Rome & the Sistine Chapel

We fly from London and upon arrival in Rome, we transfer to our hotel. A relaxed first day as we prepare for our tour.

Hotel: Albergo Santa Chiara
Meals: Breakfast included

Our adventure begins at the Colosseum, the iconic Flavian Amphitheatre – the largest of its type ever constructed. Here we enjoy a specially-arranged visit to the underground service tunnels and upper levels, offering unprecedented access to the atmospheric corridors in which so many lives were lived and broken. Following lunch we take an afternoon walk through the heart of ancient Rome, stopping at the Forum, site of profound historical events such as the Gracchi riots, Caesar’s funeral, and the triumph of Alaric the Goth. We end the day with a walk along the later Imperial Fora, an elaborate series of ruined public squares, finishing at Trajan’s Column. 

Hotel: Albergo Santa Chiara
Meals: All meals included

This morning we enjoy a guided visit around the vast collections of the Vatican Museum, amassed by popes across the centuries. In the afternoon we enjoy some free time to explore Saint Peter’s Basilica, a jewel of the Renaissance, and for centuries the largest church in the world. This evening, we have Special Access to the Vatican Museums, including the extraordinary Sistine Chapel, allowing us to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece, completely uninterrupted. We also enjoy a private viewing of the ornate Raphael Rooms.

Hotel: Albergo Santa Chiara
Meals: All meals included

We visit the Borghese Gallery, a 17th-century villa, which houses a substantial selection of the amazing art collection gathered by the Borghese, one of Rome’s most illustrious families. We continue to Montemartini Museum and after lunch we drive to the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius, a striking monument which has featured in works by both Shelley and Hardy. Tucked inside the Aurelian walls, and adjacent to the tomb of Cestius is the “Non-Catholic” Cemetery of Rome. 

Hotel: Albergo Santa Chiara
Meals: All meals included

This morning we visit the Pantheon, the inspirational building built by Emperor Hadrian as a shrine to the Roman gods. We continue on to the bustling square of Piazza Navona, former stadium of Emperor Domitian. Our guided walk ends at the Ara Pacis. This afternoon we spend at leisure.

Hotel: Albergo Santa Chiara
Meals: All meals included

We travel to Ostia Antica, the original port of ancient Rome. Parts of this sprawling site are as well preserved as Pompeii. We view the forum, baths, temples, private houses and tenements, as well as the warehouses and wharves used for storing supplies for the imperial capital. We then transfer to the airport for our return flights home.

Meals: Breakfast included