ROME CITY TOURS: Rome half day (4h) , tour includes transport & driver guide/ English speaking
This tour includes:
Car pick-up at the hotel, car transfer to Saint Peter Basilica, the greatest church in Christendom rises In the grandiose St Peter’s square. Michelangelo’s mighty cupola
dominates the scene, blending into the sky above conveying a sense of the absolute and infinite, which touches the soul of all who gaze at it.
Next stop is Gianicolo’s panoramic view of Rome where you will enjoy one of the most spectacular scenaries of Rome facing the banks of the Tiber river.
After a brief stop in front of the “Acqua Paola”, commissioned by Pope Paul V, your Guide will drive down to the Trastevere district, this is an eclectic place, piazzas glow, fountains gleam and the people themselves shine, recalling ancient legends to life.
We’ll then reach what we still consider the heart of the city; Piazza Venezia, one of the major trafic junctions; Via del Corso, Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via del Teatro di Marcello are among the main roads that converge there.
A short drive from here you will get the ramp at the Capitol hill and Forum view, to gaze down at the ruins of the Roman Empire before marveling at the magnificent Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo to house the political power of Renaissance Rome.
Rome Full Day City Tour: Highlights of Rome Capitol – Forum – Colosseum – Circus Maximus - Trevi Fountain – Spanish Steps – Piazza Navona - Pantheon - Jewish Ghetto - Catacombs. Private guided limousine tour of Rome outstanding monuments
Tour includes:
Car pick-up at the hotel at 9:00am transfer to Piazza Venezia, that in its present form dates back to the late 19th century dominated by the gigantic monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, disrespectfully nicknamed “the wedding cake”or “the typewriter”.
Capitol Hill and the Roman Forum view,*are just ten minutes by car from there, right in time to lead you up and take your breath away through the enchanting panorama of the Forum Romanum, the center of political, religious and judicial life in Ancient Rome.
A short walk from here and you will feel fully immersed into the spectacular Piazza del Campidoglio commissioned by Pope Paul III and designed by Michelangelo for the visit of Emperor Charles V.
The Jewish ghetto is not far away from here, so you’ll take advantage to explore
the absorbing history of the Jewish comunity in Rome, where at the time of Pope Paul IV
the comunity was obliged by the Church to reside within the high walled enclosure and forced to wear distinctive insigna on their clothing to be identified as Jews.
After many designed and improvised stops, you’ll arrive at Piazza Navona to view the fountains of Bernini and the church of his rival Borromini.Your guide-driver will then drive you to Pantheon, the best preserved and most fascinating building of Ancient Rome. This architectural masterpiece was a severe test of the technical abilities of the architects
in roman time.
From the top of Aventine Hill, Rome’s panorama is laid before you; The Circus Maximus, where the famous chariot races in Imperial Rome were as bloody in reality as they are in the classic American movie Ben Hur.
At this point, it’s time to visit the glory of Rome; the Coliseum, it could have accomodated
50,000 spectators to watch gladiatorial contests, animal hunts and naval battles.
You’ll then have lunch time in an authentic italian restaurant on the route of the Appian way, the main road of the roman legions.
After you have appreciated the specialities of the roman cuisine far away from the tourists
beaten locations, your driver-guide will help you to form your own opinion about the early Christianity and the Catacombs, our next stop.
Catacombs were greatly expanded in cunicula carved out on various levels for kilometers, with the spread of Christianity in Rome, resulting in an extricable spider web in which it is easy to loose your way.
On the way back to your hotel you will do two more stops: the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain where your driver-guide will explain to you why if you throw a coin into the fountain
you’ll assure your return in Rome.
Great Galleries Tour: Borghese Gallery – National Antique Art Gallery - Doria Pamphili Gallery – Palazzo Spada. Private guided limousine sightseeing tour of Rome major art galleries.
Note: not available mondays and thursdays, not reccommended for young children. group size: the size of your party
This 7 Hour Tour visits Rome's important galleries. National Gallery of Antique Art in the 17th century Palazzo Barberini, with Raphael’s "Fornarina", Caravaggio’s "Narcisus" and "Judith and Olophern" and Pietro Da Cortona’s magnificent ceiling. Via Veneto, with the USA embassy and the Borghese Park.
Tour Highlights:
Spectacular decoration and priceless collections in the Borghese Gallery. In the pictures section masterpieces by Rapahel, Perugino, Botticelli, Correggio, Domenichino, Bellini, Titian, Rubens, and Italian and Flemish masters from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
Overwhelming frescoed ceilings in the sculpture section with ancient roman exibits, Canova’s sensual "Paolina Bonaparte Borghese", Bernini’s "David", "Apollo and Daphne", "Pluto and Proserpina".and Caravaggio’s "Boy with a basket of fruit", "Bacchino malato", "David and Goliath","St Jerome" and dramatic "Grooms Madonna". After a break, in the Pantheon area, the Doria Pamphili palace and its huge private collection.
