This tour combines the Vatican City Express with the Fabulous Fountains and Piazzas Tour, featuring the "must see" piazzas, fountains, palaces, churches amidst the charming streets of Renaissance and Baroque Rome. Your guide will stroll with you through the heart of Rome to visit Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. You will begin to see the city as a continuous story, one that radiates from the hearts and minds of the greatest Renaissance and Baroque artists, their vision inextricably binding the twin stories of Rome and the Vatican. Your guide will reveal hidden remnants of Ancient Rome along the way showing the bizarre intermingling of architecture in Rome over the millennia. Midday you will stop for a delicious Italian meal in a restaurant selected by your guide for its excellent Roman cuisine. The Vatican City is one of the most amazing places to visit on the planet, no matter what ones personal views on religion are. This tour gives a fascinating in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with ample time to appreciate the wealth of sacred and profane history, art, and religion contained within the fortified walls.

With your guide you will explore the Vatican City in all of its splendor with a focus on hidden symbols, secrets, myths and stories along with the poignant great works of art and their history giving you an insider's view that you will never forget.

On to the Vatican Museums where entering the dramatic Courtyard of the Pinecone we are taken back in time as we see the most profound and fascinating works of art from the Ancient Pagan World which inspired the greatest minds in the history of art from Michelangelo and Raphael to Bernini and Canova. In the Hall of Busts marble portraits shock us with their realism and give us a personal glimpse of the ancient Romans themselves. Continuing through the beautiful Belvedere Courtyard, The Animal Rooms, the Hall of the Muses, The Round Room, the Room of the Cross, and the Hall of the Candelabra your guide will bring to life the most prized artworks of ancient Rome including the Laocoon, the Belvedere Torso, the Apollo Belvedere, the giant marble bath, an enormous and complex mosaic and rare colossal sculptures of gods and goddesses- a pagan world all held within the walls of the Vatican City! Two enormous sarcophagi made for Emperor Constantine mark the meeting of Pagan and Christian and twin Egyptian Sphinx sculptures take us back to an Empire which predated the Romans. Poignant masterpieces of ancient sculpture include the Baby Bacchus being carried by a faun, a touching sarcophagus of a young boy and the bizarre and dramatic Diana of Ephesus. Leaving the Pagan World behind, in the Hall of the Tapestries we will see the incredibly detailed giant wall hangings designed by the School of Raphael dramatizing the life of Christ as well as a remarkable trompe-l'oeil ceiling. Then one of the most incredible records of the Papal world- the incomparable Hall of Maps with its elaborate golden ceiling and frescoes reveals itself detailing all of the Papal territories, towns and cities, depictions of battles and fanciful sea monsters- a cross between scientific inquiry and fantasy.

In the small Sobieski Room we see a painting of monks hung by the church for supporting the theory that the earth was round, a giant battle against the Turks and in the Room of the Immaculate Conception frescoes celebrate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the sublime Raphael Rooms, the grand apartments of Pope Julius II, young Raphael's genius is shown. Within his dramatic compositions we reveal the hidden clues to the powerful Papal world of the early 1500's. Raphael also pays homage to Michelangelo, who spent ten years working in the Sistine Chapel, where we will view his overwhelming masterpieces: the Last Judgement and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. One of the great highlights of the tour, our detailed description will reveal the meaning of the paintings, their symbolism as well as hidden and often bizarre details and describe the elaborate and often tortured undertaking that Michelangelo went through in order to create them.

In the other worldly Basilica of St. Peter your guide will recount the stories of the popes and artists who brought about its existence and reveal the hidden symbolism in its monuments and the wonders of its architecture and decoration. Here you will learn the secrets of Michelangelo's first masterpiece, the Pieta and his last- the great dome. The theatrical Baroque art and architecture will be explained as you take in the culmination of over 120 years of construction and decades of decoration. Witness the symbolic monuments to the Popes and some unlikely others... Mathematics and creativity drove Bernini's elaborate plans both inside and outside the Basilica, full of symbolism and drama: Piazza San Pietro and Colonnade, the Cathedra Petri, the Baldacchino, and the Monument to Alexander the VII. The bodies of the 'Incorruptible' Popes also lay on display in glass coffins, including the body of Pope John XXIII. Not to be missed is the story of the pagan origin of the site, why St. Peter's Basilica is here and how it relates to Nero, its meaning to the Catholic world and the many legends that surround it.

This unique tour combines the historic sites of the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Coliseum with a visit to the Vatican Museums. It provides a great opportunity for those who want to expand their understanding of how Ancient Rome was transformed into Papal Rome and came to be as it is today. Digging back through the layers of both ancient pagan and Christian tradition, your guide will take you on an unforgettable journey from the ancient past illustrated by the highlights of the collections within the Vatican Museums . Rome is perhaps the only place on earth in which one can simultaneously view the artistic, historic and spiritual traditions of the last 2800 years stacked one atop another to be revealed in its archeological sites and museums. The Roman Empire in the first centuries after Christ was a place in which many faiths competed for the hearts and minds of the people. In the end, the Christians won this spiritual battle, or did they? Discover how the pagan mind returned to medieval Rome, gave birth to the Renaissance, and shook the Church's very foundations. Your guide will take you around the city in an in depth and enthralling tour examining how the soul of man speaks through its art and architecture across the centuries.

Mid-day you will stop for a delicious Roman meal in a favorite restaurant, pizzeria or cafe, of your guide chosen for its authentic Roman cuisine.

This walk takes you through the historic city center of Rome, unmatched by no other city in the world, where stunning piazzas filled with theatrical fountains, dramatic Baroque and Renaissance palaces of the nobility and churches filled with artistic masterpieces are all connected by tiny and charming cobblestone streets, making for a wonderful visit to be remembered for a life time. Seeing these sites is only half the joy- the other half is hearing the intriguing history of the people who created them, from the most powerful popes and nobles like Sixtus IV and Urban VIII to the art stars of the times, such as Raphael and Michelangelo, the ever feuding and famous rivals Bernini and Borromini, and the wild genius of Caravaggio. Works of each of these great artists will be seen along the way. We will visit many well known sites such as the ancient Roman Pantheon and the Baroque Spanish Steps, as well as off the beaten path sites of a secret monastery garden and a nearly hidden, yet giant remnant of the ancient aqueduct system. It is our pleasure to reveal the most interesting details, legends and bizarre truths that are to be found in this amazing city center.

An important part of visiting Rome is a stop for a culinary treat such as a creamy espresso or cappuccino at Tazza D'oro or a delicious gelato at an artisan ice cream producer. Come on this delightful stroll with us and delight in a vision and memory of resplendent Rome, replete with stories of virgins and fountains, Papal bumblebees, artistic genius, rivalry and revenge that reveal the truths, facts and legends of Rome’s historic heart.

Romans are famous for La Passeggiata, a traditional evening stroll through the main streets and piazzas in the historic center taken at Rome's most enchanting time of day, dusk. This ritual walk is a great orientation to the city and features some of the greatest highlights of Baroque, Renaissance and Ancient Rome. While winding through Rome's picturesque streets, we will be stopping at lovely piazzas, fountains and palaces, eating a gelato or taking an apertivo along the way. We'll begin our leisurely stroll in the area of Campo dei Fiori, a part of the city bustling with Romans going about their days, with numerous artisans and clothing shops and food and wine venues. Campo dei Fiori is one of the most important social piazzas in Rome, a market place brimming with fruit and vegetables by day and overflowing with people enjoying aperitifs by night, and punctuated by an impressive monument to the 1600 execution of Giordano Bruno. Nearby we'll see the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the Palazzo Farnese, both built by wealthy cardinals before continuing on to the Theatre of Marcellus, planned by Julius Caesar.

Emerging from this archaeological area we'll see the Portico of Octavia, once a massive rectangular portico, which enclosed two temples dedicated to Jupiter and Juno and an entry way into the ex-Jewish Ghetto. We'll talk about the history of this quarter as we walk its center street flanked by restaurants, bakeries, and pizza makers, on our way to the Turtle Fountain. Situated in a tiny piazza, this fountain attracts many people for it elegance and tortoises added by Bernini in 1658. From here we may pass by Largo Argentina on our way to the Pantheon. Perhaps, we'll stop along the way for a coffee at Rome's most famous coffee bar while weaving our web through the city center arriving at the most famous Roman piazza, Piazza Navona. Here we'll take in Bernini's fabulous Fountain of the Four Rivers and Borromini's church of Sant'Agnese discussing these masterpieces and artists of yesterday now surrounded by wine bars, street artists, and galleries. From here we make our way to our final destination, enter the church of Sant Ignazio for a surprise before arriving at the abundant waters of the Trevi Fountain where we will see the colossal and relief sculptures and uncover their hidden symbolism. Before parting ways, we'll throw a coin over our shoulders into the fountain to bring good luck and ensure a return visit to Rome!

Two often-overlooked neighborhoods of Rome are lovely Trastevere and the ex-Jewish Ghetto. Starting at the piazza of Campo dei Fiori, we will explore the roots of the Empire, Christianity in Rome, the fall of Rome, and the re-urbanization of Rome since the Renaissance. Walking along the side streets of Trastevere and the Old Jewish Quarter, we will observe buildings, monuments, artisans’ houses and workshops that demonstrate the intertwined history of Rome and these charming, medieval and historic districts. In Trastevere, we will spend time in the most beautiful and important churches and piazzas including Santa Maria in Trastevere, the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. Inside we will reveal the symbolism in the brilliant mosaics both ancient and medieval while discussing Trastevere's ancient past and its importance to the Roman Jewish community. We will cross the river to Tiber Island, which since ancient times has been dedicated to health. On the island stands a hospital, referring back to its tradition as a place of healing, and the Temple of Asclepios, god of medicine, whose staff is still the symbol of pharmacies today! From the island we'll come to the ex-Jewish Ghetto, the heart of Jewish culture in Rome.

Rome's Jewish community has always been one of the largest in the world and is the longest continuous Jewish population. Understanding and experiencing this quarter is key to understanding Rome's history and the roots from which Christianity grew. Today it is a thriving, lively, and popular section of the historical center where people come to admire its uniquely beautiful monuments and savor the city's most authentic cuisine. Our stroll through small piazzas decorated with fountains, palaces and churches shows how the area retains an atmosphere of old Rome. We will visit sites such as the Portico of Octavia, once a rectangular portico with approximately 300 columns, Teatro Marcello, and Piazza 16 Ottobre 1943 where we will discuss Roman and Papal politics during World War II. We'll end our tour by the monumental Great Synagogue constructed after 1870 when Papal rule ended. Those who would like to enter the synagogue can do so with a guide from the Jewish Museum as required.

