Rome 2012 Guidebook
Guidebook corrections:
Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.
Rome 2012, pg 154 Concerning the Dying Gaul, it states that "It may have been part of a larger sculpture group (long since lost)." I believe two pieces, Ludovisi Ares and Suicide of a Gaul, of that sculpture group, Pergamon, are in Rome. They are on the first floor of the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Altemps, which is near the Piazza Navonna.
Paul Kuty in Newtown, PA USA 01/27/2012
I don't remember the guidebook saying that the catacombs at San Sebastiano are closed on Sundays.
Barb Golden in Chicago, IL USA 01/02/2012
1. Rome 2011: pg. 135 Pantheon WC's. The Mc Donalds on Pantheon square is gone. However all the signs in the surrounding streets still direct you to it. We finally found scraps of the old sign adhering to a window indicating its former place. 2. Rome 2011 pg. 206 and 233. The shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's was barred from usage on our visit 6/11. A guard with crossed arms was guarding the door, and when a tour group passed through, the guide was required to report the number of group members, who were counted as they passed through! A long walk back though the museum for us!
Cynthia Thomson in Tucson, AZ USA 12/31/2011
On page 209 of the Pocket Rome guide, you mention that Bus #40 is an express which follows the same route as #64. Having read that, we tried to take it home one night to our hotel on the south side of Piazza San Pietro. But #40's Vatican stop is on the north side of the Vatican, so we had quite a hike to get home that night.
Terri in Quilcene, WA USA 11/26/2011
no
wally terry in decatur, Al USA 10/26/2011
Ristorante Perilli in Prati is closed. Rick's audio guide for Palatine Hill is confusing. Many areas, e.g., the stadium, does not have public access and I could not see the Circus Maximus from any vantage point. Also, be careful about booking tour of Colosseum, as the ticket office also charged us price of admission, so the Roma Pass was useless.
Peter Fabriele in Scotch Plains, NJ USA 10/20/2011
no
Yolanda in New York, NY USA 10/03/2011
You should probably mention that Pompeii does not take plastic. It was the only major sight in Italy that we visited for which we had to pay cash.
Cynthia in Wellesley, MA USA 08/18/2011
On the map of the Sistine Chapel I think one of the pictures in the middle row is mislabeled. According to the Bible Abraham, not Noah, sacrificed his son, Isaac. Also, double check but I seem to remember that the prophets, Isaiah etc are backwards on the map - Isaiah should be on the left not the right (but I may have confused looking up at the ceiling.)
Elizabeth Walker in Vacaville, CA USA 08/17/2011
I visited Rome August 11-13. Security checks remain a thing of the past at the Colosseum. The passage from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peters is guarded and I did not venture to try it. Maybe the Vatican should sell VIP passes through this door on its website? :) Visitor routing through the Vatican Museum starts you near the Octagonal courtyard, I had to detour to find the Egyptian section. At tour's end when directed into the Vatican stamps display, your exit is not marked, its hidden around to the left. . Don't go to the missionary-anthropology hall or you will be caught in an endless 2-floor loop.
Andrew Chao in Danville, CA USA 08/13/2011
p. 192 The Osteria da Giovanni is CLOSED on Sunday.
John Fischer in Louisville, KY USA 08/03/2011
I've just returned from Rome, where I found that the guidebook entry for Hotel Sonya needs updating: they no longer offer shuttle rides. Other than that, a great place to stay, with very helpful people. It's very convenient for access to trains and the Metro, and breakfast includes many types of pastries, fruit, yogurt, cheese, meat and frittatas. Great value!
The entrance fee for Castel Santangelo is now 8.5 Euro - other sights may have gone up as well.
Judy in Boulder, CO USA 08/01/2011
No
Susan Roth in Las Vegas, NV USA 07/24/2011
The Roma Pass may be difficult to find during peak travel during the summer. I was there july 13-15 and we had a very difficult time finding them, as all places were sold out. We finally got one at the Colosseum. Im unsure if online advance purchase would be better, but just plan for the possibility of not getting one.
Tory in Houston, Tx USA 07/22/2011
The Roma Pass may be difficult to find during peak travel during the summer. I was there july 13-15 and we had a very difficult time finding them, as all places were sold out. We finally got one at the Colosseum. Im unsure if online advance purchase would be better, but just plan for the possibility of not getting one.
