  
| Half Day Tours |
Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica (4 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. The tour starts from Vatican Museums: we enter the Pinecone Courtyard, crossing the collection of Greek and roman sculpture, admiring the famous statue of Apollus, the Laocoon and the Belvedere Torso, the statues of animals, the Coffins of St. Helen and St. Constance, the Galleries of Tapestries and the frescoed Maps of all Italy painted in 1585. The Rooms painted by Raphael and his pupils, ending with the amazing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
Afterward the tour will lead you inside the highest temple of Christendom: St. Peter’s Basilica. More than a simple church the Basilica, originally build by Emperor Constantine over the tomb of the very first pope, the apostle Peter, was designed by the best Italian architects. Its building took more than 150 years, and under a certain point of view is still a “work in progress”. The Pietà by Michelangelo, the Jubilee Gate, Bernini’s main staircase enlightened by eternal lamps leading to the tomb of Saint Peter designed by Carlo Maderno, the tombs of the Popes made by Bernini, Della Porta, Canova and many others, Michelangelo’s amazing dome and more masterpieces will over helm you.
Ending with a quick view of Saint Angel Castle outside , and the secret passage (Passetto) connecting with the papal apartment, will give you the complete picture of the headquarter of Roman Catholic Church. The driver will take you back to the hotel.
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Ancient Rome (4 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. Tour of the archaeological heart of the eternal city will starting from the Amphiteatrum Flavium , better known as the Coliseum, in which thousands of cruel fights between beasts and slaves took place. Inside visit.
Then you will admire the majesty of the triumphal Arch of the Emperor Constantine. Nearby this arch, the Roman Forum is a journey into ancient roman history: from the early Seven Kings to the Late Empire every man who ruled Rome left a reminder of himself in Rome main public square. In the end you’ll enjoy the breathtaking view from Capitoline Hill, the main of the seven hills of Rome, where Michelangelo designed in the Renaissance a monumental square built upon the ancient roman ruins. You can admire the view of Rome from the top of the Vittoriano. Lift to be paid on the spot.
The driver will bring you back to the hotel.
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Renaissance and Baroque in Rome (3 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. Most of the itinerary is on foot. Starting from Trevi fountain, the monumental celebration of the Virgin Aqueduct, crossing the Galleria Colonna recently restored and opened to the public, we’ll visit then Piazza Colonna, taking its name from the Column in honour of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. And then Piazza Montecitorio, with the 17th century old tribunal is now the seat of Italian Parliament, Piazza Sant’Ignazio, beautiful rococo square and the Jesuit renaissance church with the illusionist dome by Andrea Pozzo.
We’ll enter Pantheon with its huge Ancient Roman dome and the grave of the great Italian artist Raphael, the church of St. Louis of France, with the famous canvases by Caravaggio, the eclectic dome of Saint Ivo alla Sapienza by Borromini.
Our tour finish off with Piazza Navona and its famous fountain of the Four Rivers designed by Bernini for the Pope Innocent X Pamphilj. We’ll meet the driver that will take you back to the hotel.
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St. Mary Major - St. John’s in Lateran - Holy Staircase (3 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. The tour will start from Santa Maria Maggiore, the last of the fourth Papal Basilicas that was founded in 5th century A.D., after the miracle of the snow in August.
After visiting St. Mary Major Basilica, the guide will lead you to Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano : the oldest Papal Basilica, once called by Pope John Paul II “the mother of all the churches in the entire Christianity”, was built over the Headquarter of the Imperial Knights called “equites singulares” under the Emperor Constantine. It was the papal seat until the 15th century, when Pope Martin V moved to the Vatican. We’ll visit the Basilica inside with its 1700 century of history, the baroque decoration made by Borromini the beautiful Romanesque cloister, the Baptistery ending with the Holy Staircase, that was rebuilt in front of the basilica in the 4th century AD after being taken by St. Helena in Jerusalem and being found Pilatus’ House entrance on which Jesus himself stood in front of his people before the crucifixion.
After the visit the driver will take you back to hotel.
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S. Paul outside the Walls and the Catacombs on the Appian way (4 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at hotel and start with the visit of Saint Paul’s outside the Walls Basilica, the second biggest Basilica of Rome, built by Constantine, over the tomb of Saint Paul, buried in the necropolis of the Via Ostiense. It was destroyed by a fire in 1823 and rebuilt before 1860, following the original one. The elegant Romanesque cloister, the mosaics of the IV century and part of the original decoration made by Arnolfo di Cambio in 13th century is still well-preserved. There is also an amazing carved Easter candelabra made by the Vassalletto in the 13th century and the complete series of all the portraits of the Popes since Saint Peter.
The driver will take you than to the Appian way, once called “regina viarum”, the first paved public road was built by the consul Appius Claudius Ciecus in the year 312 B C. It’s undoubtedly the best preserved ancient roman road: the first 8 miles, starting from the Gate of Saint Sebastian, are surrounded by the Roman Countryside, with many burial monuments of any size and shape, a unique evidence of the roman custom, among them we’ll visit the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and overlook the Villa of the Emperor Massentius, with its huge private Circus and the Tomb of his son Romulus. Along the same road the Christians excavated their cemeteries, called by the pagan Romans “Catacombs”, a Greek word meaning Caves. You will visit one of these catacombs, accompanied by monks.
At the end of the visit the driver will take you back to hotel.
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| Villa Borghese and the Gallery (4 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at hotel and start with the visit of the Borghese Gallery inside the Park.