Let's immerse ourselves in the cultural, historical and culinary highlights of Rome. We'll stroll along the streets and passageways of Rome, visiting the most important sites over 2 exciting days. From the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica to the Coliseum and Pantheon, we'll experience some of the world's most beautiful artwork and explore the mysteries of the Ancient World through numerous archeological sites. We'll take a wonderful stroll through uncountable Piazzas and Fountains dotted throughout the center of Renaissance and Baroque Rome and Trastevere. Let us reveal a complete vision of Rome with its hidden symbolism, palaces of the popes and nobility as well as the greatest works of art by Bernini, Raphael, Michelangelo and Borromini, bringing to life the history and stories as they happened in the Eternal City of Rome.

We can't spend two days together without breaking for some mouthwatering food and learn about the cuisine of Rome.

During this tour we will have time to savor some of the culinary delights of Rome by taking a little break now and then to visit our favorite place for gelato, the most prized coffee shop in Rome for an espresso or cappucino and to share an excellent lunch at one of our favorite pizzerias or restaurants. Perhaps we'll eat a traditional Italian meal from appetizer, to second course with wine, dessert, and coffee or if we like we can savor a Roman style thin crust pizza before continuing on with our day. Perhaps you'd like to end the day with a glass of wine at our of our favorite wine bar.

This romantic tour at dusk is a great way to get oriented to Rome from on high. We will introduce you to Rome from the high points across the city witnessing breathtaking views. We begin in the heart of the city at Michelangelo's Campidoglio Piazza on the summit of the ancient Capitoline Hill. This small square feels like an intimate terrace magically floating above the city. Surrounded by stately palaces it embodies all things Renaissance and features highlights of Ancient Roman colossal sculptures. After climbing some well hidden staircases past a monastery, we will tuck into a secret cafe where we'll sip on a glass of Prosecco while being dazzled by an indescribable panoramic view of the entire ancient city from the Roman and Imperial Forums to the Column of Trajan, from the Colosseum to the Arch of Constantine. Once we finish our cocktail, we will stop in the awe inspiring church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli to see the ancient pagan columns and the famously worshipped baby jesus sculpture. Leaving the Capital Hill, we will get a closeup look at the monuments of Trajan's Forum, and learn about the Emperor Trajan as we pass by the ancient ruins of the Markets of Trajan, a shopping mall built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, and the Column of Trajan, a 98 ft.

tall victory column. The scenes of war played out on this column give us a great vision into ancient Rome like a massive movie reel spiraling into the sky. We will continue meandering along the back streets arriving at the Piazza del Quirinale and the Presidential Palace which graces us with another gorgeous view of Rome before ending up at the lovely Villa Borghese with its amazing view of Piazza del Popolo and the domes and cupolas of Rome. Descending down the stairs that frame the Piazza we find ourselves in the middle of Roman nightlife where there are countless restaurants and bars for your continued enjoyment. Let us know if you would like us to make a reservation at an excellent restaurant near by.

This tour is with a knowledgeable English speaking chauffeur-guide who can take you to see the many splendors of Rome in a full day. You will have time to stop at one of our favorite restaurants for a delicious traditional Roman lunch mid-day in order to get the full Roman experience. We can provide reserved tickets. Your chauffeur-guide will take you to see many sites around the city to take advantage of views, historic sites and architectural wonders. This tour is fully customized to create a perfect day for you so let us know if you have specific requests. The itinerary can be focused on the highlights of Rome sites such as the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Vatican from the outside, as well as areas within the city center such as the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and Pantheon. Your chauffeur will stop to let you visit the interiors of sites on your own if you like. We can also provide you with a tour of the Vatican Museums with pre reserved tickets. On this tour you will see the most intriguing churches, and historic and archeological sites with your guide to learn their fascinating history and get a great overview of the city.

Other tours can be done such as the Angels and Demons, Catacombs and Appian Way, or Ostia Antica. We can custom design a tour for you such as the Ancient Sites of Rome, the Renaissance and Baroque City, Early Christian Sites, the Cardinal Churches of Rome or the Splendid Views of Rome and off the beaten path sites. We take special requests and can customize this tour to meet your needs!

This tour is with a private professional guide who can get out of the car with you to visit sites that cannot be reached by car and is fully customized to create a perfect day for you. Your guide can take you into sites such as the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and areas within the city center such as the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Pantheon. The itinerary can be focused on the Highlights of Rome such as the St. Peter's Basilica, the Coliseum and Roman Forum and the Fabulous Piazzas and Fountains such as Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. We can also provide you with a tour of the Vatican Museums with pre reserved tickets. On this tour you can enter the most intriguing churches, and historic and archeological sites with your guide to learn their fascinating history and get a great overview of the city. Other tours can be done such as the Angels and Demons, Catacombs and Appian Way, or Ostia Antica. We can custom design a tour for you such as the Ancient Sites of Rome, the Renaissance and Baroque City, Early Christian Sites, the Cardinal Churches of Rome or the Splendid Views of Rome and off the beaten path sites.

Your chauffeur will take you near key sites in the historic center which cannot be reached by car and your guide will take you to the site. We take special requests and can customize this tour to meet your needs! Midday your guide will take you to one of our personally favored restaurants known for its excellent atmosphere and authentic Roman food.

Featuring hundreds of amazing sites, Rome can be an overwhelming city! For those who have just one day in Rome we have created this essential tour so that you know you have seen the greatest highlights of the city. Following in chronological order, we start out with the foundings of Rome in the Ancient City, Roman Forum and Coliseum, weaving in stories of the origins and rapid growth of Rome and its key players such as Romulus and Remus, Julius Caesar, the Vestal Virgins, Cicero, Marc Antonio, and Cleopatra. The incredible story of the rise of Julius Caesar and his final bloody demise will tie several sites together during this tour in a surprising way. The workings of ancient Rome come to life when we describe to you the amazing mechanations that made this city the most advanced and splendid in the world, with an unsatiable yearning for entertainment and luxury. Of course not everyone lived in the lap of luxury! Learn the story of the gladiators and slaves, priests and priestesses and everyday Romans. Moving up to the Campidoglio Piazza we will enter the world of the Renaissance where Michelangelo made his great homage to the civic heart of Rome, tying together the workings of Ancient Rome through the Renaissance with today.

Passing through pedestrian only cobblestone streets we will head into the historic center where you will experience the astounding highlights of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Time to take a well needed rest for one of our favorite places for pizza or for a lunch at a traditional trattoria where you can learn about the food of Rome so that we can store up some energy for the Vatican! Entering the papal city, we enter the Vatican Museums and visit the highlights of the vast collection of treasures within, starting with the Ancient Roman collection, the sublime works that inspired Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini to create their great works of art. Armed with the knowledge from a fascinating discussion about the Sistine Chapel we will visit this most famous creation, filled with historic references and bizarre symbolism . Next we move on to the Basilica of St. Peter where many wondrous visions await us, from the great Baldacchino of Bernini to the Pietà of Michelangelo. Now you can say you have seen Rome!

Move over extreme sports, this tour begins with the Circus Maximus where charioteers and gladiators fought for fame, fortune and their very lives. Founded in 600 BC, at Rome's height it held 385,000 spectators. Following recent excavations we can now visit a large area not seen for more than a thousand years, revealing aquaducts that fed the stadium with water for mock naval battles. From here we pass to the Foro Boario, the Mouth of Truth and some of the best preserved temples in the city, including a delicate circular temple dedicated to the mighty Hercules. Moving past temple ruins incorporated into Renaissance buildings we'll witness the epitomy of recycling in the Theater of Marcellus, with its monumental mix of ancient, medieval and renaissance construction. On to the Capitoline Hill, we arrive at a panoramic view of the Forum before descending to walk the same paths as Julius Caesar, Cicero and Cleopatra. A story of great works and of great destruction, it is the history of the people who gave us the spirit of our laws, economy, religion and sense of civic duty.

Continuing to the birthplace of Rome, the elaborate Palatine Hill, we will evoke what the enormous palaces of the emperors were like and contrast them with the huts of Romulus and Remus said to have stood on this site nearly 2800 years ago. Finishing by descending to the Arch of Constantine and the ever-fascinating Coliseum, the site of nearly 500 years of violent games and inventive spectacles, we will tell the tale of blood, bread and circuses.

One of the must see sites of Rome, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Coliseum represent only a few percent of what was the ancient city. We will enter the heart of Ancient Rome represented by the civic center of the forums digging through the layers of its pagan roots until Christian times. The Coliseum has been the emblem of Rome for its inhabitants and visitors to the Eternal City for nearly 2,000 years. Fifteen stories high, covering 7.5 acres, it was built over the lake of the mad Emperor Nero after his suicide to wipe out any trace of his existence. In this arena the power of theater was taken to extremes never seen before and we evoke the truth of its past with a legacy of stories that seem like fiction. The Forum and Palatine are enchanting and beautiful places to visit with secrets that do not easily reveal themselves. If only stones could speak! Our guide will speak to you of how each stone tells a fascinating tale of intrigue and power struggles, murder and ambition while at the same time representing civilization and law, beauty and religious piety. Our traditions of religious tolerance, law, and representative government all came from here.

From the massive palaces on the Palatine Hill to the almost vanished remains of the temple to the goddess of the sewers, each stone tells an unforgettable tale of an ancient and venerable Rome which has occupied the same place for over 2763 years. Exploring the streets, temples and great monuments, we breath life into the stories of emperors, philosophers and great politicians. From Vestal Virgins to slaves and gladiators, we follow the fascinating history and traditions of the evocative era of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Cleopatra to Augustus, Cicero and Nero . But not everyone was as well off! A fascinating story is told by the details of the nature of daily life for the men, women, and children who inhabited this world.

One of Rome's most distinguishing features is its vast wealth of ancient sites and the incredible finds that have been made through excavations. So much is to be learned from the ancient world! We believe with this day long, in depth tour you will develop an intense love and fascination with history and archeology, or be satisfied as an avid follower of history programs or as an archeologist. We created this tour to give justice to the ancient history in Rome, and tie it all together with a visit to the Capitoline Museums where so many of the most amazing finds from the ancient world are held. Its truly amazing collection shows better than any other in Rome what amazing things come from the past, from the greatest artistic treasures to records of every day life. Your guide will show you the signs of the Western World’s pagan roots revealed in the layers of the Ancient City, illuminating spiritual, artistic and cultural traditions that date back to the founding of Rome nearly 2800 years ago. On our visit to San Clemente you will experience an excavated underground site with a pagan temple, water still running in an aqueduct still today and see the cross over from pagan to christian in the well preserved frescos.

