HALF DAY

An itinerary by coach and on foot to visit the classic monuments of Rome. Crossing Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Nayads, our local guide will take you on a pleasant stroll through the historical centre, where you can admire the Trevi Fountain, La Colonna di Marco Aurelio, the Palazzo di Montecitorio, designed by Bernini, the Pantheon (visit inside), Palazzo Madama – seat of the senate and Piazza Navona. Passing alongside Castel Sant’Angelo, we get St. Peter’s Square where there will be an explanation of the Basilica from outside.

Arrive by motorcoach to Piazza Venezia, Rome Historical Centre with “The Vittoriano” the altar dedicated to the King Vittorio Emanuele II in 1911 – The Capitol Square with panoramic view of the Roman Forum and Palatine (visit) – The Roman Forums the political, military and social centre of the whole Roman Empire and the Arch of Constantine (Visit) – Colosseum, the Rome’s greatest amphitheatre built by the Emperor Vespasian in 72 A.C. (Visit) – The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli housing The Statue of Moses, Michelangelo’s masterpiece (Visit).

The tour begins by coach passing through Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Nayads and following the ancient Aurelian walls which once surrounded the ancient city. From Piazza del Popolo where you will see an Egyptian obelisk dating back to the time of Ramses II. Finally, on arrival at the Vatican Walls, your guide will then lead you into the the Vatican Museums representing the largest art collection in Europe with over 65.000 masterpieces (visit): The Bernini Staircase of the XVI century – The Candelabra Gallery with frescos and statues – The Tapestry Gallery dating back to the XVI and XVII century – The Historical Maps, work of Ignazio Danti – The Sistine Chapel built in XV century by Pope Sixtus and adorned by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino and Ghirlandaio – St.Peter’s Basilica the largest Church all over the world, with millions of golden mosaics and several Tombs of Popes where lies the most important Statue of Michelangelo, “The Pietà”.(Visit) During High Season there might be queues occasionally at the entrance of the museums.

Program as for T3 The Vatican

The first stop will be on the Esquiline Hill where our guide will show you some of the treasures inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, before continuing by coach to stop and see the Holy Staircase and the Lateran Palace before visiting inside The Basilica of St. John in Lateran the ‘mother of all churches’, built under the emperor Constantine, the first Christian Caesar, and renewed by Borromini in the XVII century (visit) – The Holy Stairs with the 28 steps ascended by Christ in Pontius Pilates’ house during his trial and supposed to have been brought from Jerusalem by St. Helena, the Emperor Constantine’s mother (Visit) – Appian Way – the Domine Quo Vadis Chapel – A visit will be made to either the Catacombs of S. Callisto, Santa Domitilla or San Sebastiano depending upon seasonal conditions. The tour will end with a spectacular view of the Baths of Emperor Caracalla.

In order to arrive at the Vatican City we pass by some of the most famous sights of the city, starting with the Piazza della Repubblica with its Nayad Fountain then the beautiful Piazza Barberini with Bernini’s lovely Baroque Tritone Fountain. Continuing along the famous Via Veneto, we reach and then follow the ancient Aurelian Walls passing by the impressive Villa Borghese park until we get to the Piazza del Popolo, the northern entrance into ancient Rome with its Egyptian obelisk dating back to the time of Ramses II. Just before arriving at St. Peter’s Square we pass by the massive Castel S. Angelo the ancient tomb of Emperor Hadrian. The Papal Audience will take place either in St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica or the Audience Hall; according to seasonal conditions and the number of pilgrims involved. Visitors in shorts or sleeveless tops are not admitted to the Audience Hall.

An opportunity to leave the metropolis and immerse yourself in the natural and artistic beauty of the small medieval villages outside Rome.
Leaving Rome we drive by the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla and onto the Ancient Appian Way by the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis?”. This tour takes us along the ‘Road of the Lakes’ through one of the hilly areas of volcanic origin that characterize the outskirts of Rome; the Colli Albani with its many growing villages. Castelgandolfo on the shores of a volcanic lake, where the Pope has his summer residence, Rocca di Papa and Grottaferrata, known for their culture, sights and gastronomic delicacies which include the traditional “porchetta”. Towards the northerly part of the Colli Albani, we reach Frascati popular with visitors both for its beauty and considerable wine production. Here we stop for a taste of local wine and products in a local tavern and to absorb the flavour of village life. Return to the vicinity of your hotel.