Velasquez, Titian, Raphael, flemish masters, Bernini, Algardi and Caravaggio’s "Flight to Egypt" and "Repentant Magdalene", exibited in the sumptuos rooms of a pricely residence, show the exquite taste of enlightened collectors. Colourful Campo de’ Fiori and Michelangelo’s Palazzo Farnese. Palazzo Spada with Borromini’s amazing perspective and its interesting gallery where Rubens, Reni, Guercino, Solimena,Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi and several of Caravaggio’s followers are exibited together with original 17th century furniture and apparels.
Tour includes: transportation by airclimitezed Mercedes or BMW vehicle, English speaking guide lecturer, admission fees to Borghese Gallery, National Gallery of Antique Art, Spada Gallery, Doria-Pamphili Gallery.
Christian Rome Tour: Santa Croce - St John Lateran – Catacombes – St Paul - St Mary Major – St Peter. Private tour of Rome most significant Christian sites. Full day private guided limousine tour of Rome most significant Christian monuments.
Santa Croce in Jerusalem 4th century church with relics of the Cross. The upper level decorated by wall paintings with a magnificent fresco in the apse. In the lower level, St Helen’s Chapel, with a splendid mosaic, leads to the Chapel with the Holy Cross relics.
Next St John in Lateran, Rome’s Cathedral and Pope’s church, early 4th century basilica, remodelled by the great Borromini with a Giotto’s rare papal portrait, monumental statues of the apostles and a magnificent 16th century organ. The Catacombes, sacred ground, with memories of countless martyrs.
Three Fountains Abbey, St Paul’s execution site, with its three churches: St Vincent and Anastasius, St Maria Scala Coelis, where over 10.000 christian legionaries were executed on emeperor Domitian’s order, St Paul chapel, site of the apostle martyrdom.. Close by, the basilica of St Paul, imposing with its 80 columnes, gilded ceiling, beautiful mosaics, and its charming cloister. Under the 14thcentury main altar the tomb of the Apostle and by the the main altar the Easter Candlestick, remarkable example of medieval art.
A break in the popular distric of Testaccio by the city’s ancient walls and Caius Cestius piramyd. Circus Maximus and Colosseum lead to St Mary Major, largest church in Rome dedicated to the Vergin Mary with its relics of the Betlehem’s manger and its splendid mosaics. Across the Tiber to the Basilica of St Peter, center of Christendom and world largest church. Michelangelo’s "Pietà", Bernini’s "Baldacchino", the Papal altar, Michelangelo’s dome, gilded ceilings and mosaics honour the tomb of St Peter on the site of his martyrdom.
Tour includes: transportation by airclimatized Mercedes or BMW vehicle, English speaking guide lecturer, admissions fees to Catacombes
Mosaics Gold and Colours Tour: St Agnese – St Costanza – St Pudenziana - St Mary Major – St Prassede – St Maria in Trastevere. Private guided limousine sightseeing tour of Rome great mosaics. Full day guided limousine tour of Rome outstanding medieval mosaics.
Tour Highlights:
St Agnes, important monument of early christian Rome. 14 ancient columnes with their corinthian capitals design the 3 naves overlooked by the magnificent 7th century bizantine mosaic of the apse. Significant monument of paleochristian art, St Costanza’s Mausoleum.
Circular in shape, its elegant and bold architecture supports a vaulted gallery where 4th century mosaics, the most ancient in Rome, with their refined style and brightness offer the visitor an unique experience. A paleochristian 4th century church St Pudenziana, on the site of a probable residence of St Peter, is rich in marbles, frescoes, statues, stuccos and mosaics.
Remarkable the splendid 4th century mosaic in the apse showing the "Blessing Christ with the Apostles". The patriarchal basilica of St Mary Major, is home to magnificent mosaics. On both sides of its central nave, above 40 impressive jonic columnes, the 36 5th century tiles with the stories of Abraham, Isac, Jacob, Moses and Joshua, exceptional example of early medieval art. The thriumphal arch with mid 5th century mosaics dedicated to the coming and the infancy of Christ, leads to Jacopo Torriti’s magnificent 13th century "Thriumph of Mary" apse mosaic.
Following a lunch break in the colourful distric of Trastevere, Rome oldest church, Santa Maria in Trastevere with its many treasures. Ancient columnes, a rare cosmatesque mosaic floor, a gilded ceiling and 12th and 13th century mosaics, including Piero Cavallini’s 6 panels with the "Stories of the Vergin", the great mosaicist masterpiece. Behind the Colosseum St Clemente, with its underground levels going back to the 1st century and Nero’s time.
Within the present day church in the upper level the Chapel of St Caterine" with early renaissance works by Masaccio and Masolino da Panigale and, in the apse, the 11th century mosaic "Triumph of the Cross". On the site of an early christian place of worship, the 4th century St Prassede with 11th century mosaics on the triumphal arch and the Chapel of St Zenone with some of the most important bizantine mosaics in Italy.
Tour includes: transportation by airclimatized Mercedes or BMW vehicle, English speaking guide lecturer, admission fees to St Clemente