Entering the Coliseum your guide will talk about the importance of theater and spectacle for the Romans and the wild creations that they made to keep people from being bored through its 500 year history. You will also learn about the people who were the foundation of Rome from gladiators and Vestal Virgins to the women and the children. These sites help illuminate the dramatic change from the pagan world to Christianity and how it was forever altered by the rise of the monotheistic Eastern religions and Mystery Cults. We will also bring the world alive for you recounting the stormy era of Julius Caesar, Livia, Augustus and Cicero up through Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian and Constantine. Seeing Trajan's Market, called the 'first shopping mall in the world', and the sculptural wonder of Trajan’s Column that is like looking at a 1900 year old film reel, details of every day life emerge in an unforgettable way! the site of nearly 500 years of bloody games and inventive spectacles. We will end our tour with the garden filled tranquility of the Palatine Hill, the birthplace of Rome, with a splendid view of the Circus Maximus, a look at the oldest habitations and the remains of palaces. At the end of the day we are sure that you will feel satisfied with the incredible sites you have seen, and yet be craving more!

An in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with ample time to appreciate the wealth of sacred and profane history, art, and religion contained within the fortified walls. With your guide you will explore the Vatican City with a focus on the history of the most poignant works of art and their hidden symbols and stories giving you an insider's view that you will never forget. We start in the Vatican Museums by illustrating the dramatic progression of painting from the Dark Ages to the Baroque through a handful of masterpieces by Giotto, Leonardo, Raphael and Caravaggio. Going back in time, we will see the masterpieces of the Sculpture Gallery of the Greeks and Romans that inspired so many great artists from Michelangelo and Raphael to Bernini and Canova. Marble portrait busts shock us with their realism giving a glimpse of the ancient Romans themselves. Your guide will bring to life the most prized artworks of ancient Rome including the Laocoon, Belvedere Torso and the Apollo Belvedere, and explain their significance to the Renaissance. Rare colossal sculptures of gods and goddesses greet us as we make our way through the most important galleries of ancient art.

Leaving the Pagan World behind we are greeted by the Tapestries from the School of Raphael featuring their own strange surprises. In the incomparable Hall of Maps its elaborate golden ceiling and frescoes reveal the control the papacy held over territories, towns and cities in a blend of scientific inquiry and fantasy. Through small corridors we arrive at the awe-inspiring grand apartments of Pope Julius II containing the young Raphael's beautiful frescoes that sealed his fame, though he would die soon after. His dramatic compositions hide many bizarre details of the Papal world of the 1500's and even pays homage to his great inspiration and rival Michelangelo. Enter the world of Michelangelo and his awe-inspiring masterpieces: the Last Judgment and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Your guides detailed description will reveal the meaning of the paintings, hidden and bizarre symbolism and describe the elaborate and often tortured process that Michelangelo endured in order to create them. In the other worldly Basilica of St. Peter your guide will recount the story of its 120 year progression from its balanced Renaissance beginnings to the theatrical Baroque, revealing hidden symbolism in monuments to the most infamous Popes and some unlikely others... Witness Bernini's elaborate plans and grandiose artworks both inside and outside the Basilica. Here you will learn the secrets of Michelangelo's first masterpiece, the Pieta- and his last, the great dome. The bizarre is found even here; 'Incorruptible' Popes lie on display in glass coffins. We go underground to visit the Tombs of the Popes in an evocative tour of the crypts of the Basilica. Not to be missed is the story of the pagan origin of the site, its meaning to the Jewish and Catholic world and the many legends that surround it.

This tour covers the same sites as the Complete Vatican City above, minus the Pinacoteca and the Tombs of the Popes under St. Peter's Basilica. Perfect for those who want to see it all, but are short on time.

The Vatican City is one of the most amazing places to visit on the planet, no matter what ones personal views on religion are. This tour gives a fascinating in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with ample time to appreciate the wealth of sacred and profane history, art, and religion contained within the fortified walls. With your guide you will explore the Vatican City in all of its splendor with a focus on hidden symbols, secrets, myths and stories along with the poignant great works of art and their history giving you an insider's view that you will never forget. Entering the dramatic Courtyard of the Pinecone we are taken back in time as we see the masterpieces of the Ancient Pagan World, in the same space where Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini and Canova stood. In the Hall of Busts marble portraits shock us with their realism and give us a personal glimpse of the ancient Romans themselves.

We learn the secrets of the beautiful Belvedere Courtyard, The Animal Rooms, the Hall of the Muses, The Round Room, the Room of the Cross, and the Hall of the Candelabra, and the Hall of Maps as your guide will bring to life the most prized artworks of ancient Rome including the Laocoon, the Belvedere Torso, the Apollo Belvedere, the giant marble bath, an enormous and complex mosaic and rare colossal sculptures of gods and goddesses- a pagan world all held within the walls of the Vatican City! The Room of Constantine marks the meeting of Pagan and Christian and twin Egyptian Sphinx sculptures take us back to an Empire which predated the Romans. In the small Sobieski Room we see a painting of monks hung by the church for supporting the theory that the earth was round, a giant battle against the Turks and in the Room of the Immaculate Conception frescoes celebrate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the sublime Raphael Rooms, the grand apartments of Pope Julius II, young Raphael's genius is shown. Within his dramatic compositions we reveal the hidden clues to the powerful Papal world of the early 1500's. Raphael also pays homage to Michelangelo, who spent ten years working in the Sistine Chapel, where we will view his overwhelming masterpieces: the Last Judgement and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. One of the great highlights of the tour, our detailed description will reveal the meaning of the paintings, their symbolism as well as hidden and often bizarre details and describe the elaborate and often tortured undertaking that Michelangelo went through in order to create them. In the other worldly Basilica of St. Peter your guide will recount the stories of the popes and artists who brought about its existence and reveal the hidden symbolism in its monuments and the wonders of its architecture and decoration. Here you will learn the secrets of Michelangelo's first masterpiece, the Pieta and his last- the great dome. The theatrical Baroque art and architecture will be explained as you take in the culmination of over 120 years of construction and decades of decoration. Witness the symbolic monuments to the Popes and some unlikely others... Mathematics and creativity drove Bernini's elaborate plans both inside and outside the Basilica, full of symbolism and drama: Piazza San Pietro and Colonnade, the Cathedra Petri, the Baldacchino, and the Monument to Alexander the VII. The bodies of the 'Incorruptible' Popes also lay on display in glass coffins, including the body of Pope John XXIII. Not to be missed is the story of the pagan origin of the site, why St. Peter's Basilica is here and how it relates to Nero, its meaning to the Catholic world and the many legends that surround it.

We visit the fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo, also known as the "Papal Pleasure Palace" built over the ancient Mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian. Entering the bastion walls of the 15th c. fortress, we will visit the original mausoleum built by Hadrian in the 2nd c. AD as a tomb for himself and his family and show how it was transformed into a military fortress and Palace. As we wind up through the internal spiral ramp of the ancient interior, the elaborate nature of the construction of the site is revealed through its brickwork, mosaics, and air passages. With the transformation into military fortress there is an armory with ancient weapons and even an elevator which was added in the 1500's for the portly Medici pope Leo X! We visit the palace apartments of the popes with their intriguing "grotesque" frescoes and even graffitti. We visit the Room of Apollo, the bedroom of Alexander VI with its erotic paintings, the Treasure Room and the splendid Terrace of the Angel with the views of St. Peter's Basilica, the Tiber River, the Bridge of Angels featuring Bernini's Colossal Angels, the Spanish Steps, the Coliseum, the Monument to Victor Emanuele II, the Pantheon and the 'Passetto' a secret corridor that lead from the Castle to the Papal Palace in the Vatican! After Castel St.

Angelo your guide will take you to an excellent local Roman restaurant in the historic Borgo Saint Angelo where you can sample the delights of Roman traditional cooking and rest your feet.

The Vatican City is one of the most amazing places to visit on the planet, no matter what ones personal views on religion are. This tour gives a fascinating in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with ample time to appreciate the wealth of sacred and profane history, art, and religion contained within the fortified walls. With your guide you will explore the Vatican City in all of its splendor with a focus on hidden symbols, secrets, myths and stories along with the poignant great works of art and their history giving you an insider's view that you will never forget.

Our visit starts in the Vatican Museums where entering the dramatic Courtyard of the Pinecone we are taken back in time as we see the most profound and fascinating works of art from the Ancient Pagan World which inspired the greatest minds in the history of art from Michelangelo and Raphael to Bernini and Canova. In the Hall of Busts marble portraits shock us with their realism and give us a personal glimpse of the ancient Romans themselves. Continuing through the beautiful Belvedere Courtyard, The Animal Rooms, the Hall of the Muses, The Round Room, the Room of the Cross, and the Hall of the Candelabra your guide will bring to life the most prized artworks of ancient Rome including the Laocoon, the Belvedere Torso, the Apollo Belvedere, the giant marble bath, an enormous and complex mosaic and rare colossal sculptures of gods and goddesses- a pagan world all held within the walls of the Vatican City! Two enormous sarcophagi made for Emperor Constantine mark the meeting of Pagan and Christian and twin Egyptian Sphinx sculptures take us back to an Empire which predated the Romans. Poignant masterpieces of ancient sculpture include the Baby Bacchus being carried by a faun, a touching sarcophagus of a young boy and the bizarre and dramatic Diana of Ephesus. Leaving the Pagan World behind, in the Hall of the Tapestries we will see the incredibly detailed giant wall hangings designed by the School of Raphael dramatizing the life of Christ as well as a remarkable trompe-l'oeil ceiling. Then one of the most incredible records of the Papal world- the incomparable Hall of Maps with its elaborate golden ceiling and frescoes reveals itself detailing all of the Papal territories, towns and cities, depictions of battles and fanciful sea monsters- a cross between scientific inquiry and fantasy.

In the small Sobieski Room we see a painting of monks hung by the church for supporting the theory that the earth was round, a giant battle against the Turks and in the Room of the Immaculate Conception frescoes celebrate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the sublime Raphael Rooms, the grand apartments of Pope Julius II, young Raphael's genius is shown. Within his dramatic compositions we reveal the hidden clues to the powerful Papal world of the early 1500's. Raphael also pays homage to Michelangelo, who spent ten years working in the Sistine Chapel, where we will view his overwhelming masterpieces: the Last Judgement and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. One of the great highlights of the tour, our detailed description will reveal the meaning of the paintings, their symbolism as well as hidden and often bizarre details and describe the elaborate and often tortured undertaking that Michelangelo went through in order to create them.

