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Enjoying part of the seaside of Rome, escorted by your
English-speaking driver, you will reach the centre of Rome and
meet-up with your private city-guide. From Capitoline Hill enjoy
a spectacular panoramic view of the ancient Temples,
Triumphal-Archers, Senate-House, Basilicas and Sacred Way
surrounding the old
 Roman
Forum, hub of political, religious and commercial life during
republican and imperial days and forming the most historical
archaeological complex in the western world. Visit the nearby
elegant renaissance square of Michelangelo for Pope Paul III and
adorned by the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius,
father of the infamous gladiator-emperor Commodus. Looking the
Circus Maximus of Ben Hur fame with its impressive views of the
sprawling ruins of the Imperial Palaces on Palatine Hill.
Then proceed to the Colosseum and hear about the bloody
gladiator combats, wild animal games and other astonishing
events held there to satiate the excited 70.000 spectators
Circle around Piazza Venezia, dominated by the massive looming
"Wedding Cake" marble honorary monument erected in 1885 to
commemorate King Victor Emmanuel II and drive to the Quirinal
Palace, official residence of
 the
Italian President originally built by popes in the 1580s as
their splendid summer residence for many centuries. Descend to
the cascading waters of the Trevi Fountain, fed by an ancient
intact roman aqueduct of 19BC and toss a coin into its gushing
sprays propitiating a sure return-visit to the Eternal City.
Stroll by the Spanish Steps the favorite spot of European
nobles during the Grand Tour era Pass Palazzo Chigi, home to
Italy's prime-minister and the nearby Italian Parliament as you
make your way to Piazza Navona, the most loved meeting place of
Romans today, embellished by Bernini's fountains. After an
inside visit to the awe-inspiring Pantheon constructed by
Emperor Hadrian in 120 BC, spanned by a solid concrete dome,
enjoy a light lunch or snack in one of the numerous cafés or
bars in the picturesque and operatic square facing the monument.
Subsequently cross the River Tiber to the Vatican City, smallest
sovereign state in the world, to visit the immense papal art
collections in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. After
admiring the masterpieces of Raphael and Michelangelo and
numerous artworks visit St. Peter's Basilica with its great
baroque colonnaded square and Swiss Guards. At the end of your
extraordinary full-day discovery of Rome head back for port or
be accompanied to your reserved hotel in Rome.
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