ROME
Sophisticated Italy is pleased to offer these special half or full day tours to visitors to the Eternal City . We have a group of special guides--all highly trained and informed--who will make the various aspects of this incredibly rich city come alive. When required, we provide cars and drivers.
ANCIENT ROME (4 hours)
Walk the streets of ancient Rome where Emperors and Gladiators once ruled. Your itinerary begins at Capitoline Hill, home of Michelangelo's Renaissance piazza, and proceeds to the Roman Forum, where the ruins of this busy marketplace – temples, palaces, shops and the Senate – give you a glimpse into daily life of ancient Rome . Your tour finishes at Rome 's most famous monument, the Coliseum in all its grandeur.
THE VATICAN (4 hours)
Visit the world's smallest walled country. Wander through the Museum's 4 miles of eclectic art from Ancient to Egyptian, Etruscan to Contemporary highlighted by Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The tour finishes with a visit to St. Peters Basilica, the most Famous Cathedral in the world.
The Castel Sant'Angelo, the original fortress and safe house of the Vatican can be added to this tour (1 hour).
TRASTEVERE AND THE JEWISH GHETTO (3 hours)
Explore another side of Roman life, beginning in Trastevere where one finds some of the oldest buildings of Rome. The Jewish Ghetto offers a contrasting view of Roman history and architecture with its shady, winding streets lined with trendy shops and cafes. Tour the magnificent Roman Synagogue.
ROMAN LIVING PAST AND PRESENT: A SPECIAL VIEW OF ROME 'S RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE MONUMENTS (3 hours)
A stroll through Rome's most famous squares and fountains: from the Piazza del Popolo to the Piazza di Spagna, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza della Rotonda (including the Pantheon), Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Farnese.
BORGHESE GARDENS AND GALLERY (3 hours)
Stroll through Rome 's tranquil paradise, the Borghese Gardens , and the magnificent and decadent Borghese Palace which houses one of Europe 's most astounding art collections with works by Bernini, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and others.
THE MYSTERIES OF ROME (4 hours)
Sparked by Dan Brown's "Angels and Demon's, Rome holds many mysterious and mystifying treasures. Investigate and unravel the mysteries of Santa Maria del Popolo, Bernini's fountain in Piazza Navona, and the secrets of the Vatican 's St. Peter's Square and Castel Sant'Angelo.
UNDERGROUND ROME (4 hours with car)
Visit Rome 's hidden treasures starting with the Church of San Clemente and its fascinating archaeological sites -- a church within a church. Proceed to the Caelian Hill, an ancient condominium 1900 years old followed by a drive down the scenic Via Appia Antica, called “Queen of the Roman Roads”, Europe 's first true highway. Today it is lined with villas of Italian movie stars and dignitaries. Explore the underground Catacombs, the burial sites of early Christians.
TIVOLI GARDENS/HADRIAN'S VILLA (full day with car)
Visit the magnificent Villa D'Este, built for the wealthy and powerful Cardinal Ippolito D'Este. Stroll through the Villa's rolling hillside gardens, with over 80 water fountains and a spectacular panoramic view. Villa Adriana, the playground of Emperor Hadrian features ruins from the 2 nd century AD. The grand estate covers more than 300 acres .
THE VATICAN FOR KIDS (4 hours)
Even the Vatican is a treasure trove of sights for the kids. Wander through the Vatican Museums where even kids will be amazed, and interested, in many of the ancient artefacts including tapestries, ancient maps and Egyptian mummies. Then spend some time gazing at the Sistine Chapel where children will enjoy exploring the many scenes depicted in Michelangelo's famed work. Kids will be in awe at the massive Basilica of St Peter's with its hundreds of columns and statues. Finally Castel Sant'Angelo may just be the highlight of your kids' day with its ancient tombs, fortresses, prison, castle, torture chambers and museum.
ANCIENT ROME FOR KIDS (4 hours)
Let your kids travel back in time and explore Roman life in earlier civilizations.
Your time travel begins with an educational trip to the Museum of Roman Civilization , where kids can experience first-hand day-to-day life in ancient Rome . The museum also features a model of Rome (1:250 scale) in the 4th century A.D. where kids will be able to recognize many of the buildings still standing today. Kids will also enjoy the Criminology Museum where they'll see how villains and traitors were punished.
ANCIENT OSTIA AND THE MUSEUM OF ROMAN CIVILIZATION
(Full day with car)
Imagine life 2000 years ago while walking the streets of the well preserved Roman port of Ostia . Visit apartments, villas, baths, and warehouses and the theatre, which is still in use during the summer months. Ostia is situated 15 miles from Rome at the mouth Tiber River .
RETURNING TO ROME
Rome offers many surprises for the experienced travellers who have “been there done that.” If you have already visited the popular attractions of Rome , explore some of the city's hidden treasures:
MACHINES AND GODS (3 hours)
Escape from the crowds and discover Montemartini, a former power plant which now houses some of Roman civilizations finest sculpture that have been tucked away since Mussolini's reign. The museum compares and contrasts history with modern-day life through a display of industrial age machinery, marble statues and goddesses, Etruscan artefacts and mosaics.
ROMAN NOBILITY – DORIA PAMPHILI PALACE (3 hours)
As one of Rome 's largest palaces with over 1000 rooms, the Doria-Pamphili Palace houses the Pamphili family private art collection including works by Velazquez, Titian, Caravaggio; the palace also contains personal mementoes of the family dating back to 1435. Many of the rooms still contain the original and extravagant furnishings.
Capitoline Hill is the historic and religious center of Rome where Emperors once ruled. The central palace, designed by Michelangelo, houses the world's oldest museum from 1471. The underground Tabularium once housed the state archives and today offers spectacular views of the Roman Forum. The museum boasts an amazing collection of historic and political artefacts and ancient sculptures. Be sure to admire the frescoes depicting Roman legends.
THE ALTEMPS NATIONAL MUSEUM (3 hours)
Visit the recently re-opened Altemps Palace situated in Piazza Navona. The building was owned by a noble family, which then became the home of Cardinal Altemps where he housed his personal statue collection and built his own private Church! Today, amongst the frescoed rooms depicting the story of Moses, you will visit the elaborate sculpture collection and the Church of St. Louis containing 3 Caravaggio paintings.