Tory in Houston, Tx USA 07/22/2011
Although the very early frescoes are unique, the Priscilla Catacombe has only 1 bone in it; they have removed all the others. Plus, although it's in the city, it's not easy to get to by bus: it's still 5-6 blocks from the nearest fermata.
I'd encourage removing this recommendation from the book.
Robert Sanford in Edmonds, WA USA 07/01/2011
No
Paul Roberts in Stockholm, - Sweden 06/20/2011
No
kate Burbridge in Newmarket, UK 06/01/2011
No
kate Burbridge in Newmarket, UK 06/01/2011
No
kate Burbridge in Newmarket, UK 06/01/2011
The recommended shuttle bus service from Rome out to the airport....only drops off passengers at Terminal 3....which was two terminals away from our needed destination. It would be good to include this information in the guidebook to avoid surprises. We thought that for 32E it was door to door...the door at the airport required.
Marta Erlich in San Carlos, CA USA 05/27/2011
The only thing I would "correct" is actually an omission. We visited the Protestant Cemetery (or Cimitero Acattolico) because my travelling companion was a hell-bent Anglophile and wanted to see the Keats and Shelley graves. I wasn't quite as enthused UNTIL I discovered, after traipsing around the cemetery, that Antonio Gramsci's grave is there. [Founding member of the Italian Communist party, major thinker, writer, intellectual, died after imprisonment by the Fascists]. I think other readers and travellers to Rome would like to know this as well. I would have made a special trip to the Cemetery just to see his grave. I'm sure there are some readers out there who would do so as well.
Giuliana Chapman in Roanoke, VA USA 05/13/2011
We tried to take the shortcut into St. Peter's Basilica from the Sistine Chapel on 4/1, by following a tour group through, but the tour guide physically blocked me and shouted that she was going to "call the police" and did call the security guard over, who required us to go back through the non-tour group exit; not a very pleasant end to a sublime experience. It's clear that the tour guides are working with the Vatican to require tourists to either pay for a guided tour or to exit only through the innumerable Vatican gift shops that one must walk through to exit without a tour group. A very non-user friendly attitude, particularly for those who have mobility issues, as that exit adds at least a mile to the Sistine Chapel/St. Peter's visit.
Victoria in Orinda, CA USA 04/10/2011
The short cut from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peters' Basilica is only open to groups being led by a Vatican guide. We tried slipping through with a tour but the door is manned by an official checking for tour group passes.
The Andrea Doria market shown on the west Rome map is actually called the Mercato Trionfale on signs leading to it.
Michael in Vancouver, BC Canada 03/31/2011
You have posted changes at Rome's Mamertine Prison... I was very disappointed during my recent visit. You can no longer see the lists of notable prisoners and the way they were executed.... And, I could have done without the "talking stones" exhibition film! I felt trapped during the tour, and when I asked the guide about the list of notables, she had no information whatsoever!
Loren Kent in Conewango Valley, NY USA 03/23/2011
No.
Alben in Clermont, fl USA 03/22/2011
No
Shannon Fonferko in Schaumburg, IL USA 03/20/2011
Excellent Book!! but please consider correcting a comment in parenthesis on page 144 in the discussion of the Gesu. The letters IHS are actually an abbreviation for the name of Jesus derived and transliterated from the first three letters of the Greek for Jesus. Thus, the symbol for the Holy Name in the picture.
Michael Gallagher in Highland, MD USA 03/09/2011
Not on essential details like dates, hours, and locations, but lots of little things about Italian culture seem to need updating. Like the method of counting (we saw lots of Italians hold up the index finger for "1"); everyone speaks at least a little English except cabbies, even when all other customers spoke Italian; don't always follow the crowd because Rome is so confusing that they are often just as lost as you are!
Synda Sallee in Scottsdale, AZ USA 02/28/2011
We were just in Rome this past week and we decided to try Trattoria Da Olindo in Trastevere as recommended in the "Italy 2010" guide. Unfortunately, it appears that it has since closed. However, we did try a place down the street, Trattoria Della Scala, and it was pretty delightful.
Zac in Minneapolis, MN USA 02/18/2011
The entrance on the tour for the Roman Forum at the Arch of Titus was only an exit this time of year, we walked around to Palatine Hill entrance.
