The Room of the Signature is perhaps the most celebrated works of Raphael’s career. With respect to the chronology of the artist, we are actually moving back in time, viewing the first room that he was commissioned to paint at the young age of 25.
A clear transition  in Raphael’s style is evident in viewing the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament and the School of Athens side by side.  In the latter painting is where we also see an homage to Raphael’s biggest rival. The representation of a philosopher, Heraclitus with the resemblance of  Michelangelo is prove of Raphael’s admiration for his contemporary. After seeing his masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel Michelangelo became an idol for the young artist.
The last part of the tour shows the forth room, which lends its name to a fire that broke out in the 9th Century in a neighborhood of the Vatican called Borgo.
Let StefanoRomeTours take you back in time to relive the crucial moments that marked Raphael’s career. This description only scratches the surface of the many historically nuances that are present in Raphael’s frescos.

Visit our Vatican Tour

His tragic death was almost seen at the time as a divine punishment for a sinful life, but today it is just considered a mystery behind the life of one of the greatest artist in history.
He was an honest artist communicating through his art both artistic style and biography with no filters nor obstacles.
Discover the masterpieces of Caravaggio that are scattered around Rome on a guided tour that will surprise you! From Santa Maria del Popolo Church to Doria Pamphilj and Borghese Gallery you can retrace this artist’s fascinating life.
StefanoRometours offers daily excursions from Civitavecchia Port to take you to the most important galleries and churches of Rome that proudly display his most treasured pieces.

In the 16^th century under Pope Gregory XIII, Venetian  mosaic craftsmen were called to Rome to teach the mosaic technique to the locals . By doing so they helped establish the first permanent team of Roman mosaic craftsmen.

Originally the mosaic studio was created to decorate parts of the Basilica such as the Gregorian Chapel and the Dome of Michelangelo, however the technique proved to be one of the most successful decorative styles and was extended to all the cupolas of the Basilica.

After two centuries of hard work, the Roman studio surpassed the Venetian production by creating over 26.000 color tonalities. In order to obtain a vast variety of shades, the craftsmen melted pre-existing colors together in a kiln built in the 1700’s inside the Vatican and that’s when the Studio became a permanent installation.

Around 1770 another revolutionary discovery reaffirmed the importance of the Studio worldwide. Two of the most prominent mosaic painters, Raffaelli e Aguatti, invented the “filate enamels”. This technique consists of re-melting the tiles, creating a malleable substance that can be stretched very thin to form minuscule pieces, sometimes smaller than 1 millimeter.

From that moment on, the mosaics produced in the Vatican were more beautiful and elegant than ever before. These small tiles could also be used to decorate jewelry and small everyday objects, setting off the commissions of the high aristocracy of Rome and the world to create one of a  kind gifts.

In fact to this day, the Studio of the Mosaics still executes works of any size on private commissions, many of which come from the United States.

The same exclusive group of artisans who work on commission from the pope also create unique mosaics  for the public which of course come with a hefty price tag.

If you want to   be one of the few people that discovers the beauty of this fascinating art studio join the exclusive private tour of the Vatican offered by StefanoRomeTours!

You can see the artisans at work and ask them questions, touch the precious pieces of glass kept in the laboratory chromatically organized, see the kiln of the 1700’s and visit the unique show room of some of the best works of the private collection. If you can’t afford a commission work this tour will at least give you a once in a lifetime experience at a much lower price!

Our first stop on the tour is one of the best preserved medieval hill towns in the country, the quaint village of Calcata, which lies perched high upon a volcanic rock. The village is a now a bustling centre for artisans and creative intellectuals, and it is hard to believe that the village was condemned in the Thirties for fear of landslides. With its cobbled streets, great collection of art galleries, craft shops and ancient relics, this truly is a unique location. In the village we will visit the Church of Santissimo Nome di Gesù, the nearby protected area of Suburban Park Treja Valley and the remains of the Faliscan Temple of Monte Li Santi.

Our next stop is Sutri, about a 30-minute drive north west of Calcata and an Etruscan archaeological site. This beautiful village has around 5,000 inhabitants and attractions include an Etruscan necropolis, an excavated Roman amphitheatre with dozens of rock-cut tombs, a Mithraeum found in the crypt of the village’s church, the Church of the Madonna del Parto, as well as a Romanesque cathedral, which has seven naves divided by twenty columns, all of a different origin. The cathedral was built over the ruins of an early Christian basilica and was consecrated by Pope Innocent III in 1207. After visiting the attractions of Sutri, we head north to the ancient city of Viterbo.

A charming ancient city, Viterbo is also the capital of the provincial area and lies between Lake Bolsena and Lake Vico. First of all we will luncheon in the city and after settling with a full stomach of tasty Italian food, we will be well prepared for visiting the city’s best sights, including churches, palaces, castles and ruins. In fact, Viterbo is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval towns of central Italy, and on entering the historic centre, via the ancient gates of the 13 Century city walls, you will be able to see why for yourself. Places of interest on the route include the Papal Palace, the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo, Piazza del Gesù and the square’s simple but quaint 11th Century church, and the Fontana Grande, to name but just a few.