In the other worldly Basilica of St. Peter your guide will recount the stories of the popes and artists who brought about its existence and reveal the hidden symbolism in its monuments and the wonders of its architecture and decoration. Here you will learn the secrets of Michelangelo's first masterpiece, the Pieta and his last- the great dome. The theatrical Baroque art and architecture will be explained as you take in the culmination of over 120 years of construction and decades of decoration. Witness the symbolic monuments to the Popes and some unlikely others... Mathematics and creativity drove Bernini's elaborate plans both inside and outside the Basilica, full of symbolism and drama: Piazza San Pietro and Colonnade, the Cathedra Petri, the Baldacchino, and the Monument to Alexander the VII. The bodies of the 'Incorruptible' Popes also lay on display in glass coffins, including the body of Pope John XXIII. Not to be missed is the story of the pagan origin of the site, why St. Peter's Basilica is here and how it relates to Nero, its meaning to the Catholic world and the many legends that surround it.

Take a magical private tour of the Vatican Museums by night. Following the huge success of previous occasions, from Friday 4 May 2012, for the third consecutive year, the long awaited appointment returns with the Vatican Museums evening opening. Until 14 July 2012 the Museums of the Pope will open their grand doors to one of the most amazing collections of art in the world. Doors open after sunset from 7 pm to 11 pm. (last admission at 9.30 pm), every Friday for the coming months. Please book ahead to assure availability since numbers are limited.

This exclusive invitation to visit the Museums by night gives us a rare opportunity to see the galleries during the busy season with more calm than during the normal opening hours, and allows us to experience the collections in a different way, with some areas lit by candles, sometimes with music playing, and with the stars above illuminating the courtyards and important collections that house within them.

We will visit the highlights of the Vatican collection as normal, including the following: The Egyptian Museum, Pio-Clementine Museum, Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums, The Gallery of Tapestries, The Gallery of the Candelabra, The Hall of Maps, The Raphael Rooms, The Borgia Apartment, The Collection of Modern Religious Art, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

Appreciate the curious and mysterious details, symbols and treasures left behind by the artists and craftsmen of the past? Looking for the secrets the guide books couldn't tell you how to find even if they knew they were there? Let us take you beyond the beaten path to the Hidden Treasures and Secret Symbols within a series of churches and piazzas. We start out at Santa Maria Maggiore, one of four papal churches in Rome dating back to the 5th century. Stunning mosaics, grand tombs and altars adorn this church in honor of Mary. Learn about the history of the church as well as bizarre legends revolving around the construction of the church, breast milk of the virgin, cannon barrels and unibrows. This church is so old they thought that Jesus and Mary had dark brown hair! Off to Piazza Repubblica, a downright scandalous fountain which once was surrounded by a ten foot wall so that no one could see it. Into Santa Maria degli Angeli with Michelangelo's impressive architecture, where you will learn about how the Ancient Romans bathed and other fun facts, as well as a hole in the wall. Up the street to Largo Santa Susanna, we will stop to see one of the most exquisite...and raciest sculpture by Bernini of St. Teresa in Ecstasy. Next we will visit a famous merman in a sea shell.

Some bees will point us in the direction of the creepiest site in Rome, the Cappucine Bone Crypt, which is best left seen to believe. From bones we visit a holy painting to ask Michelangelo out how many cherubs it takes to lift a virgin up to heaven...From here we can take the high road for stunning views and a story about dragons breathing fire, or the low road to discover more strange mysteries about baboons, racy sculptures and hidden works of art. At the end we come to the piazza most rife with secrets and symbols in all of Rome. All along, dragons, eagles and bumblebees lead the way...

This tour will take us to Rome’s catacombs, ancient churches and the pagan dwellings that lie beneath where we will see martyrs, frescoes and divine art such as Michelangelo's famous marble sculpture of Moses. During our walk, we will unravel the facts, myths, and legends from the Dark Ages of Medieval Rome and see how the ancient pagan Rome was transformed by Christianity. Visiting the catacombs is crucial to appreciating the early Christian struggle as well as the profound pagan roots in Rome. The Catacombs which were the underground cemeteries from the 1st to the 5th centuries are found outside of the ancient city walls as burial was forbidden within them. We will also visit the Mamertime Prison, the most ancient prison in Rome, where St Peter and St Paul were allegedly imprisoned and we'll visit the 5th century church St Peter in Chains. This church was first built to house the relic of the chains that bound St Peter while imprisoned in Jerusalem and is famous for containing Michelangelo's dynamic sculpture of Moses. Who does it really represent? We’ll take in the mixture of pagan and christian frescoes in the 5th century ancient Roman rooms excavated under the church of Saints Giovanni and Paolo.

We are off to another amazing site with a visit to San Clemente, Rome's tri-level subterranean delight. A key to understanding the Rome of yesterday and today we’ll explore sites of importance to both ancient Christians and Pagans and to Romans today. Entering San Clemente at its 12th century street level we go underground to see the remarkable remains of its 4th century foundations before descending further down into the heart of pagan Rome where the mysteries of the 1st century Temple of Mithras and an ancient aquaduct is still flowing with spring water.

On this tour, based on Dan Brown's exciting thriller Angels and Demons, our focus will be on the art, history, scandals and secret symbolism of the Eternal City. One of the most exciting and difficult things about history is separating fact from fiction. History often hands down the story of the winners while many other true stories are lost in the folds of time. This tour follows Angels and Demons' bewildering journey from the particle accelerators of the Swiss CERN labs to the mysterious inner-workings of the papal elections, stopping at key sites in the book as our guide unwinds the twisted strands of this complex story. Learn about the Vatican's often dark history, arcane politics and the Baroque intrigues between the Papacy and the secret society of the Illuminati. Above all, experience the powerful and often propagandistic works of artistic genius that illustrated and fueled the historical combat between the symbols of science and faith. These tours bring the past to life with a fascinating blend of art, history, and political machination as we unfold the tapestry of Rome through the record of its artists, clerics, scientists and nobles.

Along the way you will visit many Rome’s most famous and most fascinating, off-the-beaten-path sites and gain an in-depth knowledge of the city in a fun and interesting way. We'll visit key monuments including the Four Altars of Science and the Illuminati Lair, bringing each location to life with vivid descriptions from the novel, explanations of fact and fiction, and interesting tales from history. We'll explore the depths of Rome's world of secret symbolism and amazing artwork. We'll emerge steeped in the evocative history of Rome, seeing it with new eyes and with a set of stories that you will never forget.

This full day walking or chauffeured tour gets off the beaten path on a Secret Door to Rome itinerary, visiting a bewildering number of fascinating hidden secrets. Symbolism, scandal and meaning are explored in a variety of sights from Grand Piazzas such as Piazza del Popolo to the mysterious inner-workings of the Pantheon. Your guide will unwind the twisted strands of this complex story, as you learn about great works of the Renaissance and Baroque artists, battles between the Papacy and science told through the story of Galileo, and hidden meanings found on every corner. Tying everything together are the powerful and often propagandistic works of Bernini's artistic genius that fuel the backdrop of the historical combat between the symbols of science and faith. This tour combines a fascinating blend of art, history, and political machination that bring the past to life as we unfold the tapestry of Rome through the record of its artists, clerics, scientists and nobles. Along the way you will see many of the most famous sites in Rome while also visiting some of the most fascinating off the beaten path gems, in a fun and interesting way, to gain an in-depth knowledge of Rome.

We'll emerge steeped in the evocative history of the city, seeing it with new eyes and with a set of stories that you will never forget. Obelisks and the works of Bernini lead the way as we explore the cobblestone streets searching for clues to the mystery of the Eternal City. To give your feet a rest we will stop for a delicious Italian meal in a restaurant selected by your guide for its authentic Roman cuisine.

Built by Benito Mussolini for the Universal Exhibition of 1942, the EUR (Esposizione Universale di Roma) quarter even today remains one of the most striking and modern areas of the Eternal City. For anyone who is interested in the history of fascism, learning about the life of Rome's most famous modern dictator, and the architectural style known as Rationalism – this tour will be a mind-blowing discovery. Looking back to great architects of the era like Marcello Piacentini, and reviewing Rationalism as a reflection of fascist ideology and a return to classicism, you will discover some of the most astounding buildings and churches that this city has to offer, such as the breathtaking Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (popularly known as the Square Colosseum), the austere Palazzo dei Congressi, the elegant Museum of the Roman Civilization and the very unusual Basilica of the Saints Peter and Paul. On the way, enjoy a stop at at excellent local bar for an espresso and a fresh cornetto. Those who are particularly interested in the era can choose to also pay a a visit to the Foro Italico (formerly known as Foro Mussolini) – a large sports complex built at the end 1930s in a riveting Neoclassical style.

Mussolini's architectural and artistic legacy in Rome is a fascinating one, and you can see for yourselves just how much of what we call Mussolini's modernity was borrowed directly from antiquity and the imperial age.

With historian, writer and story teller extraordinaire, Anthony Majanlahti, you begin with a special visit to the Roman Forum, the heart of the Ancient City. Here you will explore the development of the site, from its origins as a marshy swamp suitable only for burials, in the archaic period, to its role as marketplace under the Republic and increasingly as the main stage for state ritual, full of statues and temples. You will enjoy a specially arranged visit to the Senate House and the House of the Vestal Virgins, as well as two important early Christian sites : the Oratory of the Forty Martyrs and Santa Maria Antiqua, the latter being one of the most prominent churches during the early Middle Ages, and full of interesting frescoes. From the Forum we will proceed up into the great park of the Palatine Hill, with the ruins of the Imperial Palaces, which we will visit thoroughly.

Anthony will take you on a private visit to the House of the First Empress Livia, and a rare visit to a room in the Palace of Domitian that houses frescoes from the Aula Egiziaca, the Egyptian Hall, from a building now buried under the foundations of the Palace. The morning concludes with a visit to the Palatine Antiquarium, to see some of ancient Rome's best sculpture.

With historian writer and story teller extraordinaire, Anthony Majanlahti, you begin with a special visit to the Imperial Forum, the heart of the Ancient City. Here you will explore the development of the site, from its origins as the main stage for state ritual, full of statues, basilicas and temples. We will pay a specially arranged visit to Trajan's Column and Basilica, where our private visit to the Imperial Forums will begin. These grandiose public spaces were built over in the Middle Ages and only revealed in the 1930s, with new excavations ending in 2003, which we will be visiting. We will also explore Trajan's Markets, the world's first mall, before getting a private visit to the House of the Knights of Rhodes, built in the 1460s atop the retaining wall of the Forum of Augustus and, incredibly, incorporating the atrium of an ancient house.

