I found Rome to be congested and dirty, but still well worth the trip. The history was amazing and I saw the Sistine Chapel after the renovation/cleaning. Impossible to describe. A definite must see in person.
Ditto on Rome. If anyone plans to of look up the Scavi tour online. Under St. Peters and nay 20 people per day. Book in advance.
I agree Rome and Israel were disappointing. Israel was the most disappointing as it is all commercialism which sucked. Buy some holy water from the River? What? Stick you hand down this whole over a large church where Jesus died on the cross......yep a mound of dirt is what you feel when you stick your hand down the marble hole over a very expensive church. Yuk! And that is as a Catholic I say that.