Now you will be on your way to your first destination to explore
Ancient Rome: the
Colosseum.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Romans dazzled the world with architectural feats and shocked them with arena games. The
Colosseum (originally named the
Flavian Amphitheater), revolutionized architectural engineering and inspired the world since it was built nearly 2,000 years ago by Emperors Vespasian and his successor Titus. Here you will meet your professional licensed guide who will take you inside the Colosseum where ancient activities that took place inside this enormous monument will be brought to life. You will learn about the intricate inner workings of the Colosseum and how it revolutionized public stadiums, the perilous life and fame of gladiators, the arena on which celebrated games took place for the entertainment of 50,000 spectators at a time, and other historical narratives that add to the intrigue of Ancient Rome. You have the opportunity to ask your guide questions and discuss in depth what you are seeing.
As you leave the Colosseum to visit the
Roman Forum, you will walk past the
Arch of Constantine and learn what it represents and who this very important Roman Emperor that’s been referred to as the father of Christianity was.
The
Roman Forum was the political, economical and religious center of Rome for centuries, making it the most famous meeting place in all of the Roman Empire. Your guide will take you through ancient cobble stoned streets lined with surviving ruins of majestic temples and basilicas, and explain Roman life in what became the symbol of the Roman Empire itself.
After your visit through Ancient Rome’s most magnificent sites, it’s time for lunch at a local traditional restaurant, and a drive through Rome to relax at the
Trevi Fountain where you will have the opportunity to absorb the lively sights and toss a coin into the fountain, ensuring a return visit to Rome.
Vatican
Now you will visit the smallest nation in the world with population of less than 1,000:
Vatican City. One of the most recognized place in the world and possibly least understood, for 2,000 years the Vatican captivated the imagination of millions. Behind its walls you’ll discover the world’s most valuable sacred treasures that makes the Vatican the cultural and artistic legacy of Italy.
You will be met by your tour guide once again at the
Vatican Museums to begin your 2 hour Vatican Tour. The Vatican and the artwork inside of it represents the architectural and artistic achievements at the height of papacy power during the Renaissance era.
Through the labyrinth of halls and galleries that exhibit the world’s largest repository of artistic treasures, historical artifacts and objects of faith, you will be guided to the most significant and irreplaceable masterpieces displayed inside breathtakingly luxurious palaces.
Throughout the tour you will learn about the ancient classics like the group sculpture of
Laocoon that inspired the inception of the museum 5 centuries ago, discuss the different works of
Caravaggio,
Michelangelo,
Giotto and other great masters, explore the
Gallery of Maps, admire the
Gallery of Tapestries and discover the stories they reveal, understand
Raphael’s representations in the
School of Athens as well as other frescoes throughout the
Raphael Rooms, all the while being entertained with amusing narratives about famous rivaling artists and sometimes infamous popes whose secrets remained within these walls. When you arrive at the
Sistine Chapel you will ponder man’s artistic and spiritual endeavors in the famous frescoes created by
il divino himself,
Michelangelo.
The Vatican doesn’t just measure its wealth in money, but in souls as well. A visit to
St Peter’s Basilica will follow. Originally founded by
Emperor Constantine in 324 AD on the site believed to be
St Peter’s tomb, the basilica has since been rebuilt in the 16th century by some of the greatest Renaissance masters giving rise to the architectural glory you see today. As you make your way through the colossal interior with your guide, you will listen to stories while admiring the remarkable contributions made by
Michelangelo,
Bramante, and
Bernini, and learn of the legacies left behind by unconventional popes who became immortalized by the ambitious work they conceived and realized.
Rome and the Vatican are layered in history, shroud in mystery and possess untold secrets, but on this tour you will discover many. You will part not only with wonderful lasting memories, but with valuable knowledge and understanding of some of the world’s most significant places that have inspired and continue to inspire the world for generations to come.
Thank you for choosing
Stefano Rome Tours for your Tours and Shore Excursions in Rome and beyond. We look forward to meeting you in Rome!
Trivia:
You could fit 8 Vaticans in New York City’s Central Park.
The Vatican was built on an ancient necropolis.
The Etruscan goddess of death was Vatica.
There are no taxes inside Vatican City.
Pope Julius II, the same pope responsible for building the new St Peter’s Basilica and establishing the Swiss Guard in 1506, also initiated the Vatican Museums as a assembly of sculptures he collected and displayed in the Cortile Ottagono (1503-1513)
Duration: One day
Departure from:
Rome
Please note
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