Our afternoon will end with a private visit to the underground site of Palazzo Valentini, for a viewing of one of Rome's most fascinating underground sites and a masterpiece of ancient architecture. We will end this visit with an aperitivo at the Vittoriano Terrace Cafe and its extraordinary view of the Roman and Imperial Forums.

Drink wine in a cellar that is thousands of years old, experiencing the best wine italy has to offer, in the heart of the Ancient City. From Barolo to Brunello and Amarone to Sagrantino, to wines aged in amphorae we can provide you with the most exclusive wine tasting experience for a memory of a life time. Learn about the history of wine and what makes a unique wine. We will choose an exclusive selection of the best vintages and most excellent producers. We select wine makers who work tirelessly, sometimes in extreme conditions who create boutique, authentic, traditional wines that bring out the best in Terriore. We will tailor make our selection to your desires. We can arrange vertical tastings, or tastings of four or five bottles of Italy's top wines. If you have a special request, we will provide it. Otherwise you can let us make the choices for you. We will provide the perfect accompaniment to the wines in a carefully selected assortment of antipasti, meant to bring out the highlights of each wine. This wine tasting is held in an exclusive location, chosen as the perfect accompanyment to exclusive wines.

Are you a follower of Bacchus? Let one of our charming certified sommeliers take you on a tour of Rome's most interesting wine bars for an evening that is part wine-tasting, part history and one hundred percent pleasure. Your wine guide combines a broad knowledge of Italian wines with an unpretentious attitude. As a committed locavores, they'll give you the chance to not only sample some of the historically great wines upon which Italy rests its reputation but also exciting newcomers based on long-forgotten vinaccia, heritage vines quietly begetting great wines below the radar of international critics. You will visit 2 to 3 characteristic wine bars in the heart of Rome. In the course of the evening you will sample at least four different and characteristic Italian wines accompanied by appetizers. The rich history behind the making of Italian wines and a chat about a number of the professional terms and approaches used in tasting wine will be part of your tour. Cost of this tour is 230 Euros excluding wine and appetizers. This allows you to determine together with your sommelier a range within which you would like to remain. Your guide will fit this tour to your budget. Average cost for wine and appetizers is 30 euros per person.

Let your guide know if you want to taste higher caliber wines such as Brunello or Super Tuscans.

Each city in Italy has its own unique dishes and traditions handed down from generation to generation. On our Rome Food Lovers Tour, we'll discover the best food in Rome, from coffee and chocolates, to pizza and gelato to deep fried artichokes as we make our way through the historic center of Rome, snacking as we learn about Roman culinary traditions, past and present, and Rome's street food. Near the Pantheon in one of Rome’s historic coffee bars you can experience the ritual of Italian coffee in Roman life, its history and benefits, and what makes a perfect espresso or cappuccino. Depending on timing we can even see a roasting demonstration. Rome is experiencing a Renaissance of mouth watering artisan chocolates found in a few boutique chocolate shops. With the passing of time and true artisans are hard to come by so this stop is a real treat! Traditional bread-making rare to find, but we'll visit an historic bread maker where we'll sample fresh from the oven pizza and learn why it is unique and famous in Rome. Our tour wouldn't be complete without a gelato at a family-run, small artiginale gelateria. Here we will have the chance to watch gelato being made while we talk about the art and history of gelato making in Italy.

Witness first hand what the most delicious and creative gelato in Rome is made from and what distinguishes it from the more readily found commercial variety. We will end our walk at the former Jewish Ghetto, where we will sample some of the scrumptious pastries and renowned fried tidbits which make up a large part of traditional Roman fare and are intrinsically tied to the longstanding Jewish community. At the end of this tour, we will grab a glass of wine and give you a list of the best coffee bars, bakeries, and gelaterias in the historic center.

On this tour Elizabeth Minchilli, the author of six books on Italy, who has written for over 40 magazines including Food & Wine, Saveur and Bon Appetit, will lead you on an intensive, food-packed exploration of Rome’s most loved food traditions. While eating and drinking the entire way, of course.

Here is a description of your day: Meet Elizabeth for a cappuccino and cornetti, and start your wonderful conversation about food in Rome. You will start off with a lesson in making a perfect Cappucino! Elizabeth will give you a brief run down on the city’s culinary history and what sets it apart from other Italian regions. You will learn about specific Roman dishes, ingredients and festivals, as well as what defines Roman cooking and what you should look for, and enjoy, while you’re here.



Your first stop is a century-old cookie factory, in the heart of Trastevere where you will learn about the Roman traditions of biscotti, and sample both cookies and cakes, like Brutti Ma Buoni (ugly but good), Torta alla Ricotta (ricotta cake) and Lingue di Gatti (cat’s tongues). Next you'll take a trip across the river to Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. Here you will learn what defines Roman Jewish cuisine, and have a quick demonstration of either Carciofi alla Giudea (deep fried Artichokes) or Fiori Fritti (Stuffed deep fried Zucchini Flowers) depending on the season. With a stop by a traditional Jewish bakery, you will get to taste several unique and historic sweets made only there, including the sweet “jewish pizza. Another quick stop at a local bakery will provide the opportunity to try osse, (bones), and rosette two typical Roman breads and learn about their traditions. Roscioli bakery is considered to be one of the best in the city, and their Pizza Bianca, made with a centuries old starter, is unique. We’ll not only taste this delicious pizza, but get a tour of the bakery. Campo de’ Fiori has one of Rome’s oldest markets, and certainly it’s most beautiful. Here we’ll stroll - and graze – our way through the stalls, exploring seasonal local produce and how it influences Roman cooking. Next stop: Norcineria Viola's pork heaven. This store has been specializing in cured meats for over a century. Salamis, prosciutti, sausages, pancetta and guanciale hang from the ceiling and cover every surface of this shop. We’ll choose a few things to nibble on while we have our aperitivo before lunch. With a stop at an outside café (weather permitting) for an aperitivo, as you sip prosecco, Campari or spritz, we’ll nibble our goodies from Viola while Elizabeth tell's you a little about Italian cocktails and aperitivi. One of the most important parts of the day is Lunch: it’s hard to choose where to eat, so we’ll let you decide. You can choose from:

-A Working Class Trattoria: Paper covered tables, with dishes like Carbonara and gnocchi, followed by coda alla vacinara, pollo alla caciatora or other Roman specialities. Big hearty portions of simple, delicious, Roman cooking.

or

-An Enoteca: Located on the ground floor of a palazzo, this restaurant has one of Rome’s best cellars. You can either choose from the list yourself, or the sommelier can lead us on a tasting to accompany the menu.

After all this eating (and drinking) we’ll need a pick-me-up, so will head to one of Elizabeth's favorite Torrefazione for an excellent café. Rome is currently in the throws of a gelato renaissance. We’ll visit one of the best, that uses artisanal ingredients to craft some of the creamiest gelato in town!

Great for everyone from the wine novice to the oenophile, this tour is for wine lovers who want to have a fun night out, and experience an authentic Roman atmosphere in the beautiful historic center of Rome. You will visit two distinct enotecas- The first is the oldest in Rome, and gives an idea of a traditional rustic 'Vino-Olio' locale, before the modern invention of the enoteca. Walking cobblestone streets you will arrive at the second, more modern locale, which gives a great sense of how the wine bar has developed over time. Both feature great atmospheres and have excellent selections of wine. Your sommelier~historian will guide you through a selection of wines from the most important wine making regions of Italy explaining the history of wine making and its traditional and modern developments. You will enjoy five full glasses of wine from the most important wine making regions, from North to South and come to know your own personal preferences for wines, where they are from and how to buy them. Understand what makes Italian wines distinctive from others and how Terroir, or the land makes the wine.

Your sommelier will select an assortment of antipasti, featuring the best Slow Food seasonal products of the region including salumi and cheeses, all chosen as the best accompaniment to each of the wines, and at another you can experience a Roman appertivo selection of foods. Most people do not need dinner after this great experience! The cost of wines and antipasti are included in the tour.

This history and wine tour begins by exploring the Subura, as it was known in ancient Roman times, and today known as the neighborhood of Monti. We will take a tour of the first suburb of Rome, dating back over two millenia! This charming historic neighborhood today features ancient ruins, artisan shops, traditional restaurants, a beautiful piazza and fountain and wonderful food and wine bars. To make it even more enticing, there is an enormous amount of fascinating history to explore, ranging from topics such as brothels and convents, Julius Caesar and the infamous Borgias to World War II hideouts and Nobel-prize winning scientists. Along the way we will pop into a variety of enotecas where you can experience wine tasting and food pairing featuring the wines of Lazio which are making headlines today, and learn about how and why the ancient Romans made this region's vineyards famous millennia ago. We will try some delicious seasonal dishes, prepared to enhance the wine tasting experience, including recipes dating back to the time of Julius Caesar who once lived in this neighborhood.

For Cruiship passengers arriving at Civitavecchia for one day, this tour allows you to design a tour of Rome or the countryside to your taste! You will be met at the Port of Civitavecchia by with a car and English-speaking driver-guide. You will see the highlights of the Historic City Center such as the Coliseum, the Palatine Hill and Ancient City, the Vatican City, the great piazzas and fountains such as Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. You can also visit more obscure sights such as the Knights of Malta Secret Keyhole on the Aventine Hill, the stunning ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, the Catacombs, the Circus Maximus, Piazza del Popolo, the Appia Antica, the Gianiculum Hill or Ostia Antica. This tour allows for a great photo taking opportunity as you arrive at the perfect locations for gorgeous views of Rome and its surroundings. This tour is fully customizable- just let us know what you would like to do and we will help you make the most of your one day in Rome!

Orvieto towers over the Umbrian plain, safe upon its steep cliffs of volcanic tufo stone. Naturally protected by this amazing geography, its mysteries are still being discovered as archeologists plumb its fifty-meter deep wells, many dug in antiquity using techniques we have yet to understand. First rising to prominence with the pre-Roman Etruscans, it still proudly carries their history forth with an Etruscan emphasis on friendship, feasts and mellow wine.

Home to the largest gothic cathedral in Italy, its architecture is an exquisite mix of medieval and renaissance design with a small town charm. As its size is completely restricted by geography, it is blessedly free of modern buildings and has a feeling of authenticity rarely found. An important economic center since Etruscan times, it boasts many artistic masterpieces, such as the frescoes in its cathedral authored by Signorelli, a great influence for Michelangelo. Orvieto is filled with pedestrian-only streets, slow-food delicatessens, and fine arts and artisan crafts shops such as wrought iron work, beautiful pottery and olive wood kitchen ware.

