Rome on Republic Day (June 2) -- seeking some guidance

[NorthernExposure]

When I booked a trip for me and my son that will have us go from Pescara (where he is playing in a soccer tournament) to the Amalfi Coast and then to Rome, I did not realize that we would be in Rome during a national holiday that seems roughly the Italian equivalent to Independence Day in the U.S.; Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica)

Here's what I know so far:
- Banks, schools and government offices are closed, which doesn't really affect us.
- Some sites may have reduced hours, for example, the Colesseum and the Forum don't open until sometime in the afternoon because there is a parade route on Via dei Fori Imperiali; I hear road blocks start going up the evening hours.
- Some shops close, but I'm not much of a shopper
- Some restaurants close, which is unfortunate, as I am as enthusiastic about good food as I am nonchalant about shopping.
- Some Romans leave town for the long weekend, to be replaced by visitors celebrating festivities.
- The gardens of the Quirinale are open to the public and military bands play.
- There is an air show of sorts that produce an aerial Italian flag.

Here's where I need help: to come up with a plan that accommodates for some of the disruption that comes with the holiday.

We will be arriving in Rome on Thursday, March 31, likely in the early-afternoon, with plans to return a rental car at a city location, enjoy a late lunch and then either walk take a bus/uber and then walk to an apartment we have rented that is located at 97 Giubbonari, about 100 meters east of Campo de Fiori. Here are some ideas I have for which I would appreciate feedback:

(1) Perhaps go to the Vatican mid-afternoon Thursday.
(2) Go to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatino early on Friday, and certainly not on Saturday as it will be closed in the morning and possible even early afternoon. Balance that busier schedule with more open plans later in the day, stopping often for coffee, gelato and people-watching.
(2) Use Saturday to walk to the many sites near where we are staying that are well away from the parade route.
(4) Sunday our flight leaves at 1:30 PM, so we won't have much time for more than to have breakfast and enjoy one more stroll through the neigbhourhood before ubering to the train station and taking the train to the airport.

 

[Mom83]

Northern Exposure...you are staying in our favorite apartment building...a brilliant location. Which color apartment are you staying in?
Good luck with your plans...sometimes it can be quite interesting to be in Rome at times like this...even though the logistics can be more difficult. One of our most memorable times in Rome was the week we spent there in early April 2005...we drove in from Venice the morning after Pope John Paul died. We expected our week to be a complete disaster as far as the plans we had made, but everything turned out even more special than we could have hoped.
If you drop the rental car off at Termini, it is about a 7 euro taxi ride to get close to the apartment...Via dei Giubbonari is a pedestrian only street, so the taxi driver will let you off as close as possible.
Try to go with the flow and enjoy the festivities!

 

[NorthernExposure]

Thanks Mom83! We have booked the red apartment, which is on what North Americans would call the fourth floor. This is our first time staying there and we are quite excited.

Besides the more obvious attractions in that area, which we will visit, what places within walking distance do you recommend in terms of restaurants, gelaterias, gastronomia and interesting sites that are off the main tourist trail?

You are certainly right that the festivities can be enjoyable even when you don't plan for them. Several years ago, on another trip to Italy, we stayed a day and night in Ascoli Picene on the way to see my wife's relatives near Campobasso. I booked the trip not realizing our one night there was the day/night of that town's major festival in early-August in which each traditional neighbourhood dressed in centuries-old garb, paraded to the main piazza and competed in jousting at an old arena. Having not planned for the event, we didn't have tickets for the jousting, but went with the crowds of people towards one of the doors to the arena, which while locked, was periodically opened by security to let someone out. Each time the doors opened, angry locals yelled at the security to let them in (none had tickets) either. My son and watched silently. After this happened three or four times, the doors opened again and the security guy pointed at me and my son and said in Italian, you two come in, the rest (who had been yelling) stay out!

