Fun Segway Tour in Rome

Once upon a time – we’re talking about a really long time here – I received an invitation to test out a Segway in far away land. Unfortunately, pesky work commitments got in the way which sadly meant I had to turn it down.

Since then I’ve only stared at fascination and with envy at those who zip around on Segways – they look like a brilliant way to get around a city.  So when I received an invitation to take a Segway Tour in Rome, I was more than thrill to accept it and would like to extend a big thank you to Italy Segway Tours for the kind invite.

Fixing a date wasn’t as easy as the weather had been fickle lately and finally we found a weekend where we would have at least some sun.  As always, Luca joined me and this time around, I didn’t rope him into doing this as he was also keen to try out the Segway.

I will admit that I had my concerns about the Segway.  What if I find it too difficult to use? It would then be a very long 3-hour tour. Would we be on the roads or the sidewalks? To add more drama to this scenario, I got even more worried about watching the introductory video on “How to Use the Segway” – it was illustrating what not to do and ways one could get hurt in the process.

Yes, that was my way of creating unnecessary drama for what turned out to be a fun experience.  At the end of the tour, the words of Fabio, our knowledgeable and friendly guide, rang true “Using the Segway comes naturally – you just have to relax!”.  And guess what?  We even passed the unofficial skills test at the end of the tour to show we were capable of using the Segway!

If you have doubts, I hope this post will convince you that it’s super easy to use a Segway and an ideal way to see Rome especially if you are only staying for a few days.  It enables you to cover a lot of ground and sights without getting worn out.  If we had been brave enough to test out a Segway earlier, we wouldn’t have suffered needlessly in Lisbon and Barcelona.

 

Tips:  Don’t bring a big bag with you as it can get in the way.  If you must, you could leave your bag in the office as they lock it up.  There is a small pouch on the Segway where you could leave your personal items.

It is advisable that you don’t bring anything valuable as there is no lock on the pouch. Having said that, I brought a small bag with me to carry my personal belongings and it didn’t get too much in the way.

Getting Started on the Segway

The meeting place was centrally located (very close to the Trajan’s Column) and we were given training on how to use the Segway in a safe and spacious area between the Fori and the church of Santa Maria di Loreto. Fabio gave precise instructions and though we initially struggled with the Segway, it only took a couple of minutes before we got used to them.

We learnt some basic skills such as moving forward, stopping and even going backwards.  Then as we were taught  how to keep stationary on the Segway, I thought for a second that I would get motion sickness with the slight back and forth rocking movement. Nothing like that at all.

We were given ample time (30 minutes) to practice riding around to ensure we were comfortable enough before starting the tour. I was a novice even after the practice but felt sufficiently confident to venture out on to the crazy Roman streets. In the video above, I was getting some practice to get used to the Segway.

We were told that the Segway has been authorized for use on the sidewalks and for pedestrian use which made me more at ease knowing we wouldn’t be run over by cars but rather, we could run over a few pedestrians – just kidding.

And the Segway tour begins…

Our first stop was basically right there – Trajan’s Market.  An archaeologist by training, Fabio shared interesting insights into this area which I was even unaware of.  As I have said before, there are so many things to discover and learn about Rome that the Italians weren’t joking when they say “Roma, non basta una vita” (Rome, a lifetime is not enough).

Fabio was always very attentive when guiding us from one sight to another.  When it was crowded, especially on the sidewalks from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum, he would sound his horn to warn pedestrians ahead of us that we were coming through. He would frequently look back to check that he was not too far ahead and made sure there was ample space for us to easily get through the crowds.

Once at the Colosseum, Fabio described the structure and instead of having to use our imagination to see how grandiose this place was, he shared a video on his iPad which took us back in time and showed the magnificence of this building at its time of glory. After the Colosseum, we made our way to Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus).  What seemed like another tricky route with busloads of tourists, uneven path and street vendors, Fabio cleared the way and made it effortless for us to make our get to Circo Massimo.

At Circo Massimo we got off and parked the Segway (and no you don’t have to lock it) and from here, you have a spectacular view of the Palatine Hill. Standing at the edge of this former stadium, Fabio explained the excavations taking place in one corner and the history of the place.  Then with a water fountain (nasone) nearby he, of course, had to demonstrate how to drink from one, which first time visitors would for sure find fascinating!

The next stops were the Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) and the Knights of Malta keyhole.  With a slight uphill climb, we saw some people on bicycles struggling up when we whizzed by effortlessly on our Segways.  I even heard a comment from one of the cyclists that “That would be another way to do it”. I absolutely agree!

We first made our way to the keyhole and since we saw there was a line to peep through it, we decided it skip it – after all, we have seen this incredible view before.  Instead, Fabio took the time to give us some background details as to the Knights of Malta which were equally fascinating. From there, we went to the Giardino degli Aranci where we spent some time to take in the spectacular panoramic view of Rome.

Going back down same road from where we came and finally feeling very confident on the Segway, we had a bit of fun with it on the stretch by the rose garden. So confident that Luca could just hang on with one hand while filming with the other!

After some care-free moments, we went back onto the streets and next up was Santa Maria in Cosmedin, home to La Bocca della Verita (The Mouth of Truth).  Faced with another set of lines to have a photograph taken, we chose to move onto our last stop, Campidoglio.

We took the back route to Campidoglio where we had a tricky skills test which I am pleased to say we passed with flying colors!  This was a route I have never taken before and was treated to one of the best views of the Roman Forum. Breathtaking!

By the time we got to Campidoglio, we were officially Segway pros and just had fun going round the piazza to make the most of it before the end of the tour.  Time flew and when asked if it was tiring, I can safely say that we barely broke a sweat and no joints or muscles were in pain.

For more details about the Segway tour, visit their website.

P.S. After the tour, my remarks to Luca was “I want a Segway!” and as often the case, the reply was the usual disapproving look.  I tried!