live here, if you need help.

[Sponsa-Christi]

Lots of thoughts here...

 

You definitely will want to check out St. Peter's basilica! If you go to St. Peter's at around 7:00 am (especially on Saturdays), you can often attend a "private" daily Mass at one of the side altars. If you wait outside the sacristy, you'll probably even be able to find an English-speaking priest whose Mass you can join.

 

If you want to grab a post-St. Peter's coffee and cornetto, go to this place. Also, for souvenir shopping, check out Soprani (they have the best deals on religious items---you can often find nice gifts for people for only a couple of euro.) There are also lots of nice bookshops around St. Peter's, with the Daughters of St. Paul bookshop having the most helpful English section. 

 

You might also like to visit the other three major basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. St. Paul's is a little bit of a trip, but not too bad, and very much worth it!

 

One of my favorite things to visit in Rome is the Scavi at the Church of San Clemente. You can explore three different layers of the Church and its foundations. The catacombs are also great to visit.

 

 

 

 

[Odilia]

One of my favorite things to visit in Rome is the Scavi at the Church of San Clemente. You can explore three different layers of the Church and its foundations. The catacombs are also great to visit.

This! San Clemente is my favourite church in Rome.

Also, go check out the great bars and restaurants in Trastevere. You can combine this with a visit to Santa Maria in Trastevere, it's open until 19:00.