KCRW in Rome

Itinerary notes

• Please enjoy the itinerary below and pay special attention to the recommended attire and the timing. Since this is such a packed itinerary, all of our departures will be prompt, so please be on time so that the group can stay on schedule. 

• You will find a printed copy of your final itinerary in your room on arrival at the hotel.  Any last minute changes or information will be relayed via WhatsApp so please download this onto your smartphone. 

• Here is a google map with all locations marked.  It will be updated during the week so please refresh it daily. 

Day 2 - Monday October 21

• 9:25 - Please gather in the hotel lobby

We have a day of adventure, and walking, ahead of us. The recommended attire is comfortable shoes and, as always, layers.

• 9:30 - Morning tour with cultural guides Agnes Crawford and Serena Giuliani
  This is Rome 101. We will set off on foot into the centro storico. This is a refresher for those who know the city well and an all-important introduction for anyone visiting for the first time. We will see the big hitters including the Pantheon and Piazza Navona but we also see some lesser known spots.
  
  

• 13:00 - Lunch at Enoteca Corsi
  Hidden away in a small alley behind the Piazza della Minerva, the wine shop next door to the restaurant closes at lunchtime so we lunch amidst the bottles and barrels. You’ll find all sorts of Romans and priests tucking into simple, good food.

  • On the menu:  Antipasti, a choice of the holy trinity of Roman pasta dishes - carbonara, amatriciana, or cacio e pepe - and a choice of desserts.
    
    

• 14:30-15:30 - An afternoon visiting Alysa’s favorite boutiques
  Alysa has distilled the finest purveyors of everything Roman from the softest monogrammed pajamas to the crispest gentlemen’s shirts, supremely flattering Panama hats to handmade leather loafers. This is the moment to take care of buying gifts for your loved ones back home (and for yourself!)

• Independent return to the hotel at your leisure
  
  

• 19:00 - Depart from Casa Monti for Trastevere via minivan

• 19:30 - An evening listening session – featuring the golden age of Italian soundtracks – with Pierpaolo De Sanctis from Four Flies Records

Los Angeles and Rome will collide as Pierpaolo, one of the foremost experts on Italian soundtracks, takes us behind the scenes of iconic scores from spaghetti westerns, crime-thrillers, and other genre films between the 1960s and the early 1980s – a period known as the golden age of Italian cinema, ushered in by the filming of Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita at Rome’s Cinecittà studios. All of this will be happening at Studio 33, which has one of the best sound systems in all of Rome. Some exceptional bites and beverages will also be on hand. 

• On the menu: Drinks and a buffet dinner from the famed Roman restaurant Roscioli will be served throughout the evening.

• 22:30 - Return to the hotel by minivan

Day 3 - Tuesday October 22

• 9:25 - Please gather in the hotel lobby

Today's recommended attire: again, comfortable shoes and layers

• 9:30 - Morning market tour with Evan Kleiman and chef Alice Adams Carosi followed by a pizza masterclass at the Pastificio Cerere di San Lorenzo
  Our first stop this morning is a small neighborhood food market with zero tourists.  Miracolo! As well as shopping for ingredients, there will be a tasting of cheese and cured meats before we head back to the kitchen, stopping en route for an espresso. Our kitchen today is in the iconic Pastificio Cerere. Once upon a time a pasta factory and now a foundation supporting contemporary art (and Veronica's kitchen!). Together we'll make pizzas with all the seasonal goodies that we've purchased at the market, before enjoying the fruits of our labors afterwards of course!
  
  

• 14:00 - Depart from the Pastificio for the Ghetto via minivan

• 14:30-16:30 - A dive into Ancient Rome with archaeologist Darius Arya

Darius is a highly regarded archaeologist who will take us on an exploration of some of Rome's ancient sites, including Torre Argentina and the Theatre Marcellus, crossing the Ghetto together.

• Independent return to the hotel at your leisure
  
  

• 20:00 - Dinner at Ristorante Rocco

Recommended attire: smart casual

A short (less than 10 min) walk from the hotel is our dinner for the night. Run by Sara and her brother, this is the dream neighborhood restaurant: an intimate space decorated with illustrations and prints, starched white table linens and polished terrazzo. Exceptionally, the restaurant is ours for the evening.

If you want to keep your night going after dinner, one of the top 50 bars in the world, Drink Kong, is just around the corner on Piazza Giovanni Lanza

Day 4 - Wednesday October 23

• 9:25 - Please gather in the hotel lobby. We'll depart via minivan promptly at 9:30

Today's recommended attire: cycling-appropriate clothing and a warm sweater

• 9:30 - A morning exploring the Appian Way on 2 wheels
  All roads lead to Rome and the most famous may just be the Appia Antica. Cyclists have the chance to admire the walls of Ancient Rome and the Christian Catacombs that date back to the 4th century, learning about the concept of death in ancient times and seeing the unbelievable skill of the Ancient Romans as engineers and builders. Plus, we'll enjoy a bucolic moment as we visit a working sheep farm where the most delicious ricotta is produced from the pastures that host the remnants of history. This is followed by a picnic lunch and informal tasting of the wines produced by the iconic Antinori Family here.
  
  

• By 15:30 - Return to the hotel via minivan
  
  

• Afternoon and dinner at your leisure

Day 6 - Friday October 25

• 6:15 - Prompt departure from the hotel for the Vatican Museum via minivans

Today's recommended attire: comfortable shoes

• 6:45 - A before-hours private tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  Just before dawn in Vatican City, we join Agnes and Serena at the monumental doors of the Vatican Museums for a truly unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience: we will have two hours to spend admiring one of the world’s greatest art collections and of course the Sistine Chapel before the doors are opened to the general public. In high season, some 25,000 people pass through the museums each day so to have the works of art to ourselves is extraordinary.
   

• 8:45 - Return to the hotel for breakfast and rest of the morning and lunch at leisure
  
  

• 15:30 - Please meet directly at Domus Aurea

Recommended attire: warm sweater (we will be underground) and comfortable shoes

• 15:45 - An private visit to Domus Aurea, or Nero’s Golden House
  Often called the most extravagant construction in the history of Rome, the Domus Aurea was part of Nero’s grand plan to transform the capital into a new city. Uncompleted, the ancient structures remained buried underground for centuries. It was rediscovered in the 15th century and inspired Renaissance painters such as Raphael, who recreated its paintings in their own.  Subsequently it was allowed to fall into disrepair again until recently. This afternoon we step into the heart of a genuine archaeological dig where we will observe the recovery and restoration phases ‘live’ and at the same time relive the dreams of an extravagant emperor.
  
  

• 18:15 - Depart from the hotel for Molto Collectibles

Recommended attire: smart casual, with a touch of glamor 😉

• 19:00 - An aperitivo with local movers and shakers in an artist’s former studio

Some of our dearest - and most eccentric - Roman friends will join us for an aperitivo in a magical space hidden away by closed doors.  Negronis, americanos and spritzes will be served together with elevated Roman street food.   

• 21:30 - Return to Casa Monti via minivan

Day 7 - Saturday October 26

• Independent departures from Rome

Please settle any extras upon check out and arrange your own onward transportation.  Transfers to the airport can be booked here. 

The hotel staff will be able to call taxis if you are departing the train station.