Jim Bonatakis in Freehold, NJ USA 01/21/2011
The Mamertime Prison (which we wanted to see for religious reasons) was dreadful. They have a Disney-Esque audio-visual presentation that was just awful and we paid E12 each to go in there. We were horrified and do not recommend this to anyone who is going to the prison to see where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. It makes a mockery almost of the site.
Melanie Wood in Miami, FL USA 01/07/2011
The hand drawn maps are difficult if you, like I, are literalistic when reading maps. If it appears that a restaurant is on the first left into a plaza then that is where I went. It could easily be me but I had a very difficult time finding recommended restaurants using your maps, especially around Piazza Navona. It was the only frustration on an otherwise perfect trip. I ended up just asking locals and the hotel desk people and received both of the recommendations noted above.
Mike in Denver, CO USA 12/27/2010
Re: the comment about restaurants near the Colosseum in August 2010, Hostaria de Nerone and Caffe del Studente were open in mid-October 2010. We quite enjoyed our lunch at the Hostaria!
Dianne CO USA 11/27/2010
At least in early November of 2010, there was no security check in the Colosseum, only lines with/without tickets.
Elvira in Jefferson, WI USA 11/24/2010
List Walks of Italy as a highly recommended guided tour agency. The tour guides are very knowledgeable, outgoing and entertaining. The use of iPad & other visual aids enhanced the tours. They use and interactive, story telling style, which is entertaining, informative and fun. We went on 4 Walks of Italy tours in Rome and each was outstanding. One of the high points of our 3 weeks in Italy.
John & Constance Thayer in Santa Barbara, CA USA 11/20/2010
The RomePass is now 25 Eu.
Shana in Woodfield, CA USA 11/17/2010
No
Sheila Forchtner in San Clemente, CA USA 11/12/2010
the Irish pub suggested near the train station in Rome was horrible. Prices a lot higher then in the guidebook, and the food was the worst in Italy.
Tina Hvizdos in Porter, TX USA 11/12/2010
no
m white in Rye, New Hampshire, nH USA 11/09/2010
Mamertine Prison has changed into a "multimmedia" Spiritual Experience. Boring and verbose! And a 9 euro charge.
Merrill in Sacramento, CA USA 10/26/2010
Price changes-- Leonardo express now 15 euros Roma pass 21 euros National Museum 7 euros
Gregory Frux in Brooklyn, NY USA 10/24/2010
While I was cautious and aware of potential pickpockets etc, I did not see any of this happening. I felt very safe in Rome and thought maybe the book over-did it with the warnings about pickpockets and beggars.
Jean Chinni in Ellicott City, Md USA 10/06/2010
no-suggestion--remind rain travelers of the status boards used to change train departure track from the printed schedule.
Jim Robertson in Lecey, WA USA 10/05/2010
No
Morks in Baden, AG Swiss 10/05/2010
2010 edition - Archeobus no longer goes to the aqueduct park. The park is shown as a stop on the painting on the side of the bus, but the driver said that the route was changed 2-3 years ago and that section was taken off the tour.
Janet CO USA 10/01/2010
I am looking for the Vatican Museum audio tour (mentioned in the Rome 2010 book), and am not able to find in the audio tour section of the website.
Adam Berger in Fort Wayne, IN USA 09/08/2010
I think it would be helpful if you alerted visitors that there are security guards in the Sistine Chapel clapping their hands and loudly "shushing" everyone during the entire time you are in the chapel. They are very intrusive and surly and after walking so far to see the room, this left a very sour taste. Perhaps being warned to expect it would have helped a bit, but it is still very annoying !!!
laurel winzler in san francisco, ca USA 08/25/2010
When I reserved a room at Hotel Select Giardino in Rome and requested the Rick Steves price, they said the price for a Db was 150 euros, 135 if paying in cash. When I told them that the price in the 2010 R.S. book was 95 euros, they told me that the few rooms they had at that price were all reserved and "we gave you a good deal anyway." This is quite a price difference and I think it needs to be addressed in upcoming books.
Sarah H in La Plata, MD USA 08/24/2010
The guidebook was absolutely wonderful and super helpful, however two of the restaurants recommended were completely shut down. Ristorante Da Giovanni had been shut down by the health board and Perilli in Prati was completely gone.
