Discover the heart of Rome and savour it's most breathtaking views, from grand piazzas to charming back streets. Rome’s labyrinthine centre is a treasure-trove of beautiful sites ignored by most tour companies. This exclusive private tour of Rome goes off the beaten path to lay bare a secret side of the city, completely unknown to most visitors. You'll learn about centuries of hidden scandals and dramatic stories involving emperors, popes, artists, and courtesans. With your personal guide you’ll uncover the mysteries of the Jewish Ghetto, Campo de’ Fiori, and some of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in the city. This walking tour also takes you across the Tiber to the iconic Castel Sant’Angelo, where you’ll enjoy magnificent views of Rome. Your journey begins on the Capitoline Hill, which has been the heart of Rome’s political landscape since the very foundation of the city. A vast temple dedicated to Jupiter once stood here, towering over the Roman Forum, and some remains of the building can still be seen today. You’ll learn about the significance of the Capitoline Hill from and discover the myths and legends associated with it in Ancient Rome. After walking through the piazza designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, you'll head around the back of the hill to admire more spectacular views. The Capitoline Hill offers panoramic views across the most ancient part of the city, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You'll then head to the legendary Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, built over the remains of the ancient Temple of Juno Moneta in the 6th century AD. By this time, the Roman Empire had fallen and during the Middle Ages, new places of worship were built over the ruins of Rome’s once splendid classical monuments. The Basilica’s remarkable Cosmatesque floor of multi-coloured tiles is one of the most superb testaments to the splendours of medieval art in Rome. Your guide will explain to you the painstaking technique that made it possible as well as how the craftsmen re-used ancient marbles. Amongst the many artistic treasures of the Basilica are tombs designed by Donatello and Michelangelo, as well as jaw-dropping frescoes by Pinturicchio, some of the finest Renaissance paintings in all of Rome.
