Escape the typical excursion crowds on this incredible walk through Roman history. With a semi-private, small group of only 4-8 people, you will have an exciting, personalized opportunity to experience the ancient city without the expensive private excursion price.
Your adventure begins when you meet your driver dockside at your Civitavecchia cruise port where you will board an air-conditioned minivan for the drive to Rome. Along the route, the driver will give commentary while you are in the vehicle but not at the site. You will first see Capitoline Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome whose ruins were covered by Renaissance palaces surrounding a plaza designed by Michelangelo.
You will next visit the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome, where you can either obtain a fast-track ticket to enter (time allowing) or explore the exterior on your own. The Colosseum is an oval amphitheater, the largest ever built, constructed using travertine, tuff, and brick-faced concrete. With a seating capacity of 50,000-80,000, a variety of events were held here including gladiator contests, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas. In medieval times, the entertainment function ceased, and the Colosseum was re-purposed for housing, workshops, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
On your drive to Rome itself, you will pass Palatine Hill, the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome, and Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing stadium which is now a public park. Your driver will drop you off near the Trevi Fountain as you begin your walk along the narrow twisting streets with your guide. This iconic fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and perhaps the most famous in the world, having appeared in a number of films including "Three Coins in the Fountain" and "Roman Holiday".
Moving on, you will visit the Pantheon, built in 126 AD as a temple to the gods of Rome. Functioning today as a church, its portico consists of 16 spectacular granite columns and a rotunda that lies beneath a coffered concrete dome that, almost 2000 years later, is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. As a result of its continuous use throughout history, the Pantheon is one of the most well-preserved structures of ancient Rome.
The last stop on your historical Roman adventure is the inspirational Vatican City where you will have time to look around St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world and one of the holiest of Christian shrines. Inside is a wealth of art and mosaics, including Michelangelo's "Pieta" and the exquisitely carved Bernini Pulpit. According to Catholic tradition, the Basilica is the burial site of St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome. His tomb is said to be located directly below the high altar.
At the end of your adventure through Rome, your driver will return you to your Civitavecchia cruise pier. For a very personalized and well-rounded walk through history, you really don't want to pass this up!
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