Rome

Arrival at Fiumicino Airport. Transfer downtown and free time for lunch.

Meeting with the guide in hotel and departure by bus for a 4 hours guided tour tour.

ANCIENT ROME

To dive into the world of the ancient time, visit the place of Caput Mundi, the head of the world. Roman history and personalities such as Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus become alive in front of your eyes. Go back to the origin of the Eternal City.

A tour through ancient Rome can only start with the inspection of the Colosseum, the largest arena of the world and antique venue of the famous Gladiator games. It continues passing the Constantin and Titus Arch, into the Forum Romanum, which used to be the political, religious and commercial centre of the ancient metropolitan city.

You will walk on the antique via Triumphalis along the speakers stage, the temple of the Vesta, the Kurie, place of the senate and the Rostra. Think of Mark Anton and his funeral speech for Caesar, arriving the Umbelicus Urbis. Subsequently, you climb on the smallest but most important hill of the ancient city, the Capitol. The architectural dignity and uniqueness are clearly of the seal of Michelangelo. The centre of the monument is decorated with the statue of Marc Aurel and the legendary mother of the Romans – the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus.

A full day to visit Vatican city. Guide and bus included.

Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel  and St. Peter’s Basilica

This day is dedicated to the Vatican City: Vatican City – the centre of Christianity, the seat of the Pope and of pilgrimage from all over the world. At the grave of the apostle Peter, built the first Christians an oratorio. In the year 324 AD Emperor Constantine began construction of St. Peter’s Church, was to become the largest and most important church in Christendom.

 The impressive square in front of the Basilica of St. Peter’s Square, is one of the finest examples of architecture of all times. The Vatican Museums are the numerous departments of the art collections which have been created by the collective passion of the popes over the centuries. The ceiling paintings by Michelangelo in the Sistine chapel form one of the most powerful masterpieces of painting. Subsequently, detailed inspection of the square and the church of St. Peter.      4 HOURS TOUR.

 Free time for lunch in the self-service restaurant inside.

Afternoon, continue the visit with the Vatican Gardens (2 HOURS).
The visit to the Vatican Gardens allows visitors to be part of a tour group carried out by an authorized guide of the State of Vatican City and see works of art and natural wonders in the smallest state in the world.

In the morning meeting with guide and bus for a max 7 hours guided tour as follows:

Romantic Rome

Rome is a lively pulsating city and Rome is baroque. If you would like to feel this moving and pounding life, then you should discover the city on a walking tour. It leads you inside the heart of Rome where you find the main attractions of the city, the governmental area, the best ice cream, the best coffee and of course the best shops. You will start at Piazza Navona, a spectacular and harmonious example of baroque Rome, where three fountains spit water, street artists offer their paintings and goods, visitors admire the beauty of the square. The walk continues with visiting the Pantheon, the most impressing and best preserved building of the ancient Rome. The Trevi Fountain should of course not be missed, Rome’s most famous and majestic fountain is a must for all Rome visitors. As it is tradition, hold a coin ready to throw into the water so that your return to the Eternal City is secured. At the end of the walk you will reach the Spanish Steps, a pictorial scenery in the most elegant (shopping) area of Rome.

Free time for lunch.

In the afternoon guided tour of GALLERIA BORGHESE.

In the 17th century, the Borghese family belonged to the most well-known families of Rome. Villa Borghese, in a beautifully planted park, was originally the summer residence of the family and it was built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The pertaining Villa Pinciana, today the museum Galleria Borghese, shines in a new gloss after twelve years of restoration and gives you the unique possibility of admiring the whole of a baroque collection at it’s place of formation. You will find the juvenilia of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the most interesting sculptors of the 17th century. In the rich painting collection you can admire masterpieces of Caravaggio, Raphael, Domenichino, Tizian and many others.

In the morning meeting with guide and bus for a 4 hours guided tour:

Christian Rome

This city tour includes the visit of the Basilica St. Paul outside the Walls, the Basilica St. John in the Lateran and one of the Catacombs on the Via Appia Antica. Rome, the Eternal City, is not only a metropolitan city, but it has also a millenium-old Christian tradition.

With the visit of St. Paul outside the Walls, the Catacombs and the Basilica St. John in the Lateran you get an interesting impression of the history and the development of the Christians in Rome. Both, the churches as well as the Catacombs represent and accommodate outstanding works of art. Before the Basilica of St. Peter was built, the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls was the largest church in the world and in a unique way it still reflects the structure of an antique Basilica until today. In  the 4th century, the basilica was built on top of the grave of St. Paul. According to the inscription in the front, the Basilica of St. John in the Lateran is assigned to be the „mother and head of all churches of the city and the continent“. It is the cathedral of Rome, the bishop church of the city and the bishop of Rome – the Pope – still celebrates the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor at Maundy Thursday there. In front of the Lateran Basilica, you find the holy stairs (Scala Santa) with the small chapel Sancta Sanctorum, former private chapel of the Pope with exceptionally beautiful frescoes from the 13th century. Afterwards the tour takes you to via Appia Antica where numerous Catacombs are placed. The Catacombs are Christian graves which had to be located outside the city walls, following the Roman law by that time. They offer a view of the early Christian life and the development of the early Christian municipalities and to their faith life.

 Afternoon at disposal for individual visit or shopping.

Farewell Dinner in restaurant in the Trastevere Quartier.

In the morning 3 hours guided tour:

St. Angel’s Castle

This morning you will visit Sant’Angel’s Castle, once grave of the emperor Hadrian and later on fortress of the Popes, it reflects in a special way the development of occidental history. Our visit ends on the terrace, from where you have an amazing view of the Eternal City.

Free lunch.

Transfer to the airport for the return flight.