Megan Trinidad in New York , NY USA 08/21/2010
A setback for the Colosseum's restaurant scene: In mid-August 2010 my wife and I were troubled to learn the following three restaurants appear to have gone out of business: Enoteca Cavour 313, Caffe dello Studente, and Hostaria da Nerone. These eateries were all listed close to Via Cavour and the Colosseum (two next to each other). Travelers to Rome who are staying near this part of Rome may want to consider eating at Wanted, a reasonably priced and unpretentious place that makes a very good pizza that features a thin and crispy crust. Wanted is located just around the corner from the comfortable Hotel Paba, located at 266 Via Cavour.
David Dillon in Westford, MA USA 08/18/2010
Page 787 of 2010 Italy book. We went to Ristorante Pizzeria Sacro e Profano and it was closed. It appears they are out of business. We went August 12th
Went to Banfi winery, add the address to the book to make it easier to find
Mike Garrity in Herndon, Va USA 08/17/2010
Rome 2010 Guidebook. Page 779: Hotel Due Torri offers does offer Internet access, but it's an RJ-45 connection in room. No WiFi (for us iPhone/iPad addicts). Page 794: Perilli in Prati is closed for re-modelling, as of July 10th. Also Via Otrano is incorrectly shown on map on Page 781 (it's one block further back). Page 795: La Isola della Pizza is closed for remodeling, as of July 10th, but a notice suggested it might re-open in August.
Steve in Pleasanton, CA USA 08/08/2010
While you strongly word your advice about pickpockets and taxi's - I would say make it stronger.
Robert Boehm in Greenbank, WA USA 08/08/2010
I suggest to add driverinrome in the book!!!
Susan USA 07/23/2010
I guess this is a correction . . .Rick, could you provide a sentence or two of directions on how to get from the Galleria Borghese to the rest of Rome. The gallery is not really that close to restaurants or cabs, You have to know enough to make a left turn at the entrance, then a right turn, then through the wall to restaurants, from which you can easily find a cab.
Craig Oren in Cherry Hill, NJ USA 07/18/2010
Yes, when I went to Pompeii in late April, early May, the restaurant/cafe was open and serving customers.
Amanda Kwon in St. Louis, MO USA 07/12/2010
The map on p. 58 in Rome 2010 would be much more useful if it named the street in lower rh corner..Emanuele Filiberto. Otherwise the Metro and Manzoni are not enough info to determine which way to go. Thanks.
Pam Duchaine in Green Valley, AZ USA 06/29/2010
Cost of Castel Sant Angelo is Euro 8.50, not 5.00.
LJ in Toronto, ON Canada 06/14/2010
Rome 2009, page 150: St. Catherine of Siena (under the altar of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva) is listed as a nun. She was actually a lay woman, not a nun, but was a Dominican tertiary - meaning she followed their spirituality but not as a full religious member.
AJ in Rome, Italy 05/21/2010
The cost for the Vatican Museum has now increased from 14 euros plus 4 euros reservation fee to 15 euros plus 4 euros reservation fee. The Leonardo Express train from Termini to FCO is now 14 euros per person. The Roma Pass covers the entire cost of the Borghese Galleria, including the 2 euro reservation fee when I reserved using their callback feature on the website. Roma Pass is now 25 euros.
Richard in Los Angeles, CA USA 05/15/2010
There is now an Airport Shuttle (full size bus) run by SIT (public transportation?) that leaves from the east side of Piazza Cavour (in neighborhood east of Vatican but west of river), to Fiumicino Airport for only 8 euro one way. Runs about every 30-40 min I think. Much cheaper than taxi and more convenient than metro/train connections from that part of Rome. It also stops at Termini. I think another one goes to the other airport.
William Cartmill in Kalamazoo, MI USA 05/07/2010
No
Kirsty Foster in Windsor, England 05/06/2010
FCO has changed terminal use and numbering. No longer terminals A,B,C. Now terminals 1,2,3 and new terminal 5. Most US carrier flights from the USA will continue to arrive at terminal 3. However, new terminal 5 is now used by most US carriers for departures (check in, security, etc). Terminal 5 is not close to terminals 1,2,or 3 but a bus (T5) will get you there if you arrive by train.
Ron and Natalie Wickham in Foster City, CA USA 05/03/2010
Unfortunately, the cost of train connections to FCO have already incresed substantially from the 2010 book.
