ANCIENT ROME

The poet Horace said: 

 "you will see nothing in the world greater  than Rome"

"When we talk about Ancient Rome its grandeur immediately comes to mind with the stunning Coliseum, the Roman Forum, political, administrative and religious centre of Ancient Rome, Palatine Hill, home to the Caesars Palace...Walking through the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, and the Coliseum, the glory of Roman civilization will comes to life with its refined entertaining spectacles, political intrigues,religious and triumphant celebrations. After seeing the Pantheon, an immense and powerful round temple with a perfect hemispherical dome, or the Caracalla Baths you will realize why Rome has played a vital role in world history and civilization. According to an ancient prophecy "As long as the Coliseum stands, Rome will stand. When the Coliseum collapses, Rome will collapse. When Rome collapses, the world will collapse." 

Coliseum and palatine hill 

Vatican museum

The Holy See a sovereign state since 1929 

that contains within its walls many of the world's greatest masterpieces of art.

Our tour will start at the Vatican Museum, whose world-renowned art collection was first established in 1500.In the  astonishing Picture Gallery you will admire paintings by masters such as: Raphael, Caravaggio, Leonardo.... The ancient Statuary Collection is also home to Laocoon, a hellenistic Greek statue of unparalleled technical virtuosity. Its sublime depiction of human emotion became a source of inspiration for such great artists as Michelangelo. Speaking of Michelangelo, our tour continues to the Sistine Chapel, where his stunning frescoes with their colors, beauty and spiritual richness continue to transport visitors. Take in the grandeur and history of St. Peter's Basilica, home to the Pietà and soaring Dome by Michelangelo, with the exquisite Baldacchino (canopy) by Bernini, who also did the project of St. Peter Square with its perfectly arrayed colonnade. 

tour vatican city

DRESS CODE: No shorts or miniskirts, no sleeveless, no big bags or backpacks, no large umbrellas, small fordable one and small bags are ok

coliseum and palatine hill

 Preparing food is an art form

Discover the most hidden corners of Rome where you will taste the best and most delicious traditional food. I will introduce you to the Roman culinary tradition, wine culture and to the pleasures of delicacies.Visiting several characteristic Roman neighborhoods like Piazza Navona, Trastevere, the Jewish Ghetto and Campo de' Fiori, home to a famous street market, you will experience tastings of the best food  from local producers, from a variety of very special food emporiums, and you  will discover the secrets of their preparation.  A variety of cheeses, pizza, prosciutto, artichokes prepared "Roman Style" or  “alla Giudia”, deep fried (a Roman unique delicacy) and last but not least, gelato!You will be introduced to the origins  and traditions of the Roman cuisine, to the food preparation, and the secrets of their recipes, so you can cook them correctly at home. You will get to know about food and wine pairing and how these work in harmony. At the end of this unforgettable tasting, you will understand why food plays such an important role in our lives.

Vatican museum

Coliseum and palatine hill

Through Baroque – Renaissance Rome

Gorgeous masterpieces created by the most revolutionary Italian artists such as Michelangelo, Bernini, Borromini, Caravaggio can be seen during the tour.The walking tour starts on the Capitoline, one of the Seven Hills of Rome and the most important.  In ancient Rome  here stood the  most important Temple  of Rome, the Temple of Jupiter. The impressive square with its three magnificent palaces leads to the Cordonata, the wide staircase that we will descend. Both are Michelangelo's masterpieces.Walking through the city center, surprises await us around every corner: the Trevi Fountain; the Spanish Steps; the Church of St. Louis with three astonishingly translucent paintings of the life of St. Matthew by Caravaggio; Navona Square with monumental Baroque works by Bernini and Borromini; Campo dei Fiori, the most vibrant Roman square, which abuts three of the most magnificent Renaissance Palaces, the Cancelleria, the Farnese and the Spada with its famous perspective gallery by Borromini.

Vatican museum

Coliseum and palatine hill

Veni, Vidi, Vici ” – ” I Came, I Saw, I Conquered”

The dictator for life Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed on March 15th – 44 B.C.. The Ides of March in the Roman calendar. A day still celebrated and people  leave flowers on the spot where the body of Caesar was cremated.We’ll go through the moments preceding the murder and show what is left from the building where he died, the Senate House of Pompeu's Theatre. Why did not happen in the Curia, the main seat of the Senate? Why the ruler of the Republic died without any guards protecting him? Along with the answers, and a certain amount of prophecies you will see: the funeral place, the Forum  commissioned by Caesar, The Basilica Giulia and  the Senate House; the "Domus Publica" (Regia), the house where Caesar lived as a Pontifex Maximus; the Sacred Way, where Caesar did the triumphal march after the conquest of Gaul. We’ll end at the Temple of the Divine Caesar, erected by his adopted son Octavian Augustus where Caesar’s pire was lit up as the official funeral was taking place.Here we all will be wondering: was Shakespeare right? 

Coliseum and palatine hill

Vatican museum

The Borghese Gallery is a treasure chest 

That contains precious jewels of Italian art, from renaissance to the neoclassical period, such as Caravaggio, Bernini, Tiziano (Titian), Correggio, Canova.... beside ancient  roman statuary.When the collection was started by Cardinal Scipione ( Scipio) Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul the V, in XVII century the master pieces of Caravaggio , Bernini etc. were modern art, alongside the works of classical roman art. Cardinal Scipio elected at age 26, become Secretary of the Papal State. The villa  with its park and beautiful art collection was the perfect location to receive important guests. He had an immense passion for art and a great intuition in knowing how to recognize talents, such as Bernini. The Gallery contains the most important and spectacular Bernini's marbles, sculpted when the artist was between 19 and 25 years old

Vatican museum

Coliseum and palatine hill

  A large Roman archaeological complex 20 miles from Rome  

the Hadrian Villa in the II century A.D. was the retreat of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who disliked the Palace on the Palatine Hill in Rome. During the later years of his reign he governed the Empire from the Villa attended by a large court who lived there permanently.A complex of 30 magnificent buildings covering an area of 250 acres, part of it still not excavated, was the greatest Roman example of an Alexandrian garden, recreating a sacred landscape.During the visit you will see some of the best preserved buildings like: the Canopus,  Serapeus, the Maritime Theatre, the bath and more.After Hadrian the Villa was used by his successors and during the decline of the Roman Empire was partially ruined.In the XVI century the statues, reliefs  and marbles where taken to decorate not only the nearby Villa D’Este, (Tivoli Gardens), but many beautiful renaissance residences in Rome.

Vatican museum

Coliseum and palatine hill

 The unique town of Tivoli

Rich of art, ancient roman ruins, history and beautiful landscapes. Today is a world heritage town, with its gorgeous patrimony which includes very important sites, such as: the Hadrian Villa, the Gregorian Villa with its famous waterfalls, andVilla D'Este a Renaissance masterpiece that  was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, Governor of Tivoli, grandson of Pope Alexander VI Borgia, and son of Lucretia Borgia. After the disappointment of a failed bid for the papacy,  Cardinal  Ippolito come to the idea of realizing a villa with a park in the hanging cliff of the “Valle Gaudente”. The extraordinary project by the architect Pirro Ligorio brought back to life here the splendor of the courts in the 16th century and revived the magnificence of the Hadrian Villa. The garden planning and water features were imitated and had an enormous influence in the next two centuries on European landscape design.Tivoli Gardens with its impressive concentration of fountains, nymphs and grottoes is also the perfect spot in a hot Roman summer day.

Vatican museum

Coliseum and palatine hill