Here you will sampling the finest local cheeses such as "ubriachone" a wine-aged cheese, wild boar salami and DOC wines for which Umbria is justly famous. You'll also visit the ancient underground city with its fascinating rooms, deep wells and incredible history. Lunch will be at one of Orvieto's famed slow-food restaurants where you'll find an authentic and hearty cuisine intrinsic to the region.

Umbria is known as the green heart of Italy for its oak and chestnut covered hills hiding wild boar, white and black Umbrian truffles and porcini mushrooms. After lunch you will take off on an adventure to the tiny town of Civita di Bagnaregio

We offer you the chance to fully explore the world of Roman Cuisine. The days starts with learning about and shopping for fresh Italian delicacies, before a hands on (or you can sit back and watch!) cooking lesson, after which you will eat a wonderful sit down meal in a Roman home. We can either take you to a large market or to several small family-run gourmet Italian food shops to buy the freshest, most delicious ingredients made in the traditional Roman way. These shops include local vegetable markets, a wine enoteca, a bakery, a fresh pasta shop, a cheese shop and deli. You will learn about a wide variety of classic foods and wines and how to order them. You can shop to take ingredients back home with you as well!

Then we are off to our chef's kitchen where we will prepare a traditional lunch for you, speaking about traditional Italian cuisine, the ingredients used and how to prepare them while sampling some antipasti and prosecco.

The grand finale: lunch! Weather permitting we will dine on a private terrace in Rome surrounded by lush plants and a garden rarely experienced by the normal tourist. Otherwise we eat inside in a lovely dining room in your host's home.

Our menus are developed according to what is fresh and in season, and will be made to suit all dietary requirements, so please inform us ahead of time if necessary. If you are interested in specific culinary topics, let us know and we will provide you with the experience you are looking for!

This cooking tour and lunch is approximately five hours. Ingredients for the lunch and wine are included in the cost of the tour. We select excellent wines for this meal. If you would like to try a super Tuscan or a Brunello di Montalcino we can provide this experience for an extra cost. The world is your option!

A gem filled with ancient, Renaissance and Baroque art, this 17th-century palace houses one of the greatest private art collections in the world. We can thank the ruthless and irreligious Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of the Borghese Pope Paul V, for this beautiful palazzo and its unparalleled collection. He created the Galleria Borghese as a showcase for his art collection, the first space of its kind, a marvelous palace designed to bring nature inside and lit with the ambient light of the sun. Scipione's fascination with the pagan antiquities that inspired the Renaissance artists led him to become Bernini’s first important patron and one of the earliest collectors of Caravaggio, stooping at nothing to get his hands on his works. Upon entering the museum with our reserved tickets, we will spend two hours visiting the greatest highlights of the collection, including masterpieces by Raphael, Perugino, Caravaggio, Bernini, Correggio and Canova. As we visit Bernini's four early sculptures that were created specifically for this gallery, we will bring to life the drama of their creation that defies the very nature of stone, as well as the myths that inspired him and the controversy that surrounded his work.

His 'Daphne and Apollo' and 'Pluto and Persephone' are some of the most daring and moving sculptures ever created, featuring the tears of the terrified Persephone and the passion of Apollo as he loses his beloved Daphne forever. The Caravaggio room features some of this notorious painter's most famous works that help to tell the story of his dramatic life. We'll see one of his first self-portraits, 'Sick Bacchus', and one of his last, the terrifying 'Head of Goliath' that shows his own decapitated head-a plea to Pope Paul the V to revoke the death sentence that had been laid on his head. Another highlight is one of Canova's best-known works, the scandal-provoking sculpture of the seductive and notorious Pauline Bonaparte. Some of the most fascinating ancient sculptures include colossal heads of the Goddesses Isis and Juno, the Sleeping Hermaphrodite, and a series of rare Roman gladiator portraits in mosaic flooring. The delightful painting gallery features masterpieces ranging from Raphael's sublime 'Deposition of Christ' to Correggio's erotically playful 'Danae'. Frescoed walls, ceilings, and beautiful marble floors complete the effect for your unforgettable visit.Our tour ends with a stroll through the splendid Villa Borghese gardens amidst the former grounds of Pope Paul V's nephew's "country home".

The Capitoline Museum is the first public museum created in the world, and features the the collection of rare bronze ancient sculptures donated by Sixtus IV that somehow survived the destruction of thousands of others melted down throughout the middle ages to make weapons. With the museum's treasures as our backdrop, we'll follow the history of Rome through its artwork, covering masterpieces ranging from Renaissance paintings to the incredibly rare bronze and gilded Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, housed in a new gallery created specifically for its display. This poignant portrait of the philosopher emperor is the only Roman equestrian statue that survived, and was only spared because it was thought to be the Christian Emperor Constantine! Another striking bronze is the preternatural Etruscan she-wolf with babies Romulus and Remus, representing the legend of the founding of Rome. Viewing these fine sculptures we'll see clearly the stupendous quality of these great masterpieces spanning two thousand years. Not to be overlooked is the structure of the museums themselves, set in Michelangelo's Piazza Campidoglio, which incorporate layers of Rome's history within it, including ancient Roman temples and passageways.

We will see the colossal marble head, hand, arm and foot of Constantine the Great, which would have been nearly 40 feet high when all assembled! Another famous and provocative statue is the nude of Venus. Slightly over life size, Venus has just come from her bath and delicately covers her breasts and privates with her arms. Considered too sensual and life like for all but the most privileged viewers this statue was kept in the past under lock and key by a pope so that only 'privileged' people could admire her... Equally enchanting is the Dying Gaul, an exquisite sculpture of a dying enemy, its remarkable realism portraying a wounded warrior as he has collapsed on the ground, taking his last breath. Stunning in its modern feel, we witness every detail from his typically Gallic hairstyle and mustache to the lines of agony in his face, gripping us in their intensity. A special part of this tour includes a visit to an evocative underground gallery that exposes the ancient remains of temples dating back to the 6th century BCE, with a magnificent "secret" view over the forum. Don't forget to bring your camera so that you can take advantage of this shot! Aside from our museum visit we'll take an elevator ride to the rooftop terrace of the Victor Emmanuel Monument for what is without doubt the best view of Rome.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio know as Caravaggio was the most important painter in Italy in the 17th century. At the turn of the century, Caravaggio arrived in Rome unknown and penniless to eventually spend 14 illustrious years, hitting the heights of his career, while at the same time being involved in skirmishes, duels, jail time and murder. He skirted between life on the streets and life among intellectuals and aristocrats who were pushing the boundaries of science, culture and discovery in the wake of the Renaissance. Caravaggio's precarious balancing act was doomed from the start, with controversy dogging him through the years, until the pronouncement of a death sentence forced him to run for his life. As intense as his own life, his revolutionary paintings are characterized by use of dramatic light and shadow and for their shocking realism and intense imagery. Unlike most painters of the time, he painted ordinary people, friends, and lovers from life, capturing their expressions and sensuality. Walking through Rome's historic center, we'll journey into the life and art of Caravaggio, into the Counter-Reformation Vatican and papal court of the time, as we visit churches for which his work was commissioned and in which centuries later it still resides.

We also explore where Caravaggio lived, worked and fought as we discuss his unprecedented visual technique and its relation to his violent tendencies, ambiguous sexuality and powerful spiritual expression. During our tour we'll see at least six Caravaggio masterpieces and up to eighteen in our extended tour which includes museums. At the end of our time together, you will fully understand how Caravaggio's edgy existence in Rome directly influenced the monumental and breathtaking paintings we are still privileged to see today.

For beginners or artists, this is a wonderful way to spend the day in Rome. You will spend the day with Concetta painting or sketching your own impressions of the Eternal City to bring home with you. Concetta's knowledge of vantage points in the city where one can sit undisturbed, and out of the sun or rain are a great vantage. Whatever your skill level, Concetta will help you to tackle composition, proportion, and develop your artistic potential. A selection of sites both excitingly appealing for their beauty and historic significance and comfortably sheltered from sun or rain will be offered by Concetta for you to choose from—you’ll benefit from her knowledge of vantage points in the city where one can sit undisturbed while making your artistic creation. She recommends either an outing in the morning or afternoon in order to appreciate the amazingly different quality of Rome’s light.

For an alternative itinerary, indoor museum visits can also be arranged to draw from the incredibile masterpieces at hand in Rome, ranging from ancient to Renaissance to Neoclassical art.

Full day itineraries and trips outside of Rome are also available upon request to nature reserves, medieval towns, or ancient Roman sites. The lovely ancient city of Ostia Antica makes a great trip for drawing and painting, its verdant peaceful calm coupled with evocative Roman ruins offer endless amounts of inspiration.

While the most popular and conventional things to see in Rome date either to Antiquity or the Renaissance & the Baroque, we’d here to show you that there’s more to Rome than Caesar and Michelangelo! In the last several decades Rome’s modern art scene has grown and flourished, producing not only established museums like the MACRO and the MAXXI, but also witnessing the birth of a myriad of commercial modern art galleries with regular exhibit openings and ever-changing local and international artists. Let us show you a different, modern side to the Eternal City! You can choose to visit the MACRO, the MAXXI, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni or the National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM), where your guide's infinite knowledge of modern art and history will guarantee a refreshing and unique visit. Another way to experience Rome’s young art scene is by visiting its commercial art galleries – join your modern art expert in a night on the town, touring the hottest galleries in Rome’s historic city center – the itinerary is not fixed, and will depend exclusively on current exhibitions. Prepare to enjoy a glamorous night of gallery hopping, chilled Prosecco and art chat!

The Slow Food City of Orvieto towers over the Umbrian plain, safe upon its steep cliffs of volcanic tufo stone. Naturally protected by this amazing geography, its mysteries are still being discovered as archeologists plumb its fifty-meter deep wells, many dug in antiquity using techniques we have yet to understand. First rising to prominence with the pre-Roman Etruscans, it still proudly carries their history forth with an Etruscan emphasis on friendship, feasts and good wine.

Home to the largest gothic cathedral in Italy, its architecture is an exquisite mix of medieval and renaissance design. As its size is completely restricted by geography, it is blessedly free of modern buildings and has a coherence rarely found in such a large town. An important economic center since Etruscan times, it boasts many artistic masterpieces, such as the frescoes in its cathedral authored by Signorelli, one of Michelangelo's most influential teachers.

These frescoes with their vision of the Apocalypse and the afterlife offer powerful and haunting evocations of the unique moment in history where Europe was beginning to climb out of centuries of darkness.

