ROME
The passing of Pope Francis.
With the passing of Pope Francis, and the the closing of the Vatican to tourists, we seriously contemplated skipping Rome and the expected huge crowds. It made a lot of sense to stay in Orvieto and explore the many vineyards. Many of our tour members felt the same way, but we ultimately decided to travel to Rome, and we could not have been happier with the decision. Thousands of Pilgrims made their way to Rome during Pope Francis's funeral. This made our trip to Rome both historical and enlightening. Many of our tour buddies camped on the route and witnessed the modest procession. Pope Francis was laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Tributes were found in every church we visited on the way to Rome.
Pope Francis 12/17/1936- 4/21/2025
Hotel Aberdeen, just like many of the hotels in Italy, you still leave your room key at the front desk. Heavy key!
Galleria Borghese houses some of the most spectacular masterpieces in the world. Here you will see works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Canova,
Raphael and Titian. Buy your tickets well in advance, and use a local guide to enhance your experience.
Last night in Rome. Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara. Not pictured was the man to our left. A retired English Literature professor from Sicily, who Sally befriended and talked to for over an hour. We so enjoyed our time with the people of Italy. Nice street seating at Trattoria Pinseria. It's only a four minute walk to the National Museum of Rome. A hidden gem with very light crowds and no need for a reservation.
Trevi. Go early, or get a good blocker in front of you.
While in Rome we toured the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the outside of the Colosseum. We had tickets to the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, which were unfortunately temporarily closed to tourists due to the passing of Pope Francis. We have already booked another Rick Steve's tour that starts in Rome so we can see these sites!! Pizza Pizza!
