Rome and his History
7 Day / 6 Nights
Day 1
Arrival in rome, Accomodation to the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Archaeological Rome and Vatican city's
Breakfast to the Hotel. Departure to the archaeological sites and visit with
our special Guide of: Roman forum, the fora of Caesar Augustus and Trajan, the
Capitol, Colosseum and Palatine hill and let the magic of ancient Rome archaeological
marvels cast its spell. Marcanthony on the rostra, the stones of Caesar's cremation
site, assembled senators in the Curia, vestal virgins meditating in the romantic
surroundings of their home and the eternal fire burning in Vesta's temple, Rome
most cherished shrine, Cicero's flaming oratory in the Rome's basilicas, generals
and their legions thriumphal processions under the solemn arcs of the Via Sacra,
emperors in their majestic Palatine hill palace, the wild atmosphere of gladiators
games in the Colosseum, will all seem to materialize. Lunch in restaurant. In
the afternoon visit with our special guide of Vatican city’s. 16th century
Rome when, called by art loving popes, the great masters of the renaissance
gathered in the Vatican to create an unique experience in the history of mankind.
Wondering leasurely along the galleries of the Vatican museums, passing by breathtaking
roman mosaics, sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome, the moving Lacoon group
and Belvedere Apollo, spectacular frescoed ceilings and tapestries, we make
our way to Botticelli, Perugino, Signorelli, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo's
masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel and to Raphael's magnificent decoration of
Giulius the 2nd Vatican apartment. The imposing sight of St Peter'square and
Bramante's Vatican basilica are as overwhelming, as the treasures within. Michelangelo's
Pietà, most tender image ever carved out of a block of marble, the armony
and grace of Michelangelo's dome, the spectacular Bernini's decorations and
sculptures, all contribute to a memorable experience. Return to the Hotel. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 3: Jewish ghetto with medieval district and baroque Rome
Breakfast to the Hotel. Departure to the Jewish ghetto and visit with our special
Guide. Rome jewish community's history begins a long time back, in the year
139 BC, when a presence is first recorded in Rome, the oldest established in
western Europe. The jewish community first settled in the district of Trastevere,
moving later across the river, to the area that in the late middle ages was
to become the jewish Ghetto. It's a lively part of the medieval city with narrow
streets, interesting roman remains, old homes, aristocratic palaces and a beautiful
Sinagogue with its museum of the Rome jewish community. From the old ghetto
we move to the nearby areas of medieval Rome to the district of Campo de Fiori,
with pictoresque market stalls, Palazzo Spada with Borromini's amazing perspective,
Piazza Farnese, with its fountains and magnificent palace and finally, along
narrow streets, lined by antique stores, to breathtaking Piazza Navona, Rome's
popular meeting place with Bernini's fountains, sidewalk painters and outdoor
cafes. A visit to catch Rome genuine spirit. Lunch in restaurant. In the afternoon
visit with our special guide the baroque Rome. The age of Bernini, Borromini,
Pietro da Cortona. A love of light and colours, a desire to stupefy and overwhelm,
plus a taste for the spectacular and the theatrical. 17th century baroque Rome,
a stageseter dream experienced as walking along narrow streets we suddendly
find the open spaces of fountain decorated baroque piazzas. Amongst several
masterpieces, our itinerary covers Bernini's Cornaro chapel and St.Teresa's
Ecstasy in Santa Maria della Vittoria, St. Susanna, Rome American community's
church, and its beautiful frescoes, Borromini's graceful baroque movement in
San Carlino with its splendid cloister, and again Bernini's spectacular St Andrea,
with its unique cupola, the Barberini palace, the Triton and Api fountains of
the Piazza Barberini, the two angels of St Andrea delle Fratte, the Barcaccia
fountain, the Spanish Steps. A tempting glimpse of Rome exclusive designers
and jewellers shopwindows, prior to the conclusion of our walk through the glory
of baroque Rome with the magnificent sight of the Trevi fountain. Return to
the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Renaissance Rome - Raphael's Rome - Trastevere art and folklore
Breakfast to the Hotel. Departure to the Renaissance Rome and visit with our
special Guide. Walking through "Renaissance Rome" to find the true
spirit of today's Rome. Craftsman workshops, antiques and curiosities shops,
typical "trattorias". We start with the Pantheon, ancient Rome most
famous temple, and Raphael's tomb, continuing to St. Augustin, church of bankers
and courtesans of renaissance Rome, where we find Caravaggio's "Madonna
dei Pellegrini" and Raphael's "I Profeti". Passing by the house
of Fiammetta famous courtesan of Borgia's time and continuing along the Via
dei Coronari, once pilgrims path to St. Peter and today Iined by countless antiques
stores, we visit Pietro da Cortona's Santa Maria della Pace with Raphael's "Sibille".
