Intro:
Rome is a city that is rich in history and has remained one of the most visited cities by Christians from around the globe. From Caesar and Pontius Pilate, to St. Paul and the Apostles, visitors will find that this tour allows them to walk in the footsteps of the Saints. Your professional driver will pick you up on the pier at 8:00am and will return you back to the port or drop you off at your hotel around 5:00pm
We start with an easy and comfortable drive to Rome that will take approximately one hour and 10 minutes. During this time, your private driver will point out various points of interest along the way and answer any questions that you may have about your day.

Our first stop is the Circus Maximus, the large ancient stadium where chariot races were held for the pleasure of Roman citizens and royalty.
Majestically sitting behind the stadium, you will see the Palatine Hill, you can also see the Arch of Constantine and the awesome site of the Colosseum from this vantage point, rising in front of your very eyes.
Your journey will continue to the church St. Paul Outside theWall. This is the breathtaking basilica where St. Paul is buried. It is one of four churches considered to be the great ancient basilicas of Rome.
We will then make our way to the Appian Way, where the road is still the same as it was 2000 years ago. According to Christian tradition, it was along the Appian Way that an escaping Peter encountered a vision of Christ, causing him to go back into the city to face certain martyrdom. The Appian Way was one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic.
As we make our way along the Appian Way, we will visit the catacombs. Entrance fee is 6 Euros per person, including a guide who will take you inside, explaining the significance of the many things that you will see. You will join with a group of no more than 15 English-speaking travelers. Burials were forbidden within the city walls as early as the 5th century B.C., so beneath the surface, miles of tunnels were hewn out of soft tufa stone.
We then travel onward to S. Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains). It is also known as the Basilica Eudoxiana. It was first built in 432-440 to house a portion of the chains that held Saint Peter where he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. Here you will also have the honor of viewing Michelangelo's Moses (completed 1515). This massive sculpture was originally intended as part of a huge 47-statue, free-standing funeral monument for Pope Julius II, but the Pope suspended Michelangelo’s work on the statue to put him to work on the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was very unhappy at this turn of events, but eventually the statue was completed and became the centerpiece of the Pope's funeral monument and tomb in his family's church.
Next stop will be at the Piazza Venezia where you will see the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, dedicated to the first king of Italy.
At the time the monument was built, it was controversial among Romans since a large area of the Capitoline Hill was destroyed along with a medieval neighborhood for the sake of building it. Romans regard the monument as pompous and too large. Even with all of this criticism, the monument still attracts a large number of visitors, and tourists typically enjoy seeing it. It is also a wonderful landmark to find your way in the city.
Next you can make a stop for lunch. You may choose between an informal cafe/trattoria/pizzeria and a traditional ristorante (restaurant).
After lunch, you will visit the tiniest country in the world, the Vatican.

Please note that the Vatican museum is closed on Sundays.

Inside the Vatican Museum, you will be amazed and delighted at the vast collection of masterpieces, including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Admission to the museum is 14 Euros per person and visitors are asked to check in bags, backpacks or bulky luggage.
If you wish to have a personal tour guide in the Vatican Museum, Stefano Rome Tours can book one for you at a price of 120 Euro for two hours up to six people, and 150 Euros for two hours up to eight people. Make sure that you notify us in advance if you would like a private guide inside the Vatican Museum.
It will take two hours to visit the Museum, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Please remember to dress appropriately for the Basilica: no bare shoulders or bare knees. Capri-type pants are completely acceptable for ladies and men can wear shorts if they are long enough to cover the knees.
Our next destination will be the Pantheon, once the temple of all Roman gods. Later it became a church and burial place for kings and artists. It is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world. It has been in continuous use throughout its history. The Pantheon is the oldest standing domed structure in Rome.
We then make our way to the famed Trevi fountain, setting of the well known movie Three Coins in a Fountain. This fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city. The fountain is also the setting for an iconic scene in Federico Fellini's film La dolce vita.
Approximately 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day and are collected at night. The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy. However, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain.
Finally, you can rest and have a seat on the Spanish Steps where you might be tempted to enjoy a scoop of delicious gelato. Gelato is sold by the cup, and many vendors will allow you to choose several flavors for your cup.

Please note
Please note that the order in which we will visit the sites may vary depending upon traffic conditions or other deciding issues. We will be happy to alter the tour to meet your personal desires. The costs for entry tickets are not included in the tour fee, and any entry tickets that we purchase in advance for you will be added to the final bill. The fees for the tours include tolls and parking and are required in Euro funds.