Following the ancient Via Tiburtina for 30 Kms. east of Rome, this tour allows you to visit and compare two very splendid villas from two different ages. The Villa Adriana dating back to Roman Times and the Villa D’Este from the Renaissance period. At the foot of the Tiburtini hills, source of the springs that supply the spa town of Bagni di Tivoli and which are dominated by vast quarries of travertine marble, you will stop first to visit the ruins of Villa Adriana which can only hint at the grandeur and beauty of this Villa built by Emperor Hadrian to remind him of the monuments and sites he had admired during his travels in the East. We then continue to the Villa D’Este, one of the most beautiful residences of the Renaissance. The Villa’s countless fountains, set in the heart of magnificent Italian style gardens, create a delightfully graceful symphony of carved stone, shade, sunlight and water.

Prepare and eat your lunch!!
Get in touch with the Great Roman and Italian Cuisine learning how to prepare some delicious dishes in an original and funny way, a Master Chef will help you to cook three kind of Traditional and fresh Pasta….obviously tasting and eating your own creation! Each class is 3 hours long and includes:

• Welcome drink and appetizers,
• Cooking lesson & lunch
• Drinks & Dessert
• A Special gadget for our clients.
• Courses are also available for vegetarians, vegans and celiac people

Not everybody realizes that, at only 20′ from the Capital, an extraordinary archaeological site, as important and enticing as Pompeii, awaits us: the impressive excavations of Ancient Ostia. This was the city-harbour funded by ancient Romans, at the mouth of the Tiber, and which later was hidden by floods and oblivion at to our days. Its remnants are thus better preserved than in Rome itself and offer us an extraordinary testimonial of the Roman civilisation along its whole evolution. By walking trough the ancient roads we will plunge straight into the past every day’s life of a refined and dynamic city where the cult for arts and pleasures was sovereign. You will admire in fact the ruins of majestic public buildings, like temples, theatres, fora or basilicas as well as of the private ones, like houses, shops, inns, workshops etc., ranging from the sumptuous to the humblest. Particularly attractive are the famous mosaics of the 12 thermal baths and of the various harbour offices (Corporations Square). A further bonus: archaeology spared the whole area from modern artefacts turning it into a delicious natural oasis, constantly cooled by healthy see breezes.

Discover some of the main monuments of the Eternal City in the romantic atmosphere of times past. Some of the sights you pass by include The Fountain of the Nayads, The Exhibition Palace, Piazza Venezia with its Tomb to the Unknown Soldier and the Capitoline Hill. Glimpse the Imperial Roman Age as you drive by and admire the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine and the Circus Maximus. Leap into the Papal era when, driving along the banks of the Tiber, you see the Jewish Quarter complete with synagogue and the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo closeby that heralds your approach to St. Peter’s. Set in the ancient Aurelian Walls that frame part of the Villa Borghese park, you’ll see a couple of the most beautiful gateways in Rome: Porta Flaminia through which you can admire the Piazza del Popolo and Porta Pinciana, through which you reach the famous Via Veneto symbol of “la dolce vita” in Rome. There will be two stops on this tour: at Piazza Navona to see Bernini’s beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers and at the Trevi Fountain so that you can keep up the tradition of throwing coins into the fountain. Return to the vicinity of your hotel.

The itinerary is as per programme T10 Illuminated Rome. At the end of the tour, you will be able to taste a delicious Italian meal in a selected restaurant complimented by the renowned local wine while listening to folk musicians singing Italian songs. Relaxing atmosphere for an unforgettable evening!

In Rome: Panoramic Tour (Republic Square) – Castel S.Angelo (Visit) – Via della Conciliazione – St. Peter’s Square for Papal Blessing.

In Castelgandolfo: Colosseum – Caracalla’s Baths – The Appian Way – The Road to the Lakes – Albano Lake (stop) – Castelgandolfo: Stop over for the Papal Blessing.