Along the Via Giulia with its renaissance palaces of 16th century aristocracy,
we make our way to the Tiber and popular Trastevere. Lunch in restaurant. In
the afternoon visit with our special Guide. the Trastevere quartier. Away from
busy city traffic discovering Rome popular heart. Charming Tiber island with
its ancient roman bridges, where merchants from all over the ancient world traded
in what soon became the cosmopolitan city district, home through centuries of
artists, poets, musicians. Narrow streets lined by colourful homes, spacious
piazzas with palaces and churches, busy typical trattorias, outdoor cafés,
avant-gard art galleries, trendy boutiques, music bars and languages from the
all over the world make Trastevere an unique bohemians melting pot. We cross
the river at Tiber Island and strolling through the ancient jewish section,
with the medieval building of the former Synagogue, with reach the old church
of St. Cecilia to view splendid mosaics. Passing by craftsman workshops and
curious shopwindows we continue to the commercial area, on our way to Trastevere’s
heart: Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, with its splendid historical basilica,
Rome’s oldest church and its amazing works of art: fluted columns from
ancient Rome, spectacular guilded ceilings, baroque architectures and the magnificent
early 14th century mosaics by Piero Cavallini. Along very pictoresque narrow
streets, with stretched across festoons of hanging laundry, we reach the home
of “Fornarina”, Raphael’s lover, close to the peaceful botanical
garden and the impressive palace of the Corsini family. Our tour ends with the
“Villa Farnesina”, amazing residence of renaissance banker Agostino
Chigi ,with its “Thriumph of Galatea” and “Amore e Psyche”
two of Raphael’s most celebrated masterpieces. Return to the Hotel. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 5: Tivoli and Roman Castle
Breakfast to the Hotel. Departure to Tivoli and visit with our special Guide.
Hilltop medieval town 20 odd miles east of Rome. A favourite with ancient Rome
patrician families, emperors, art patrons, painters, musicians. A short drive
along the highway to the the Adriatic coast, through the roman countryside and
olive groves. Visit Adrian’s villa, outstanding roman archeological site,
with its memories of Rome’s most enlightned emperor and the impressive
remains of his favourite residence. Continue to the world famous Villa d’Este,
magnificent renaissance garden, home of Cardinal d’Este, Lucrecia Borgia’s
son and one of Italy’s 16th century greatest art patrons. See beautifully
frescoed rooms in the state appartment and the spectacular park with countless
breathtaking ountains and centuries old trees. Stroll through a pictoresque
street market with its colourful stalls. Departure to the Castelli Romani. Lunch
in restaurant. In the afternoon visit with our special guide The castelli Romani
country. Scenic tour to the hilltop towns of the roman countryside. Vineyards
covered hills, the old world atmosphere of medieval villages.
Nemi with its lake and a most pictoresque ham and sausage shop, delight of gourmets
and photographers alike, Marino with its wine fountain, St Nilo’s abbey
at Grottaferrata, Castel Gandolfo with its lake and Papal summer residence,
Frascati and its world famous wines.
The Old Appian Way with its catacombes, patrician tombes, remains of emperors
villas and contemporary residences of famous movie stars laid out amongst typical
ombrella pine trees and arches of ancient acqueducts. Return to the Hotel. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 6: Ostia Antica and free time.
Breakfast to the Hotel. Departure to Ostia and visit with our special Guide
the famous archeological city. Best preserved example of an ancient commercial
city, Ostia Antica was the river and sea harbour of ancient Rome. Founded in
the 4th century B.C., grew to become the empire prominent port. Amongst pine
trees and evergreens, remains of temples, thermal baths, fishmongers benches,
winetavern counters, sinagogues, early christian churches, appartment blocks,
mosaic’s decorated freight forwarding and shippers premises designing
a charming romantic stage. A beutifully laid out archeological museum, through
its sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, ornaments enables the visitor to imagine
Ostia Antica’s impressive wealth. Return in Rome. Lunch in restaurant.
In the afternoon free time for last shopping or private visit. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Departure
Breakfast to the hotel. End of our services.
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