Your private sommelier and historian will meet you at your hotel and take the train with you to Orvieto which takes just over an hour. On this day-long tour of this magical city you will visit the cathedral and its magnificent Signorelli frescoes, stroll through Orvieto's many pedestrian-only streets visiting a few of the artisan boutiques selling items such as fine hand-painted pottery and woodwork for which Orvieto is justly famous. You will have a private wine tasting in an historic palace featuring an assortment of local Slow Food specialties that highlights the relationship between ancient food and wine traditions. You'll also visit the ancient underground city with its caverns and frightfully deep wells. Lunch will be at one of Orvieto's famed Slow-Food restaurants where you'll find ingredients and dishes difficult or impossible to find in nearby Rome. You'll sample unique local cheeses such as "ubriachone", a wine-aged cheese, as well as cheeses aged in Etruscan caves. Umbria is also known as the green heart of Italy for its oak and chestnut covered hills, bringing wild food in abundance such as boar salami, white or black Umbrian truffles and porcini mushrooms. The afternoon takes you on a tour of Orvieto's medieval and renaissance treasures as well as a gorgeous overlook of the Tiber valley from the city's ruined fortress.

The beauty of Ancient Ostia and its evocative setting are difficult to describe. Not only are the remains of the ancient baths, apartment buildings and homes incredibly fascinating, but the location in which they are found is extremely beautiful. Not far from the sea, the air is fresh and the forest of tall pine trees creates an otherworldly charm far from the chaos of Rome. The excavations of the city of Ostia make for a delightful visit to one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Roman town, filled with intriguing details like intact mosaics and frescos, beautiful architectural details as well as interesting inscriptions like the one that a fish seller wrote about his competitive neighbor "O, envious one, I will crush you"! Or that of a tavern owner- "Come drink from the Krater", since he was known for his big drinking goblets. Mosaic floors with clear as day depictions of gladiators and wrestlers, a delicate ancient theater, an ancient laundromat and a full service restaurant and bakery all provide fascinating details that bring this ancient site to life.

This once busy port city offers a rare glimpse into the economic and social heart of the Roman Empire and gives a feeling for the ancient world, for its complexity and remarkable sense of modernity, not to mention the sheer fun of wandering the maze-like ruins in search of fascinating discoveries around every corner!

Only a 30-minute train ride from Rome, the ruins of Ostia are as important to the study of daily Roman life as those of its more famous cousin, Pompeii. We will bring the city to life for you!

We'll start our tour meeting you at your hotel and grab a taxi to the Piramide train station where we get to see an ancient Roman reconstruction of an Egyptian pyramid that dominates the area of the ancient gateway to the road that in ancient times led straight to Ostia, the Roman Port City. We'll use our time on train ride to Ostia Antica to describe the background, history and daily life of this commercial hub. Wandering through this vast well-preserved archeological park immersed in the green fields and pine and cypress forests of the Roman coast, we'll explore Ostia. When we arrive we'll take off on an archaeological adventure to explore what was a thriving port town which was started in 300 BC with a population of 80,000 people at its height. We will enter as the ancients did, greeted by the colossal statue of Minerva Victoria which guarded the entry to the city gates. Four-story or 49 feet high apartment buildings had living quarters above shops, balconies, and mica windows. Being a sophisticated society, there were many public baths providing luxurious and spacious quarters for bathing, exercising and socializing.

Close-by were two fire stations, a barracks, and the local tavern where an ingenious owner inscribed a quote in the mosaic pavement which translates to “Drink wine from the bowl to quench your thirst”. This vibrant port city not only had decadent apartments, taverns and laundry-mats but an impressive Greek-style theater erected by Agrippa with seating for 2,700 people over three levels. Behind the theatre is the merchants' square, a commercial center with over 70 offices ranging from companies of foreign representatives from all over the ancient world to local workers' guilds. A mosaic preserved in the floor outside of each office depicts the corporations specialty from ship repair to dealers of animals from Africa for the games in the Coliseum. While commerce was extremely important, religion was taken just as seriously. Dozens of temples and sanctuaries represented a variety of gods from Hercules and Venus to Yahweh and the Christian God, all mingling together and representative of this incredibly diverse population. They had all their bases covered! At the Temple to Rome and Augustus, the cult statue of Roma as Victory is found inside on a pedestal and a stunning headless statue of Victory. 
An important part of this visit is the small onsite museum featuring many beautiful works of art found on site during decades of excavations including the statue of Mithras Slaying the Bull, from the Baths of Mithras (1^st Century BC) , exquisite sculptures of Venus the Goddess of love, and elaborately carved sarcophagi. Working our way deeper into the site, we'll visit what was once a full production bakery as well as an ancient fast food restaurant which looks like it could still be serving food today! During this tour we can stop for a quick bite to eat at the onsite cafe. We will enter some off the beaten path sites featuring detailed mosaic floors and frescoes and see the remains of a gym (palestra) that even shows boxers, gladiators and an ancient representation of a soccer ball. At the end of the site are the ruins of the ancient Jewish Synagogue.

A mere thirty minute drive from the center of Rome, past the evocative ruins of the aqueducts the plain gives way to the Alban hills and their patchwork of chestnut forests and graceful vineyards. Topped by the medieval villages of the Castelli Romani, they speak of another, more ancient world. For thousands of years this area has been a refuge from the chaos of the city, from Cicero to Berlusconi. Joined by scenic country roads, this network of villages make for a delightful day trip. This region so close to Rome holds an astonishing variety of history and geography. The ruins of Tusculum, once a retreat of wealthy Romans are only minutes from the papal summer palace of Castel Gandolfo. The hill top where the mighty Hannibal once camped with his Elephants is only minutes away from the crater lakes of Albano and Nemi. Your private driver and private guide will take you by Mercedes car or van for a relaxing tour of the Castelli to visit vineyards in Frascati, Marino or Genzano and tour several Castelli towns including the charming lakeside village of Nemi, home to the remains of Caligula's crater lake party boat.



Each of the Castelli towns is famous for its own culinary specialties. Its natural abundance of wild boar, forest berries, chestnuts and porcini mushrooms make it much beloved by Romans as a weekend gastronomic retreat. The tour takes full advantage of this fact with a mid-day stop at an authentic Castelli trattoria chosen by your guide for its excellent cuisine.

Orvieto towers over the Umbrian plain, safe upon its steep cliffs of volcanic tufo stone. Naturally protected by this amazing geography, its mysteries are still being discovered as archeologists plumb its fifty-meter deep wells, many dug in antiquity using techniques we have yet to understand. First rising to prominence with the pre-Roman Etruscans, it still proudly carries their history forth with an Etruscan emphasis on friendship, feasts and mellow wine.

Home to the largest gothic cathedral in Italy, its architecture is an exquisite mix of medieval and renaissance design. As its size is completely restricted by geography, it is blessedly free of modern buildings and has a coherence rarely found in such a large town. An important economic center since Etruscan times, it boasts many artistic masterpieces, such as the frescoes in its cathedral authored by Signorelli, one of Michelangelo's most influential teachers.

These frescoes with their vision of the Apocalypse and the afterlife offer powerful and haunting evocations of the unique moment in history where Europe was beginning to climb out of centuries of darkness.

Your private guide will take you on a day-long tour of this magical city, touring the cathedral and its Signorelli frescoes. You'll stroll through Orvieto's many pedestrian-only streets visiting slow-food delicatessens, shopping and sampling the finest local cheeses, cured meats and DOC wines as well as the fine hand-painted pottery for which Orvieto is justly famous. You'll also visit the ancient underground city with its caverns and frightfully deep wells. Lunch will be at one of Orvieto's famed slow-food restaurants where you'll find ingredients and dishes difficult or impossible to find in nearby Rome. You'll sample unique local cheeses such as "ubriachone", a wine-aged cheese, as well as cheeses aged in Etruscan caves. Umbria is also known as the green heart of Italy for its oak and chestnut covered hills, bringing wild food in abundance such as boar salami, white or black Umbrian truffles and porcini mushrooms. The afternoon takes you on a tour of Orvieto's medieval and renaissance treasures as well as a gorgeous overlook of the Tiber valley from the city's ruined fortress.

Hugging the hills by the source of the Aniene river, the ancient town of Tivoli has long been famed for its abundant water and cool summer climate. The delightful city center is flanked on one side by a pair of gorgeous villas. The Villa d'Este, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites is an architectural masterpiece with its elegant formal gardens and hundreds of sparkling fountains, such as the Fountain of the Dragons, the Fountain of Neptune and the Sleeping Nymph Grotto. Home to various European nobles over the centuries it has also hosted famous artists such as composer Franz Lizt. An amazing counterpoint to the stylized elegance of the Villa d'Este is the Neo-Classical Villa Gregoriana built over the falls of the Aniene river where it leaps from the Sabine hills. Nestled in a steep chasm known by the ancients as the "Valley of Hell", it was a site of ancient pagan worship. Ruins cling to its steeps sides, including the ancient Acropolis of Tivoli and Roman temples dedicated to Vesta, the Sibyl, and Tiburnus. An enchanted valley was created with the restructuring of the chasm, incorporating its wild nature with crumbling Roman ruins, serpentine pathways and whimsical early 19th century architecture.

Below the town proper is the wondrous imperial estate of Hadrian, one of Rome's most refined emperors. As a refuge to the chaos of Rome this highly cultured emperor recruited the finest architects of the day to convert a marsh into a palatial estate featuring underground passageways, several baths, theaters, a library, temples and state rooms. This ancient site is not only enormous but also in accordance with Hadrian's philosophic and artistic nature, very harmonious in design, permitting a unique view into the privileged life of the Roman emperors.

Your private driver and private guide will take you on a memorable day-long adventure to this stunning hillside town to visit Hadrian's Villa, the Villa d'Este and the Villa Gregoriana. Lunch can also be a particularly special occasion with a delicious meal at Tivoli's renowned 'Tempio della Sibilla', a gourmet restaurant built completely within the ruins of an ancient Sibylline temple.

This tour takes you from your Rome hotel down to Pompeii with your private driver and guide. You'll spend the morning touring Pompeii with your private archeological guide, who will reveal the secrets of this evocative city. You'll then continue on to the Amalfi to visit stunning cliff-side to water village of Positano for a scenic lunch at a traditional Amalfitano restaurant, with time to wander the narrow, scenic streets of this lovely town nestled into the imposing cliffs of the Tyhrennian coast. For centuries, Pompeii has held a special place in the collective imagination. The prosperous, pleasure-loving town nestled at the verdant foot of Mount Vesuvius, benefiting from fertile soil and cool winds from the Bay of Naples. Pompeii and the Naples area was a popular resort area for wealthy Romans, and many of its prominent residents were freed slaves who had become successful merchants.The city was made up of apartments, complex houses, shops, restaurants and bars, thermal baths, sports arenas, gymnasiums and theaters.