In contrast with its appearance in 1984, the glowing façade of the villa set in its green garden, has now been returned to its original 17th century splendor. the façade's creamy marble colour and paler background tones have been restored and the pilaster strips and string-courses are a shade of ivory resembling travertine. The color, the Doric order of pilasters and the harmonious proportions of the whole building are reminiscent of classical architecture. The original double staircase by F.Ponzio has been reconstructed and will be surmounted by a copy of an ancient vase with two cornucopias (the originals are in the Louvre). This replaces the late 18th-century pyramid-shaped staircase and now provides access to the lower ground level containing various amenities. Bernini as a sculptor, Raphael, Caravaggio, Tiziano, Domenichino, Correggio , are just some of the highlights of an incredible wealth of art, ranging from ancient Rome up to the Neoclassical style, the latter epitomized by Canova's famous nude of Paolina Bonaparte .
The second part of the guided Tour will be outdoors, through the delightful Borghese Park , the Pincio Terrazza with its breath-taking view, the panoramic Pincio promenade , the Spanish Steps down to Piazza di Spagna , the heart of a paradise for fashion conscious shoppers and selective gourmets.
The driver will take you back to hotel.
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| Ancient Ostia (4 hrs) |
The private guide and driver will meet you at hotel and start the tour that leads you to the Ancient Ostia only at 30 kilometres from the capital.
This is an extraordinary archaeological site as important as exciting Pompei. The excavations of Ancient Ostia will show the city harbour, founded by ancient
Romans, at the mouth of the Tiber and which later was hidden by floods and oblivion up to our days. By walking through the ancient roads you will plunge.
Into the past everyday’s live of a refined and dynamic city , where the cult of art and pleasure was sovereign. You will admire the majestic public buildings, like Temples, theatres, basilicas as well as the private houses, shops and workshops. Particularly attractive are famous mosaics of the 12thermal baths and of the various harbour offices. After the visit the driver will take you back to hotel.
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| Full Day Tours |
| Tivoli: Villa D’Este - Villa Gregoriana - Villa Adriana |
The guide and driver will meet you at hotel and start the visit that will lead you through the Roman countryside to Tivoli, built on the slopes of the Sabine Hills. Visit of Villa d'Este, one of the most enchanting of the late Renaissance, home of Lucretia Borgia's son, famous for its gardens, marvelous fountains, waterfalls and centenary trees. Then at short walking distance, from the historical centre, just passing the Gregorian Bridge, rebuilt like the original after the bombing of 1944 and erected by Gregory XVI in 1826, we find “Villa Gregoriana” Park on its left. Under a dense forest of gigantic and dark trees, near sombre and massive vestiges of ancient constructions, on the edge of frightening depths, inside hard rocks and steep crags, in the middle of green, small clearings gloriously lit by the sun, myrtles lanes, craggy paths, steep alleys, eroded flights of steps and small tunnels, wind and find their way, leading the visitor to the discovery of the most varied and unexpected visions. In the upper paths, there is a number of ancient memorial tablets, found during the excavations to create the two Gregorian underground passages, as well as some archaeological finds like columns and parts of statues from the near necropolis, once located in the little public garden overlooking the circular flower bed in front of Villa Gregoriana.
Today, the number of such memorial tablets ,are now very few because they have been stolen or removed to other destinations. We arrive to the end of the underground passages, where the river hurls down to form the great fall, 120 mts. High. Time at leisure for lunch and in the afternoon visit of Adrian's Villa, the largest and most luxurious country residence of all times with its gorgeous array of imperial palaces, thermal baths, temples, theatres and pools. Driver and guide will take you back to hotel.
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| Roman Countryside |
The guide and driver will meet you at hotel and start the visit of the Roman countryside called Roma Castles.
This pleasant trip to discover the surroundings of Rome with the old medieval towns and its volcanic lakes, will give you the opportunity to relax for few hours outside the city traffic. Along the Caracalla Baths and the Appian Way we reach Castelgandolfo , summer residence of the Pope, overlooking one of the deepest volcanic lakes. We continue to Albano former Albalonga where Rome founders came from. Then arrival at Ariccia and visit of the Palazzo Chigi, an architectural complex redesigned by Bernini in cooperation with C. Fontana. In the palace was set almost entirely the movie “the Leopard “ by Luchino Visconti. Stop for lunch at a typical
Fraschetta with local products . In the afternoon visit of , Nemi the town of wild strawberries overlooking an enchanting lake “Mirror of Goddes Diana”. Along the Via dei Laghi, Rocca di Papa , Grottaferrata , Frascati , where we will sit down to taste its delicious wine .
Driver will take you back to the hotel.
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| Off the beaten track... |
| Hidden Rome |
Many other sites can be visited if you want your trip to become a special one.
- The Cryta Balbi, Largo Argentina Temples
- Santo Stefano Rotondo, the Mithreum and Santa Maria in Dominca church
- Monumental Complex of Santo Spirito in Sassia
- National Museum & Altemps Museum
- Diocleziano and Caracalla Baths
- Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini and Casino dell’Aurora of Villa Ludovisi and many others
Today hundreds of crypts, rooms, fountains, houses, temples, tombs are still perfectly preserved underground.
Some of the sites that you can visit are:
- San Clemente Underground Church and Mithreum
- The Roman Houses under Santi Giovanni e Paolo on the Celio.
- San Crisogono underground paleochristian church
- The Roman Houses under Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
- The Vicus Caprarius, roman insula under the Trevi Fountain
- The Stadium of Domitian under Piazza Navona
- Crypta dei Cappuccini, Catacombe di Priscilla, Ipogeo on Via Livenza
- San Sebastiano Catacombs
- The Colombarium of Augustus’s slaves and the tomb of Cecilia Metella

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