Rome, April 2023

  April 1 - 9th Rome On April 2, the temperature in Rome typically ranges from  46°F  to  62°F  and is rarely below  39°F  or above  69°F .  The  coolest  time of the day is from  1:15 AM  to  8:45 AM , with the coldest at  7:00 AM , at which time the temperature is below  50°F  three days out of four, and below  53°F  nine days out of ten.  The  warmest  time of the day is from  11:45 AM  to  6:30 PM , with the hottest at  2:45 PM , at which time the temperature is above  59°F  three days out of four, and above  55°F  nine days out of ten.  The day has gained half its heat by  10:00 AM  and lost it again by  9:15 PM . As the spring season develops the weather in Rome in April is pleasant, with mild temperatures and a mix of sunny and rainy days. April is spring in Rome and you can expect lovely weather with mild temp...

  Home to the pope’s summer residence in the hills surrounding the shimmering waters of Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo promises those who visit the perfect day trip from Rome . Its lush, landscaped gardens, richly furnished papal palace, and 25 hectares of farmland ripe with fresh produce provide all the divine inspiration imaginable away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. In 2019, the Netflix sensation “ The Two Popes ” introduced the world to Castel Gandolfo as the backdrop to the budding relationship between Pope Benedict XVI (Antony Hopkins) and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce). And since March 2014, the Apostolic Palace has been open to the public, ready for you to come and explore. Scene from The Two Popes (image courtesy of Netflix) We at Walks Inside Rome have written this guide to take you through everything you need to know about what to do and see in Castel Gandolfo. After looking at how to get to Castel Gandolfo from Rome, we’ll explore the lush Barberi...

9:00  Visit to the Vatican Grotto: Located just beneath St. Peter’s Basilica is the Vatican Grottoes. This site features chapels dedicated to saints along with the tombs of popes, kings, and queens. Some of the tombs in this area date back as far as the 10th century.  The Vatican Grottoes include a variety of different artwork and architecture in honor of the religious figures who were buried here.  Visitors could spend an entire day weaving in and out of the grottoes.  The following sites can be found in the Vatican Grottoes: Chapel of St. Peter Chapel of St. Helen Tomb of John Paul I Tomb of John Paul II Marble Statue of St. Peter 60+ Additional Tombs and Chapels Map of the Grottoes   Snack / Late breakfast   11:00    

https://thescribsandnibs.com/europe/italy/tivoli-day-trip-guide/ What to see: 1. Villa d'Este Gardens Villa d'Este Gardens Often cited as the definitive example of Italianate gardens, the vast Villa d'Este estate has been the model for gardens all over Europe. Don't expect to run quickly through, as this is not just one garden, but a whole series of them, highlighted by statuary, elaborate fountains, water play, pools, cascades, grottos, and terraces with spectacular views across the Roman Campagna. From the time he arrived as Governor of Tivoli, Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, a member of Ferarra's most prominent Renaissance family, set to work planning the grounds to surround the governor's villa. The layout was unusual for its time, a long central alley intersecting with paths to the major fountains, each set against the surrounding landscape to seem like its own garden. Among the garden's highlights are the elaborate Fontana dell...

Sunday Apr 1st - 8:30am out the door to follow on Google Maps:         Hop on- hop off bus going the full circuit around the city, enjoying that wonderful introduction to the city, in English!          Get off at top of Spanish steps.  W e begin high up, and will slowly make our way down.  The Pincio offers some of the most beautiful, and usually uncrowded,   views of Rome's rooftops . It just gets better as we walk along. When the road forks, we'll take the one going up, so we can get another beautiful view.    Just behind you is the  Villa Borghese park . If you walk back into it, you will come to a carousel, a café, places for bike and other rentals, and lots of fun things to do, for adults and kids alike.    After enjoying the views from up there, we'll go down to Piazza del Popolo next. That  Egyptian obelisk  in  the middle, with its original hieroglyphs, is one of the oldes...