08-16-2004, 09:12 PM

Hello,

We're planning a trip to Rome this October and are interested in
unusual tours. Bike tours, night tours, overlooked places, anything
that is shifted away from the traditional sites. We'll definitely
visit some classic highlights, but we'd like to see something that is
not standard.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Elana

08-16-2004, 10:45 PM

In news:,
Elana <> typed:

    > We're planning a trip to Rome this October and are interested
    > in
    > unusual tours. Bike tours, night tours, overlooked places,
    > anything
    > that is shifted away from the traditional sites. We'll
    > definitely
    > visit some classic highlights, but we'd like to see something
    > that is
    > not standard.

It's not a tour, but if you want to go to an unusual, overlooked
place, try the Casino della Civetta. I found it very interesting.

__________________
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

08-22-2004, 09:10 AM

Elana wrote:
    >
    > We're planning a trip to Rome this October and are interested in
    > unusual tours. Bike tours, night tours, overlooked places, anything
    > that is shifted away from the traditional sites. We'll definitely
    > visit some classic highlights, but we'd like to see something that is
    > not standard.

You haven't said how many days you will be in Rome, whether or not this
will be your first trip, or even your particular interests.
Nevertheless, here is a suggestion for Rome:

Do a themed church crawl
(e.g. Borromini churches or Bernini VS Borromini churches or
wonderful mosaics or Christian re-use of Roman sites are all
productive themes. If you do the last suggestion, be sure to visit
the Baths of Caracalla before visiting Santa Maria degli Angeli.
When you visit Caracalla you'll see the ruins of much of the
complete bath complex. That will help you understand that
you're looking at Michaelangelo's re-use of the central axis of the
Baths of Diocletian in the church)

Karen Selwyn

08-22-2004, 10:54 AM

Elana wrote:
    >We're planning a trip to Rome this
    >October and are interested in unusual
    >tours. Bike tours, [snip]

The ancient Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) is closed to motor vehicles on
Sundays.
I *believe* there are bike rental shops open on Sunday near the Porta
S. Sebastiano (taxi or bus to there). If not there are others in Rome,
although you would probably have to rent on Saturday and return on
Monday.
The Catacombs are at the 2nd Roman Milestone (~2mi) and ruins (Villa,
Circus and Mausoleum of Maxentius, Tomb of Cecilia Metella) before the
3rd Milestone.
And beyond that it's countryside with the remains of ancient tombs,
these are still on the Appian Way. Also other sites are in the area.
Even if you can't rent bikes it's a popular walk with the Romans. Take
along bus tickets, there is a bus stop (I believe the 660) that goes to
a metro stop that will get you back into Rome. And I believe there are
other buses also.
The bus stop is on the Appian Way between the Catacombs of San
Sebastiano and the Mausoleum of Maxentius, you can't miss the sign.
If interested try searching and posting on the Fodor's Forum
www.fodors.com/forums/ I have read a post of 1 or 2 people who have
rented bikes on a Sunday and did this.
Regards, Walter

..And Paradise Was Lost...like teardrops in the rain...

08-22-2004, 11:14 AM

I'd like to add this to my previous post Re: Sunday bicycle tours on the
Appian Way.
In a search a poster on Fodor's said he rented bikes near this park's
headquarters on a Sunday, they also mention bike tours on their website.
www.parcoappiaantica.org/en/default.asp
Regards, Walter

..And Paradise Was Lost...like teardrops in the rain...