Rome In A Day-Semi Private
What you'll see: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Imperial Forums, Piazza Venezia, Capitoline Hill, Vatican City: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon
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Suggested Itinerary
Your guide will meet you at an on site meeting point near Rome's Ancient City. We begin the tour with one of Ancient Rome's greatest engineering accomplishments, the Colosseum. Once inside we will wander across the arena floor and hear the history of the bloody and violent games that took place here, learn about the making of a gladiator, and you will be given a good understanding of what these games meant to the ancient Romans. We would then change gears and head up the Via Sacra to enter the Roman Forum and talk about the more civilized side of ancient Rome and the beautiful architecture that has inspired so many architects today. We would cover all the main basilicas and temples and of course dedicate much of this segment to a discussion on Julius Caesar and his role in ancient Roman history. We will also explain how the Roman Empire became such a super power and why it eventually collapsed.
We then visit the Capitoline Hill, locally known as the Campidoglio. This piazza was designed by Michelangelo and offers a stunning view of Piazza Venezia - the site of the Victor Emmanuelle II monument and Mussolini's Palazzo. From there a lovely stroll will take us to Piazza Navona to cover the Fountains of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of St Agnes by Borromini while hearing about the rivalry between these 2 artists supposedly evident in the architecture. From there a short stroll would take us to the beautiful Trevi Fountain to find out the importance of water and fountains in Rome and of course give you time to throw your coins in and perhaps have a gelato. Last but certainly not least, on to the ancient pagan temple of the Pantheon which today is a Catholic Church. We will cover the construction of the dome not surpassed until 1959 and the Oculus as we wander inside this masterpiece in engineering that has stood intact for over two centuries.
This is usually a good time for a quick lunch break. Our guides will recommend a few great options where you can sample some authentic Roman fare where prices are fair and service is fast (after all, lots to do in 8 hours)! After a quick stop at one of Rome's best gelaterias, we make our way to the next destination: Vatican City.
We begin the afternoon with a tour of the Vatican Museums. Once inside, we take in the major galleries such as the Belvedere Courtyard which houses the ancient and classical pieces that so many artists took their inspiration from as well as the Room of the Muses, Round Room, Greek Cross Room, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps and of course the magnificent Rooms of Raphael before culminating our visit in the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. Before entering the chapel, you will hear all about Michelangelo and his struggles in accepting and completing the work that soon became what is arguably the single most recognized piece of art in the world.
Tour Length: 8 hours
Maximum participants: 15
Cost per person: 145 Euro
Children under 10 are free when accompanied by two paying adults. Discounts apply for groups of 4 or more.
Cost does not include taxi transfers and entrance fees (14 Euro at the Vatican, 12 Euro to enter the Colosseum-entry inside colosseum is optional). Please note that once you are at the Vatican and at the Ancient City you do not need and cannot use a car. The Historical Centre (piazzas and fountains) is best seen on a walking basis. A taxi transfer from one side of Rome to the other is generally 10 Euro or less, and 2-3 at most would be required for this tour. For groups of 8 or more, a van and driver will be provided at no additional cost.
Booking protocol:A deposit of 5 Euro per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of 140 Euro will be due at the start of the tour.
n.b. This tour can also be arranged for people coming into Rome on cruise ships for the day.
