Baroque Rome
Next, we will drive to the extraordinary Piazza Venezia, dominated by the impressive white-marble Victor Emmanuel Monument, also known as the “Wedding Cake.”
From Piazza Venezia, a gentle staircase designed by Michelangelo, the Cordonata, leads up to the Capitoline Hill, the most elegant of Rome’s Seven Hills. At the top lies Piazza del Campidoglio, today the seat of the City Hall. Designed by Michelangelo, the square offers one of the most breathtaking views over the entire Roman Forum, once the political, social, and economic heart of ancient Rome.
Your guide will accompany you through Rome’s earliest origins and the majestic imperial monuments that still stand today, an experience that is both educational and awe-inspiring.
The exploration continues with a panoramic drive to the majestic Pantheon, followed by a short walk to Piazza Navona, often described as Rome’s open-air living room or to the spectacular Trevi Fountain
Lunch Time
Lunch can be enjoyed according to your preferences, either in a charming Café or in a traditional Roman “Trattoria” serving authentic homemade dishes.
After lunch, the tour continues with a scenic drive to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican City
In the Vatican Museums, your Guide will comment about the extraordinary treasures collected by the Popes in there housed and the masterpieces of the greatest Italian artists who worked in, such as Perugino, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Admire amazing ancient Greek and Roman sculpture collections made of colossal statues like the Laocoon group, the Apollo of Belvedere and the Venus of Cnidos, busts of the Roman emperors and refined ancient mosaics showing mythological subjects. Moving on to the splendidly decorated Raphael’s rooms, we reach the Sistine Chapel where you will be astonished by the marvelous frescoes made by Michelangelo like The Last Judgment and Adam’s Creation.
Finally, we will emerge in the impressive Saint Peter’s Square. Here we feel the sensation to be warmly embraced by its colonnade, evidence of the architectural genius of G.L. Bernini. Then we take a deep breath before entering Saint Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. Lost in such magnificence, our eyes will be captured by one of the most beautiful works that the human mind could ever conceive: Michelangelo’s Pietà.
After such an exciting and interesting day you will enjoy a relaxing ride back to the Port.
Tour Reviews
Giuseppe tailor made the tour to see the things I specifically wanted to see in Rome. He did a fantastic job of explaining the history and architecture. We spent all the time I wanted at the different sites. He took me to an excellent restaurant, even though it was Sunday and many were closed. Fantastic experience.
This is the fifth or sixth tour I have booked with Leisure Italy. This time I had a couple extra days in Rome after a cruise so naturally I turned the Leisure Italy to design a tour. I have become so confident in their expertise that after researching I asked for an all day tour to include some sites that were well known but less crowded. My tour began with the Villa Borghese and Gardens. My guide, Giuseppe guided me through endless rooms of masterpieces adding background and little known anecdotes which helped me view this formidable property without feeling so overwhelmed.I am not an artist and barely have a passable knowledge of period masters. What does excite me is learning about the history — the politics and personal lives of these families and the artists in their times. The stroll in the gardens was wonderful,too and magnificent of itself! Next stop was Priscilla’s Catacombs. This time the actual tour is conducted by representatives of the Church as are all catacomb tours I learned. It was quite educational and fascinating adding another layer to understanding the lives and deaths of the Romans.The third stop was Castel San Angelo. We walked to the top for some spectacular views! It was a picture perfect day and I thoroughly enjoyed each of the three tours — as well as the extra stops for some beautiful photo ops overlooking Rome. As a woman traveling alone and with some mobility issues I would not have gotten such immersive insights into daily living or had the ability to take such a leisurely pace without the driver or the expert guidance that Giuseppe and his company offer. I wholeheartedly recommend Leisure Italy. I love that I can tell them what kind of tour I want and count on their tailor-made tours to always be the most memorable and enjoyable ones of the trip.