This is an ideal tour for those who wish to follow a splendid and varied itinerary that lasts a good day!

Don’t forget: In order to be able to enter any of the churches, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry! Furthermore, we are glad to inform you that on this tour there are no additional fees for entrance tickets.

Tour Highlights
Calcata :: Sutri :: Viterbo
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Return time: approximately 5.00pm
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/viterbocalcatasutri/

This tour from Stefano Rome Tours will take you through the highlights of the city, and even before reaching Rome you will be able to enjoy the beautiful and ancient Etruscan landscape en route. The comfortable drive to the capital takes just over an hour on the motorway/freeway and your personal driver will point out to you all the places of interest on the way, as well as answer any questions you may have about the tour. Rome has numerous sights and attractions to visit, from ancient Roman ruins to baroque churches and much, much more. As you can see below in the ‘Tour Highlights’, you will in fact be covering the city’s most famous sights, such as the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, so you can be rest assured that you will get the most out of your one day tour of Rome!

As always, remember that there is a dress code on entering churches in Italy, so please make sure that your shoulders and knees are all covered.

Tour Highlights
Pyramid of Caius Cestio :: Circus Maximus :: Colosseum :: Roman Forum :: Vittorio Emanuele Monument :: Vatican Museum :: Sistine Chapel :: St. Peter’s Basilica :: Pantheon :: Trevi Fountain

Pick up time: approximately 8.00am
Return time: approximately 5.30pm

A short bio on St. Francis of Assisi: He was born in 1182 or 1183 to a wealthy family, his father being a rich cloth merchant and his mother was originally from France. Throughout his early life there were signs of the man he was later to become, the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, or the Franciscans. There are many stories of his kindness to animals and fellow human beings, and of his fondness of the environment. It was around 1209 that St. Francis totally gave up all his worldly goods and took up a life of poverty. He wore just a woollen robe, which was fastened only by a knotted rope and went about rebuilding churches and ministering to people. Others followed him and also vowed to a life of poverty, and the new order was borne. St. Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226 and every year on the 4th of October his Feast Day takes place, honouring the saint’s charitable life and achievements.

The tour starts off by picking you up at your hotel and then we will head to Assisi via the beautiful countryside of Lazio and Umbria. Your professional driver will of course also point out the the major points of interest en route. Our first stop will be the Church of St. Maria degli Angeli, the place where St. Francis passed away in 1226. Next we will visit the burial place of St. Francis, namely the Basilica of St. Francis which was built straight after his canonisation in 1228. We will then make our way down to the town’s main square, Piazza del Comune, which is also home to a very interesting Roman archaeological site. After lunch we continue to Piazza della Minerva with its Temple of Minerva that dates back to the 1st Century BC. Our last stop in Assisi itself will be the Basilica of St. Clare (Santa Chiara). St. Clare was one of the first women to join St. Francis’ ministry in 1212. Her preserved body is on display in a crypt in the basilica, along with garments worn by both St. Francis and St. Clare, as well as some locks of St. Clare’s hair that St. Francis cut off when she joined his ministry. Our final stop is just outside Assisi, the small and simple Church of San Damiano. This is where St. Francis had his calling; after hearing a voice telling him to ‘rebuild my church’, he did exactly that. St. Clare spent most of her life until she died there in 1253.

Important: To enter any of the churches, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry!

Tour Highlights
Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli :: Basilica of St. Frances :: Piazza della Minerva :: Church of Santa Chiara
Pick up time: approximately 8.00am

The tour first takes us to Orvieto, which has been producing wine since the Middle Ages. We will first visit the Cantina Foresi at the Piazza Duomo. Here you will be able to taste the town’s most famous wine, the ‘Orvieto Classico’, along with other fine white wines and some delicious local foods, such as wild boar and pork salamis, porchetta colonnata and an excellent range of cheeses. After the tasting you can take a tour of the cellar and then you will have the opportunity to buy any of the wines that you just tasted. Orvieto is also worth visiting for its tourist sights, especially the 14th century cathedral, and you will have time to admire the building, as well as stroll around the town’s shops, many of which sell Orvieto’s other famous product, namely ceramics.

We now continue to the charming hill-town of Montepulciano in the beautiful Chianti region of Tuscany. This town is great for walking, as the centre is almost free of traffic. Here we will taste both red and white wines, the most famous being Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano, and we will follow this with a visit to a vineyard and olive grove. After tasting some of the palatable delights that Montepulciano offers, you will have time to discover the town itself, including the shops and attractions. There is the 17th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Palazzo Comunale, which was designed by Michelozzo in the same tradition as the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence, and also the town’s impressive castle, which was the site of many a battle between the locals and the Republic of Siena.