 

[Mom83]

We have never stayed in the Red, but I am sure you will find it very nice. We have been staying in the Blue since 2010 and would never stay anywhere else. The location is wonderful and the apartments, while not luxurious, are perfect for our needs. I love the separate washer and dryer...a rare find in central Rome. Cristina is wonderful to work with...so gracious.
When we stayed there this past October, we ate at several restaurants nearby. We love Emma (pizzeria con cucina)...call and make reservations if you go. The cheesecake there is amazing! We also really enjoyed Voglia di Pizza almost across the street from the apartment...sit outside on their very small patio if the weather is good. We celebrated my husband’s birthday at Ai Balestrari...wonderful meal and the service was beyond amazing. Again, call for reservations. Our waitress brought him a special complimentary dessert and had the entire outside patio sing happy birthday to him. Again, try to sit outside if you can...we love sitting right on the street. Rascioli is nearby...we have had take-away from there but have never eaten at its very well-known restaurant. I did get my husband two small cakes from their bakery. We have also eaten at Ristorante S. Anna nearby and have always had good meals.
www.emmapizzeria.com
www.aibalestrari.com

www.vogliadipizzaglutenfree.com
www.ristorantesantanna.it
www.roscioli.com

Interesting things we did for the first time this last trip...we took the Domus Aurea tour (near the Colosseum) and the Domus Romane tour (near Trajan’s Column in Palazzo Valentini)..I preferred the Domus Romane, but both were very interesting. We also visited the Belvedere levels of the Coliseum (4th and 5th levels that have very recently been opened to visitors)...it was a sunny, beautiful day and the views from there are spectacular! We again went to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica as we took friends who had never been to Rome before. For the same reason, we took the Scavi tour under St. Peter’s for the 3rd time. Other than that, we just wandered...stopping by the Pantheon, walking by the Trevi Fountain (crazy crowded, but lovely now that they have completed the cleaning of it), and eating our traditional take-away tartufo from Tres Scalini in Piazza Navona. Largo Argentina is a short walk away...we walked by it often.

 

[misstravelbug]

Taking notes Mom83... one week til we fly out to Rome and the blue apartment...We will also be in Italy on June 2...didn't even realise it was a holiday ...oops! We arrive in Venice that day.

 

[Mom83]

Taking notes Mom83... one week til we fly out to Rome and the blue apartment...We will also be in Italy on June 2...didn't even realise it was a holiday ...oops! We arrive in Venice that day.

What a wonderfully long trip you have ahead of you! I hope you like the Blue apartment....be sure to come back and let us know the highlights of your trip.

 

[SusanSeattle]

Will you share the link to the apartment? I am hoping to convince my husband that a 2 week trip to Rome would be a good idea, after our youngest goes to college in another year.

 

[Mom83]

Will you share the link to the apartment? I am hoping to convince my husband that a 2 week trip to Rome would be a good idea, after our youngest goes to college in another year.

A 2 week trip to Rome is a good idea any time!
Here is the link to Cristina’s apartments...all in the same building on Via dei Giubbonari:
http://www.floraliahomes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured

 

[SusanSeattle]

Thanks for the link. These all look great.

 

[Sandrac]

Northern Exposure, your plans to visit the Colosseum and Forum area on Friday is a good one. And if you're not too exhausted, you might want to look at visiting the Vatican Museums on Friday night. The Vatican is once again opening the Museums at nights on Fridays, from about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It is often less busy and cooler then -- a different sort of experience! In fact, I've been thinking of booking an evening visit myself because I just can't bear the crowds on most days.

But you do have to reserve a spot at this link:
https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.v...dd=1&numeroPartecipanti=2&codiceLinguaVisita=

Looks like there is lots of availability at this point for June 1st.
Overall, you might not even notice all the celebrations around Republic Day. I live in a different part of Rome now, but when I lived near the colosseum, the closure of Via dei Fori Imperiali was about all I noticed!

Have a great visit and enjoy Rome!
cheers,
Sandra