Day 1: Rome Sightseeing and the Vatican
Start your day with pickup from your Rome hotel, and travel into the center with your private driver. Your morning kicks off with a sightseeing tour that takes in a mix of Rome’s classic sights along with some that the usual tourist itineraries miss. Visit Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps alongside Santa Maria della Pace. See the Ponte Sant’Angelo, lined with angel sculptures by Bernini, and admire the views of Castel Sant’Angelo aka the Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum.
After a break for lunch, head to the Vatican with your skip-the-line ticket. Bypass the main ticket line to step inside the vast Vatican Museum complex, seeing highlights such as Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of the Maps, the Tapestry Gallery, and the Sistine Chapel with its lauded Michelangelo frescoes. Your day tour ends with a walk around St. Peter’s Basilica to see La Pietà, Bernini’s bronze baldachin, and the papal tombs.
Day 2: Appian Way, Catacombs, Colosseum, and the Roman Forum
After another morning pickup, travel with your guide to the Ancient Appian Way to explore the catacombs that lie beneath the old Roman road. Used as cemeteries for Rome’s persecuted early Christians, the catacombs are fascinating to explore, stretching some 93 miles (150km) in underground corridors.
From the Appian way, travel into the heart of ancient Rome for some free time for lunch and a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum. Bypass the general ticket line, then explore the ancient amphitheater that was used for gladiatorial games under the rule of the bloodthirsty Roman emperors. Learn about the dangerous animal battles and the gladiator’s skills as you explore, then head outside to stroll around Palatine Hill. Finish with a visit to the Roman Forum, and discover the Temple of Vestal Virgins and triumphal arches among other monumental Roman ruins.
Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required.