Ron and Natalie Wickham in Foster City, CA USA 05/02/2010
You guys are awesome.
Tabitha McGillivray in Skagway, AK USA 04/28/2010
Rick, it is helpful to know from the guidebook if the hotels you recommend have FREE internet connections. The Albergo Santa Chiara charged three euros for 30 minutes of access, ouch! Given the cost of the room, that would have seemed a reasonable amenity to expect.
Donna in Winston-Salem, NC USA 03/22/2010
Rome 2010 - pg 242 shows a diagram of the Sistine Chapel with the exit doors. The general exit and the shortcut exit were labeled opposite (the shortcut door is on the left and general exit on the right). The text description of the shortcut on pg 249 is correct.
Appian Way - pg 178 has a diagram of the bus stops. From the San Sebastian Catacombs driveway to the Appian Way, one should turn LEFT on the Appian Way to reach the bus stop #118, not RIGHT as shown on the diagram.
Denae in Cincinnati, OH USA 03/17/2010
The RomaPass is now 25 Euros.
Jennifer Duke in Peabody, MA USA 03/16/2010
No.
Curt in Hinkle, PA USA 03/10/2010
February observations: Roma Pass is now 25 euro. The Vatican Museum allows visitors in at 8:30 am, but the painting gallery is not opened until 9 am.
Dale in Fairfield, OH USA 03/05/2010
St Peter's climb to the Dome. Your 2009 guidebook is confusing. There is a 7 E elevator ride or a 5 E walk to the first level. The next climb is free.
Your guide book mentions the Scavi tour to the Crypt of St. Peter, but you don't use your typical sense of wonder and awe as you describe this tour. It is an amazing story. In 1939, by accident workers found an enormous number of Roman (mostly)and Christian tombs lying underneath the basement of St Peters. These beautifully decorated tombs had been buried in dirt for 2000 years. They were excavated in secret during WWII and eventually under the altar of St Peter's, the bones of a 65 year old robust man who died 2000 years ago were found. Our guide said this was a pilgrimage, not a tour. It was fascinating and in many ways more meaningful than the over the top St Peter's Cathedral.
David Neely in Chicago, IL USA 01/31/2010
Cost of Roma Pass is now 23 euros. November is an excellent time to travel to Rome- weather perfect for walking miles and miles, everything was open (that we went to) and crowds were very manageable.
Cheryl in Fair Haven, MI USA 12/06/2009
No
Joanne Miller in Bluffton, SC USA 12/04/2009
The Taverna restaurant on Delle Coppelle street in Rome was closed on a Sunday late afternoon when we were there. I think you mentioned that it was closed on Mondays.
Tracy Burns in Prague, Czech Republic 11/24/2009
Ristorante Il Gabriello is not located at via Vittoria 51. It is at 31. There is no number 51.
Bob H. in San Diego, CA USA 11/09/2009
No. It was helpful every day.
John and Debra Gall in Sequim, Wa USA 11/06/2009
Everyone we met in Rome was carrying the Bible - Rick Steves' Rome.
Susan Handloff in Steamboat Springs, CO USA 11/02/2009
no
Jim McCloy in Tallahassee, Fl USA 11/02/2009
Correction to Rome 2009: Page 148, while describing the interior of the Church of the Gesù,specifically the ceiling fresco and stucco, the line reads, "A glowing cross with Jesus' initials 'I.H.S.'..."
IHS are not Jesus' initials, but an acronym for In Hoc Signo [Vinces], Latin for "In this sign, conquer" - part of Constantine's vision for victory if he converted to Christianity.
AJ in Rome, Italy 10/15/2009
Miscellanea hasn't closed, it just moved. It's now located on the street that runs behind the Pantheon. As you face the Pantheon, take the street that runs along the right side and you'll find Miscellanea on the next corner. I talked to Mikki, so I know it's still his place in a new location.
Frank in Wilmington, DE USA 10/11/2009
Miscellanea Restaurant near the Pantheon is no longer open.
Albert in Clanton, AL USA 10/01/2009
The charming little church Boca della Verita is open 1 hour later than it says in the book. (during the summer, anyway). We thought we had missed it, but arrived to find we had plenty of time to see the church, enjoy the architecture and visit the gift shop.