This is a great tour, one which is both relaxing and interesting, and with the added bonus of trying some authentic regional food and wine!

Tour Highlights

Orvieto :: Montepulciano

Pick up time: approximately 8.00am

Return time: around 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/winetasting/

There are no less than two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city and our Tivoli Villas Tour is an enjoyable way of visiting them. As the name of the tour suggests, we will be visiting two villas, the Roman Villa Adriana and the Renaissance Villa d’Este.

Villa Adriana was a gigantic complex initiated and used by Emperor Hadrian as his countryside retreat. In fact it was as large as many towns of the day with an area of about 250 acres and comprising of several palaces, thermae, temples, libraries, state rooms, slave quarters and even a theatre. Underground, there is an extensive network of tunnels, which were mainly used for the transportation of both servants and goods from one area of the complex to the other. Due to its enormity, Hadrian himself probably needed to have a guide himself to get around the villa!

Villa d’Este is also a UNSECO site, but being of Renaissance architecture, it is not as old as Villa Adriana and dates back “only” to the late 1500s. The villa was originally commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, grandson of Pope Alexander VI and has undergone many improvements throughout the years. The villa is most famous for its beautiful gardens and water features, which later had an enormous influence on landscape design throughout Europe and beyond.

After the tour you can enjoy a typical meal in the trattoria near to the villa, before we continue our jorney back to Rome.

Tour Highlights
Villa Adriana :: Villa d’Este
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/tivolivillas/

The tour’s first stop is the small town of Bracciano, which is reached via the Roman Via Aurelia road that dates way back to 241 BC. This quiet town is home to Odescalchi Castle, a well-kept castle that was made famous when Tom Cruise decided to marry his bride (Katie Holmes ) there in 2006. There is a  tour of the castle (7 Euros including guide) which will also bring you o the tower with excellent views of the nearby Bracciano Lake. After the castle we will take a walk around the village where you can do a spot of shopping, etc. Next stop will be the actual lake itself. Lake Bracciano is one of Italy’s cleanest and largest lakes, with a circular perimeter of approximately 20 miles, and was originally a volcanic crater. It is a popular location for sunbathing and swimming for those who want to avoid the busy beaches.

After a relaxing stop-off at the lake, we will continue to the small village of Ceri, just outside Cerveteri. This picturesque village occupies a fortified plateau of tuff and was inhabited by the ancient Etruscans, as well as the Romans. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Romanesque Church of the Madonna di Ceri with its Giotto-inspired frescoes and ‘cosmati’ floors. After lunch at one of the excellent value-for-money restaurants, we will head down to Square per Digerire, where you can relax and grab an ice-cream to cool down before heading to our final stop, Cerveteri. This home to the ancient Etruscan tombs, built by a civilisation that we know very little about and who occupied parts of Italy even before the Romans.

Don’t forget: To enter any churches, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry!

Tour Highlights
Bracciano :: Bracciano Lake :: Odescalchi Castle :: Village Shopping :: Etruscan Tombs :: Church of the Madonna di Ceri
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/castlesandlakes/

We start at the Circus Maximus where the chariot races took place. Then from here, we continue to one of the four great basilicas of Rome, St. Paul Outside-the-Wall, which was built by Emperor Constantine I and said to be located above the burial ground of Saint Paul. Continuing along the Appian Way, the 2000-year old road that leads to Apulia and Brindisi and where Spartacus and his army were crucified, we will make our way to the ancient catacombs. It is here where the early Christians would bury their dead or hold church services out of sight from the public, due to a fear of persecution. Before stopping off for some lunch we will continue the tour to Piazza Venezia and the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, which was dedicated to the first king of Italy

After enjoying a typical Roman lunch it is now time to head towards the Vatican, noted as one of the world’s smallest states and more importantly home to the Pope and the Catholic Church. You will be given the chance to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with its amazing ceiling painted by Michelangelo. After viewing the masterpieces found in the Vatican, the tour will take us to the Pantheon, once the temple to all Roman gods, it remains one of the best preserved Roman buildings. Just around the corner from here is our penultimate destination, the city’s largest Baroque fountain, the instantly recognisable Trevi Fountain, where visitors throw in a coin to be assured of a return visit to Rome. Our tour finally ends at the Spanish Steps, where you can take a rest and enjoy a tasty Italian ice-cream before we set off back home.

Don’t forget: To enter any of the churches in Rome, you will have to have your shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you will be refused entry!

Tour Highlights
Circus Maximus :: St. Paul Outside the Wall Church :: Appian Way :: Catacombs :: Vittorio Emanuele Monument :: Vatican Museum :: Sistine Chapel :: St. Peter’s Basilica
Pick up time: approximately 9.00am
Return time: approximately 5.00pm
Full tour details can be found here: http://www.stefanorometours.com/tours/christianrome/