TWO DAYS IN ROME

At 9h30 on your first day, we begin with a visit to the Vatican Museums and an in-depth study of all the major galleries therein, including the magnificent Belvedere Courtyard which houses ancient and classical pieces from which so many artists took their inspiration, Room of the Muses, the Round Room, Greek Cross Room, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps, and of course the magnificent Rooms of Raphael. The Sistine Chapel is for many people the “pièce de résistance” in the Vatican Museums and we spend an appropriate length of time inside its hallowed walls detailing the rich history, remarkable art, and magnificent architecture.

Before entering the chapel, you will hear all about Michelangelo and his struggles in accepting and completing the work which was to become what is arguably the single most recognized painting in the world. After the chapel we move to St. Peter’s Square for an overview of the Vatican City State before entering St. Peter’s Basilica to see Michelangelo’s beautiful Pietà and dome, Raphael’s “Transfiguration,” and Bernini’s Baldacchino. You will see the Crypt of St. Peter, the Holy Altar, and other monuments of artistic importance. We conclude on the portico with an overview of Bernini’s piazza (St. Peter’s Square), the central obelisk, and the Swiss Guard.

We begin day two after lunch with Rome’s greatest ever engineering accomplishment – the Colosseum. Upon entering the arena you will learn about the history of the bloody and violent games which took place there. Learn about how gladiators lived, why many had to die, and how some of them survived. Understand why bloodletting meant so much to the people of Rome.

Outside the Colosseum, you will walk up Via Sacra and enter the Roman Forum. This is where politics, religion, archaeology, history, and tragedy clash in what today is a genuinely beautiful and serene setting. Kings and emperors ruled here in ancient times. While overbuilding has left some areas of the forum difficult to appreciate, the beautiful architecture which remains will inspire forever. You will learn about all the most important buildings and contribute to a discussion about Gaius Julius Caesar. Reasons behind the rise and fall of the Roman Empire will be fully explained.

The Capitoline Hill (“Campidoglio”) is next. This piazza was designed by Michelangelo and delivers spectacular views of both Piazza Venezia and the Roman Forum. From here, a pleasant stroll brings us to Piazza Navona to see the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of St. Agnes in Agony by Borromini. You will come to understand more about the unbridled rivalry which divided these two great Baroque artists, a unique and often bitter rivalry which is evident to the keen-eyed in some of their works.

We then make haste to the recently restored-by-Fendi Trevi Fountain and perhaps have a gelato nearby. Last but certainly not least we visit the magnificent Pantheon, Marcus Agrippa’s temple to all gods, rebuilt on many occasions and used today by Roman Catholics as “Santa Maria della Rotonda.” We discuss the construction of the dome and oculus inside this architectural masterpiece. The current incarnation has stood intact for almost 1,900 years.

If you wish to exclude some sites or include others, we can allocate a guide to suit your specific needs. Please let us know if you would like a custom itinerary. With the above itinerary, you will see all the major sites and piazzas in Rome, and this will be done with a depth of information.