Barry in Florence, OR USA 09/27/2009
Just a few weeks ago, me and my husband followed the instructions to get to the Borghese Gallery (from the Spagna Metro stop). There is instructions to take a right once you "hit the supermarket". There is no supermarket as far as we could see. Was this a mini mart? There was a lot of construction at this station and I think there needs to be clearer instructions about how to get to Borghese because there are so many escalators and moving sidewalks to get through (ie. count how many you have to pass) and several exits from the station. Scary but we found the gallery in time.
Not sure if the taxi fee to get from airport to Rome is still standard 40 euros. Our driver told us it was 60 euros. Maybe we got ripped off. Would advise people to take train to their hotel if they can - 11 euros!
Sally in Vancouver, BC Canada 09/20/2009
Rome 2009 Guidebook - "Nightclubs" on page 320. There is a short paragraph recommending Monte Testaccio as a nightclub spot. We went on a Friday night, searched all around the area and found only one "nightclub." The line was too long to bother with and the crowd was late teens early 20s. There were plenty of restaurants that offered club music and dancing in the Monte Testaccio area, but the crowds were slim and didn't have a nightclub feel. We found the area around Piazza Navona to have a lot more nightlife going on, also mostly late teens and 20s. Even better, there was a huge outdoor (but fenced off) nightclub pumping away just south-southwest of the Colosseum between Via Di S. Gregorio and Via Celio Vibenna. This outdoor club may have only been a summer thing, and we were there on a Friday night at the end of June, but this was the best of the bunch. We're in our young 30s and this crowd fit us the best.
Julie in Salt Lake City, UT USA 08/29/2009
Rome 2009 -- Page 204 states that you can download a free Rick Steves audio tour for Vatican Museums, but you don't have this audio tour on your website. Also, on page 205 mentions the Pinacoteca painting galley -- skip to page 198. Page 198 is before 205 and 198 is the tour for the Pinacoteca painting gallery in the Borghese Gallery Tour!
Pat Greene in Miami Beach, FL USA 08/23/2009
none
Al Esposito in delray beach, USA 08/22/2009
Fiumicino Airport has another terminal (T5) which Delta uses where we had to get all our stuff processed before we went to terminal C. If you accidentally get dropped off at A, B or C terminal you can take a T5 bus shuttle provided by the airport.
Abigail Kamishlian in Carrollton, GA USA 08/16/2009
I recall that on a previous visit to Rome the Pantheon was a wonderfully serene and indeed spiritual spot. This past May I found it cluttered with Stuff--heavy pews, statues, banners, garish floral arrangements, and a makeshift chain rigged to keep visitors from the area under the oculus, as well as a big booth renting acoustical guides. When I mentioned to the young woman in charge of the booth that the Pantheon seemed much changed from my previous visit she indicated that changes had been for the better, that the Pantheon is a Christian church and that fortunately the seating no longer has to be brought out for services and then stowed away. The ceiling is still glorious.
Carolyn Woznick in Cambridge, MA USA 07/31/2009
The 40 euro taxi rate from the airport might be obsolete. We couldn't find one for less than 60 euro to Camp di Fiori.
Dave in Milwaukee, Wi USA 07/14/2009
The book states that there is a mandatory bag check before entering St Peter's Basilica but when we were there on July 4 there was no such check. People were wandering around with bags and daypacks.
Also, in the Sistine Chapel, the audio tour was great, but the description of the Last Judgement at the end of the rest was frustrating because there were so many people packed into the chapel that it was impossible to move back to the wall where this painting was to appreciate the fine detail described. From a logistics perspective it would be better to have this described as soon as one enters the chapel, not after having been encouraged to walk to the other end.
Peter Maxwell in Sunnyvale, CA USA 07/14/2009
Roma Pass now costs 23 euros/person. We were advised they are not required for children under 9. We received complimentary tickets for our kids to the Colisseum & paid only 4 euros for our 7 year-old at the Galleria Borghese.
Beth in Northridge, CA USA 07/10/2009
Rome 2009: Gulliver's other B&B on Via Cavour is 120 euros not 115 as stated on page 281. When I asked, their response was "we have not updated our information on rick's book, as a matter of fact there are no info at all on Gulliver's Lodge on the book"
Rob in Spokane, WA USA 07/05/2009
Miscellanea (p. 712 2009 book) was not open on Sunday, 31 May. But we ate at a lovely little trattoria right across the street, lured in by the blackboard specials. The food was great but we should have asked the prices before we ordered, as the bill was quite a bit more than we'd expected.
