Rome in late August--feedback appreciated

[Anonymous]

We are contemplating going to Rome for 1 week in late August (probably the 3rd week). We're city dwellers with 2 school aged kids, so we're okay with a lot of walking and with public transportation.
We've read in guidebooks that Romans desert the city in August and it can be quieter and less crowded overall. Can anyone share tips -- neighborhoods to stay in/apartment rental ideas, fun places to go with kids? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

If you haven't already, I would check the archives. fodors.com, and slowtrav.com for suggestion for apartment rentals. Personally I would stick with someplace near Campo de Fiori or Piazza Navona-- those are the most central and that's important if you are doing a lot of walking with kids (even Spanish Steps is, I think, a little out of the way). Some people like Trastavere, which is a nice Roman neighborhood-- more real Romans live there but it is across the river, so again personally I think it's not worth it.

Aside from the obvious things to see, there is a pretty interesting church over behind the colosseum-- I think it's St. John Lateran? Anyway, there were a series of churches built one on top of each other going way back to the cult of Mithras in ancient Rome, and they've excavated the basement and sub-basement of the current church so as you go down you can see evidence of the different churches built one on top of each other.

Also there is really good gelato about a block from the Trevi fountain, but I am blanking on the name. Generally we focused on outdoor stuff (and gelato) when we were in Rome.

[Anonymous]

Italy is my favorite country in all all Europe!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks--I checked the archives and found the 2 threads you mentioned--very helpful (sorry I didn't think of DCUM archives first!)
Is August in Rome as hot as August in DC? (It's hard to imagine it being worse?)

[Anonymous]

It's extremely hot, but dry. Would second the PP message and just say that kids can have fun in Rome. There's a nice playground in Travestare and real people live there, so even though it's out of the way, you might want to consider renting an apartment there.

[Anonymous]

I would stay away from Trestevere if you only have one week and plan on walking. DH (a Roman by birth) and I have been with and without kids on multiple occasiosn and noticed, with kids, that we needed to stay as centrally as possible because we were fine and good "walking out" - but absolutely pooped by the time the return trip - so wound up with cabs and the like. Let me rephrase...with only one week and I imagine a fair amount of focused sightseeing - I would not stay on that side of the river...

St. john Laterano is the church PP is referring to - the steps that Christ walked on his knees are there - dragged all the way from Africa - kind of interesting. Piazza navona is central - absolutely. We also rented from www.rentalinrome.com last time - small apartment just off of Piazza di Spagna and Fontana di Trevi. We have also stayed just at the end of Via Nazionale by the Quirinale (just on top of the Forum) and that location rocked, also...Hotel Fiori - comp continental breakfast, private baths...we really liked that also. You may find hotels comparable in price as compared to one week apartment rentals - not sure...

The city doesn't "shut down" in August as much as it used to - an international world, now. Museums might be closed more days during the week during this time, though, but their schedules will be posted on websites....restaurants in Rome have become a bit more "american" or "chi-chi" or whatever - just plain, not cheap. Stick to the pizza places for lunch where you can order pizza by the kilo. they arent as plentiful as they used to be (more sit down restaurants), but cheap and yummo. If you want something quite special, check out Gusto. upscale, groovy delicious food - they have a more casual outside and recently opened another "casual wing"...over by Augustus. Get one bottle of water each when you get to Rome and then fill them up around the city with the public fountains.

i cant remember the Gelato place PP referenced, but it is in guide books and is quite tasty! Giolitti's by the Pantheon is quite famous also. they make fresh ices - i still can taste the cherry with whipped cream..anyways, i digress.

well - I'm rambling now...lovely memories...a couple of years away from going back, considering the economy. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

oh yeah....it gets hot...just like here. Inside is generally ok due to the thickness of the walls....

[Anonymous]

I've been to Italy, they said don't go there in August -- the hotel owners etc. leave town.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP. I would look it up on the net, I just heard it, I was there in the Fall and Winter not in August.

[Anonymous]

It will be hot hot hot hot.

Keep in mind, the heat really takes the fun out of the sightseeing especially if you are walking everywhere.

We stayed at Hotel Kolbe which had a fantastic location. We walked everywhere - the Colisium, the Vatican (the hotel was actually closer than it looked on the map), and all the typical sights of Rome (and some others).

It offered a continental breakfast too which was a nice perk (and one less expense).

[Anonymous]

I just got back from Rome (w/ my 9 m.o.) Observation on the heat is that (unlike here), it's pretty dry, and the buildings are tall enough to have shade on 1 side of the street at all times except for around high noon. It's a great city and Italians are very tolerent of kids. DS and I had a blast! Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

I was there in late August a couple of years ago, it was so hot my pants were sticking to my legs. Since I couldn't wear shorts because I could not go into churches like that, I was melting. I would never go back at that time of year.

Other than that, it was incredible.

[Anonymous]

INCREDIBLE place to visit. We went in September and it was still VERY hot during the day. But cool and refreshing at night.