When we arrive at the hotel in Rome we might have a little time to kill before our first "meeting" with the tour director. Any suggestions? Anything off the beaten path? I'm not sure I want to duplicate anything in the tour itself. Plus it probably won't be a lot of time, you never know until you get there I guess.

Also we have an extra day at the end of the tour. I sort of figured we might go back to anywhere we wanted to explore more but again, is there anything that we shouldn't miss seeing that is not included on the tour?

If you are staying near the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo is interesting and has never been included in any of my tours.
On your extra day at the end, you may want to walk through the Forum, which you will only "view" on tour. St. Peter in Chains is close to the Colosseum...Michelangelo's Moses is amazing. (It might be offered as part of an optional) Dinner in Trastevere is a good way to get the feel of a traditional Roman neighborhood, and the food is wonderful. You might want to use the hop-on bus to visit/revisit Rome's highlights. http://www.rome-tours.net/tour...TLq5wCFVRM5Qodq0GPkw
I've done all of the optionals that were listed for your tour and they were all worth doing. Your offered list will look much different when you get it from your tour director.
Sue

Thanks! I'm checking out each place you mentioned.

After looking around I think the aqueduct park looks like an interesting place to visit too.

I had 3 days in Rome before my tour started and I walked everywhere just enjoying Rome.

If you love history you MUST do a guided tour of the Forum IMO, as it is simply awesome. And I agree with Sue Gillen, the Castel Sant'Angelo is interesting. But my favourite place was the Pantheon and so I saw it several times because once was not enough.

There is so much to see in Rome and I sat for a while just looking at the Colosseum to take in the fact that I was really here. And eating gelato too, which you have to do as it is just so devine

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A favourite of ours is the Capitoline Museums, comprising three main buildings surrounding the Piazza del Campidoglio and interlinked by an underground gallery beneath the piazza. At the far end of the piazza on either side of the end building are excellent viewing points for the Forum, Palantine Hill and Colosseum - a very popular place at night for marriage proposals! If you walk through the Forum, when you reach the entry point for the Palantine Hill, you can buy a combined ticket that includes the Colosseum.

Another place I can suggest ties in with your visit to Siena on tour. As you walk from the coach park into Siena, you will pass the Basilica of San Domenico. This is a 13th century Gothic church with a crenellated campanile. It is a little bizarre in that they have the head and finger of St. Catherine of Siena on display in the church (she took her vows there) for visitors whilst the remainder of her body is buried beneath the main altar in the Basilica of Saint Mary sopra Minerva in Rome. This is a fascinating Gothic church with “soaring pointed vaults, delicate ogival arches, predominant blues and golds, flickering lights from stained-glass rose windows, filled to bursting with art treasures.” The façade of this church is quite plain with an elephant obelisk out the front. It is near the Pantheon in Rome.

There are a great many other ideas in my post: Some links relevant to Rome & surrounds.

phil

I had to go back and look at the itinerary, I didn't realize the Forum was just viewable and not really toured. I think this will be important for us. We'll have to look into tours, is that just something you can walk up and get? Or have to find a group?

phil - thanks for the tip on excellent viewing areas, I love photography and maybe I can get over there in the evening to get a picture.

How much free time is there in Siena? I've been wondering if there is enough time to go in the main Cathedral? Is there usually a long line? I watched a Rick Steves show on Italy and he talked about how the Siena cathedral only uncovers the mosaics on the floor for 6 weeks. So I did some research and found that they are usually uncovered for the whole month of September, so I think this is something I would very much like to see since its not the norm.

I will put the other Basilica on my list in case we have more time!

Thanks for the link too, I'll check it out.

We were in Rome in May this year and did a wonderful tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum with Viator tours. Can highly recommend them.

Flowers,
You will adore this tour, but most of all you will adore Italy. It is a great overview tour and you will know which places you would love to come back to next time.
It almost doesnt matter where you go you will always wish you had more time. I agree inside the Cathedral at Siena would be wonderful - I think we should have done that, but not sure about the line to get in. We had around an hour or so in Siena. (would love to go back here and stay)
We went back to the Forum the day after our tour finished as there is a lot to see and so many photo opportunities. We also went to the catacombs which wasnt offered on the tour.
It's wonderful to walk around Rome and explore as well as watching the world stroll by while enjoying a meal.
Oh...and the glorious Pantheon.

Phil is fantastic with all his links. I love looking at them in case I need to plan the next holiday!

There are a number of Tour Tales on the Escapade on the BB. Have you read them? They offer slightly different view points and sometimes the optionals are also a different mix. It's under INSIGHT EXPERIENCE then TOUR TALES and then click onto WHERE ARE ALL THE TOUR TALES? and scroll down.
ALSO In some of the other tour tales there are always optionals and experiences that overlap so it is worth looking through other tours that go to Italy etc.
Have fun researching!
Eve

margeretc - I'll check out Viator, thanks.

Eve - I've read all the Escapade tales at least twice and am starting to read other Italy tales, I was drooling over pictures of the Dolomites, to bad we won't be going there!! I've seen over time how hotels changed, options changed, etc. There are a couple options I'm really hoping for based on the tales including San Gimignano, Burano, Positano and the mozzarella farm. I had really wanted to go to the top of Vesuvius and Herculaneum but there will probably be no time for them while we are in Sorrento. Maybe another trip.

I've not been to Ostia Antigua, but I've heard it's an easy trip from Rome. Your mention of Herculaneum brought this site to mind.
Train info
30 minutes each way. Round-trip ticket: $2.60. To reach Ostia, pick up the regional Roma-Lido metro line (part of the city's subway system) at Rome's Porta San Paolo station and head in the direction of Cristoforo Colombo. Get off at Stella Polare, 30 minutes away. Trains run about every five minutes from 5:18 A.M. until 11:30 P.M. Each way counts as a single metro ride and costs $1.30; tickets can be purchased from machines at metro stations and at newsstands. If you need advice, look for attendants in blue uniforms--they're on hand at major subway stations. Schedules at metroroma.it.

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