How much of the Italian language do I need to learn to enjoy a visit to Rome?
None, really, but whatever you can pick up will help more there than many other West European countries. At the least, pick up an Italian phrase book a couple of months before your holiday in Rome and spend some time practicing with it. The more off the mainstream you go, and the more inexpensive the restaurants and hotels in Rome the more your knowledge of the Italian language becomes helpful. Italians are almost as mono-lingual as Americans. You don’t need any Italian to stay in a $400/night hotel and eat a $200 meal! You’ll enjoy yourself more and enjoy the food more below that level, the more Italian you know. But entire sentences aren’t necessary – words/phrases/sign language and knowing the names of menu items and dishes are very helpful.
In any event, we’ve always found most Italians quite helpful and considerate. Learn to say “Prego” (‘praygo ‘- please) and “Grazie” (‘grahtsiay’ – thank you) and together with a smile you’ll get around Italy, and particularly Rome, just fine. If money is tight, how can you have a great time in a capital city like Rome on a limited budget? Well, like anything else, more money can help you enjoy yourself more, but doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. I know people that spend $400 a night for a hotel but never get ‘into’ the places they visit.
Money can sometimes be an impediment. While you want your hotel in Rome clean and conveniently located, if you’re out seeing the sights the size doesn’t matter. Take a simple Italian style breakfast, eat picnics for lunch, and save your food dollars for the evening meal and the wonderful Italian dinners . Save one of the rolls or slices of wonderful bread from dinner. You’ve probably paid for it anyway and have that for breakfast with a $2 cup of coffee at a local bar, presuming your hotel doesn’t include breakfast, and if it’s inexpensive it may not.
In Rome, in particular, walking is cheap and easy. The important parts of the city are compactly located and everything is within walking distance.
I’ve found a way to access convents in Rome. Have a look at monasterystays.com. They are an on-line booking service for monasteries and convents all over Italy but they show 130 monasteries in Rome. They look good and are safe and well located. I’d give their site a visit.