What more could anyone want? The mind shudders at the thought of the destruction that rained upon it from the violent eruption as Mount Vesuvius exploded, burying the city in a rain of hot ash. But that layer of ash preserved a glimpse in time, a perfect snapshot of the ancient world that no other archeological site can match. An entire city frozen for the ages to witness, undiscovered until the 1700s. Today's visitor is privileged to experience an entire Roman city at a single moment in time. We will see the area as it is lived in today as well as view the way the Ancients lived, realizing that there is not too much of a difference!

This tour takes you to Pompeii and Herculaneum from your Rome hotel with a private driver and guide. You'll spend the morning touring Pompeii before stopping for a delicious Neapolitan meal. Considered by many Italians to be the true center of Italy's love affair with pasta, Neapolitan cooking is among the finest to be had. The afternoon brings you to Herculaneum to visit this charmingly complete ancient Roman seaside town. Both are filled with unforgettable discoveries!

Prior to its spectacular eruption in the year 79 CE Mount Vesuvius was not even known to be volcanic. It had not erupted since the beginning of the Iron age 800 years earlier. The fertile region around its base was home to several ancient cities, including the lesser known Herculaneum. This city was a small, wealthy town prized for its proximity to the sea. Its location west of Mount Vesuvius meant it was initially spared damage from the early afternoon eruption as the winds were blowing south-east. Its residents fled to the sea awaiting rescue.

Many escaped but around midnight the volcano's plume of ash fell back upon itself and sent a 100 mile per hour river of 750 degree ash, stone and mud to cover the town and annihilate those still awaiting transport. Smaller than its better known cousin Pompeii, Herculaneum is incredibly well-preserved due to the fact that its buildings were in many cases filled with ash before they were covered 65 feet deep in mud. This left many of the roofs intact and provides a unique glimpse into ancient Roman life.

Take a day trip from Rome to visit Pompeii and Naples, one of the most fascinating historic areas of Italy. Start out with in-depth exploration of Pompeii and its unbeatable ruins with a private guided tour. The extensive ancient city is full of surprises and so fun and fascinating to explore. In the afternoon your chauffeur takes you to Naples, the original home of both pizza and pasta, a city founded by the ancient Greeks. Neapolitans were once universally known as the 'Macaroni eaters'; famous for cooking and eating pasta with their hands at hundreds of impromptu street stalls! If there's one thing Italians agree on about Napoli it's that the pasta is cooked perfectly and the espresso is beyond compare! Your guide will take you to one of Napoli's authentic trattorie for a fantastic lunch where you can order local specialties such as the perfect Eggplant Parmesan, the creamy and incomparable Mozzarella di Bufala or a classic deep-dish Neapolitan pizza. After lunch, a stroll through the historic center, and a perfect neapolitan coffee, you will visit the Naples archeological museum which houses a stunning collection of the greatest finds from Pompeii.

Many of the best-preserved Pompeii frescoes have been removed from their original locations and placed here for preservation. Scores of detailed and astonishingly well-preserved scenes provide a fully rounded picture of Pompeiian social life. In addition there is the famed 'Gabinetto Segreto', a Secret Room, prohibited to all except the most exclusive people, long held under lock and key and only opened to the public in 2005. It contains a high-quality and extremely amusing collection of ancient Roman erotic art that was once thought so shocking that the very entrance to the room was bricked-up! After an unforgettable day, your chauffeur will whisk you back to Rome.

For a day out of Rome featuring DOC Lazio Food and Wine, ancient and medieval history and beautiful countryside, join our sommelier and food and wine expert on a chauffeured trip to the Ernico Mountains region. Within the walled city of Anagni, the city of the popes, we will visit picturesque monuments, a cathedral featuring an underground crypt with reknowned Medievel frescos, the oratory of St. Beckett built within an ancient Roman Mithraium and take in the stunning views all around the city. Great food is to be found here, a charming fruit and vegetable market and antique shops. Anagni is a gorgeous town in Lazio that is not to be missed. When it comes to choosing a place to eat for lunch, Alatri, the best preserved town in Lazio is the place to go since it has one of the best Osteria in Lazio, Osteria Bacco e Ciacco. Known for its local, organic, fresh ingredients in a traditional Laziale kitchen with a modern twist and an excellent wine menu, it is a hard to find rare gem in small towns like this. This area is famous for the Cesanese del Piglio, Lazio's only DOCG wine.

Founded by the Hernici, who predated the Romans, Alatri features a fascinating rare acropolis from the 6th century BC and huge impressive walls , stone medieval churches dating back to the 5th c BC and charming stone streets and tiny roads. Nestled in the heart of the Hernico hills the views are breathtaking. The Ernico Hills are to be found in the south of Lazio, in the region of Frosinone, and border with Abruzzo. They are both cultural and natural treasure in Lazio with their picturesque mountains which are perfect for hiking, and birdwatching, skiing. There are 16 historical towns that make up the mountain community.The area is named after a pre-Roman culture that once resided in the area, the Hernico, who were eventually assimilated and swallowed into the Roman empire. Recently the cantina of Marcus Aurelius was discovered here- so people have been coming to this area for millennia for wine and food!

Hugging the hills by the source of the Aniene river, the ancient town of Tivoli has long been famed for its abundant water and cool summer climate. The delightful city center is flanked on one side by a pair of gorgeous villas. The Villa d'Este, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites is an architectural masterpiece with its elegant formal gardens and hundreds of sparkling fountains, such as the Fountain of the Dragons, the Fountain of Neptune and the Sleeping Nymph Grotto. Home to various European nobles over the centuries it has also hosted famous artists such as composer Franz Lizt. An amazing counterpoint to the stylized elegance of the Villa d'Este is the Neo-Classical Villa Gregoriana built over the falls of the Aniene river where it leaps from the Sabine hills. Nestled in a steep chasm known by the ancients as the "Valley of Hell", it was a site of ancient pagan worship. Ruins cling to its steeps sides, including the ancient Acropolis of Tivoli and Roman temples dedicated to Vesta, the Sibyl, and Tiburnus. An enchanted valley was created with the restructuring of the chasm, incorporating its wild nature with crumbling Roman ruins, serpentine pathways and whimsical early 19th century architecture.

Below the town proper is the wondrous imperial estate of Hadrian, one of Rome's most refined emperors.

As a refuge to the chaos of Rome this highly cultured emperor recruited the finest architects of the day to convert a marsh into a palatial estate featuring underground passageways, several baths, theaters, a library, temples and state rooms. This ancient site is not only enormous but also in accordance with Hadrian's philosophic and artistic nature, very harmonious in design, permitting a unique view into the privileged life of the Roman emperors.

Your private driver guide will take you on a memorable day-long adventure to this stunning hillside town to visit Hadrian's Villa, the Villa d'Este and the Villa Gregoriana. The driver guide cannot enter with you to the sites. Lunch can also be a particularly special occasion with a delicious meal at Tivoli's renowned 'Tempio della Sibilla', a gourmet restaurant built completely within the ruins of an ancient Sibylline temple.

Hop on a train from the big city of Rome to the lovely historic town of Frascati for a delightful escape to the countryside. Your guide will meet you at the station in Frascati to take you on a wonderful visit to this ancient grape growing region of the Ancient Romans. For thousands of years the wine has been flowing from this area, made from grapes of the vines growing in rich volcanic soils of the Castelli Romani area, famous for its wine, local cuisine and medieval towns. This region has grown in importance over the last decade for the local vintners who are making interesting and complex wines, as well as the table wine for Roman restaurants. It is also famous for its great food and tiny historic cantinas where you feel you have left the modern world behind. Escape like the ancient Romans did to this lush and cool area which rises above Rome, and is filled with large villas of the nobility, charming piazzas, and historic cantinas. Here you can try artisan breads, pastries and pizzas as well as porchetta, a roast pork made from an ancient Roman traditional recipe that is famous all over italy, and many more specialties of the region!

This tour takes you from your Rome hotel down to Pompeii with your private driver and guide. You'll spend the morning touring Pompeii with your private archeological guide, who will reveal the secrets of this evocative city. You'll then continue on to the Amalfi to visit stunning cliff-side to water village of Positano for a scenic lunch at a traditional Amalfitano restaurant, with time to wander the narrow, scenic streets of this lovely town nestled into the imposing cliffs of the Tyhrennian coast. For centuries, Pompeii has held a special place in the collective imagination. The prosperous, pleasure-loving town nestled at the verdant foot ofMount Vesuvius, benefiting from fertile soil and cool winds from the Bay of Naples. Pompeii and the Naples area was a popular resort area for wealthy Romans, and many of its prominent residents were freed slaves who had become successful merchants.The city was made up of apartments, complex houses, shops, restaurants and bars, thermal baths, sports arenas, gymnasiums and theaters.

What more could anyone want? The mind shudders at the thought of the destruction that rained upon it from the violent eruption as Mount Vesuvius exploded, burying the city in a rain of hot ash. But that layer of ash preserved a glimpse in time, a perfect snapshot of the ancient world that no other archeological site can match. An entire city frozen for the ages to witness, undiscovered until the 1700s. Today's visitor is privileged to experience an entire Roman city at a single moment in time. We will see the area as it is lived in today as well as view the way the Ancients lived, realizing that there is not too much of a difference!

We arrange private chauffeur service between Civitavecchia's cruise ship port and Rome, in either direction. With our excellent English-speaking chauffeurs in spotless, comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes cars, mini Vans or buses for larger groups, you will arrive in full comfort. Your chauffeur is friendly, knowledgeable and there to serve your needs. Your driver will meet you holding a sign with your name on it, help you with any bags you may have and take you to your destination so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view! Our cars: sedans for up to 3 people, vans for up to seven people or comfortable buses for larger groups.

We arrange private chauffeurs between Rome and its two airports, Fiumicino Leonardo Davinci and Ciampino. With our English-speaking chauffeurs in spotless, comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes cars and vans, you will arrive in Rome in full comfort minus the hassle of dealing with the sometimes treacherous Roman cabbies! Your chauffeur is friendly, knowledgeable and there to serve your needs. Your driver will meet you with a sign, help you with your luggage and take you to your hotel so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself! Our cars: sedans for up to 3 people, vans for up to seven people or comfortable buses or mini-buses for larger groups.