Cecilia in Dallas, Te USA 06/15/2009
Scam alert on Roma Pass: Your guidebook was very helpful; I read it in advance and it was very useful. I would suggest you add an alert to a scam at the Ciampino Airport. When we arrived, I went to a booth in the airport that said "Roma Passes" here. It also said they were $11 euros and I assumed this was some type of discount. I asked THREE times if this was the Roma Pass, if it included the bus tickets, tickets to the Coloseum, etc. (as mentioned in your book) and he said "Yes, absolutely; it includes ALL of this." He emphasized ALL. I asked him 3 times. Only the next day did I find out, when going through the line at the Coloseum, that it wasn't valid. The ticket-taker there said, "You're not the first one who has been scammed by this!"
We did not fly out of Ciampino Airport or I would have had a confrontation with the person selling the tickets. But, alert your readers to another scam. It was a surprise since it was at the airport, in the terminal. We're pretty savvy on scams, but this one got us...and many more, I'm sure!
Phil Denver, CO
Phil in Denver, CO USA 06/08/2009
Roma Pass discounts do not include the Vatican Museum
sarah in rome, italy 06/05/2009
In the Rome 2009 guidebook Rick recommends the antipasti buffet at La Rustichella 7 euro for a dinner sized plate. It's in fact 8 euro for a six inch plate. The buffet is predominantly cold fried potatoes, cold fried veggies and things swimming in mayo. The owner also arbitrarily decided that one member of our group had put too much on the plate--- seriously how much can you get on a six inch plate and charged us 16 euros AFTER we'd eaten. This was the very first time we've EVER had any problems whatsoever. Mediocre food, very rude service and trying to extort extra money screams tourist trap to me.
Maggie Flynn in Florissant, MO USA 06/01/2009
Be careful when taking the Leonardo Express train back to FCO airport... the guidebook says it usually leaves from track 24 (which it probably does) but it is true that it does not always... we got on the wrong train since we didn't double check the destination and just went with the track number (our mistake as obviously we should have double checked with someone) as it was early and we were in a hurry.
Jeni in Beaver Dam, WI USA 05/31/2009
The guide at the St.Sebastian in Rome said that there was a statue of the saint made by Bernini and i was surprised that it was not mentioned in the guidebook
Matthew A. King in Brighton, CO United States 05/20/2009
Climbing the dome at St. Peter's in Rome: The guide book is written to make it sound like you pay 7 euro for the elevator to the roof and then you pay an additional 5 euro to climb to the top of the dome from roof level. You pay one or the other. If you take the elevator to the roof, you still have to climb stairs to the top of the dome.
Susanna in Omaha, NE USA 05/08/2009
Just returned from our Rome trip. Rome 2009 provided alot of useful information and I used it constantly. The only mistake I found was on page 254 regarding getting to The Moses - from the Metro:Cavour, The Moses is actually in the Church on the left at the top of the stairs.
Jack Bell in Westminster, MD USA 04/18/2009
The entrance to the Forum/Palatine Hill is on Via San Gregorio. The entrance on Via Fori Imperiali has closed.
Steve Raffensperger in Leola, PA USA 04/11/2009
Just an addition. At the Borghese Gallery, the English speaking tour is booked at the same desk as the audio tours.
Suzy Pare in Cleveland, OH USA 04/04/2009
I send an update on behalf of Michelangelo Minervini, a.k.a. Micky, owner of the Miscellanea bar in Rome:
please note that since March 28th, 2009 Miscellanea (formerly in Via delle Paste 110/a, Rome) has moved to a new address, in a bigger, freshly renovated location. The new address is Via della Palombella 34-35, not so far from where it used to be--in fact, it's just on the opposite side of the Pantheon. Micky's salads and sandwiches are as fresh as ever, and the prices remain unvaried. Readers of Rick Steves are highly welcome and will be greeted with a glass of Fragolino (Sexy Wine), as always.
Andreina in Rome, Italy 04/02/2009
The Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a very worthwhile visit, but I think that the entrance has changed. It is now directly on Via del Corso, 303, I believe.
Webb in Manhattan Beach, CA USA 03/21/2009