Points of Interest

  • Colosseum
  • Forum
  • St. Peter's Square and Basilica
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Shopping Opportunities, Includes meal, Strenuous activity

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Departing from Civitavecchia, your 90-minute motorcoach ride to the heart of Rome takes you through the glorious Roman countryside and along the Tyrrenian Sea. Once in the city, you'll walk to your first destination, the Vatican Museums.

A testament to the power of papal art patronage and curatorial talent, the Vatican Museums contain masterpieces of painting, sculpture and other works of art collected by the popes through the centuries. Walking through select portions of the museums with your knowledgeable guide, you'll marvel at the astonishingly rich collections and their significance throughout history.

You'll know immediately when you have reached the Sistine Chapel, because all eyes are gazing up at the heavenly ceiling and there is a powerful hush that descends as you enter. The famous Sistine ceiling depicts scenes from Genesis in dramatic and moving detail and Michelangelo's The Last Judgment on the chapel's end wall is striking and powerful. In addition to these famous artworks, the sidewalls are covered with important Renaissance frescoes of Moses, Christ and contemporary popes. But the Sistine Chapel is more than the sum of its artistic wonders; it is a symbolic statement of papal authority and the place in which papal elections in conclave are held to this day.

Your tour continues as you walk through the impressive St. Peter's Square. With its fountains and semicircular colonnades crowned with statues of the saints, the square perfectly frames the Basilica's entrance. The first church here was built by Constantine on the site where St. Peter was martyred and buried. Michelangelo deserves much of the credit for the massive reconstruction and his famous "Pieta" masterpiece is located inside. You'll have an opportunity to purchase religious articles and other mementos of this unforgettable and spiritual experience.

A stroll returns you to your motorcoach for a scenic drive to a 1st class hotel/restaurant for lunch. Aboard, you'll have a moment to relax, see the sights, and anticipate your sumptuous meal. A glass of Italian wine, sparkling mineral water and a traditional meal made with fresh, local ingredients is a welcome respite in your day.

Refreshed from lunch, you'll board your motorcoach and travel a short distance to one of the grandest of all Rome's monuments, the Colosseum, for a photo stop.

A 15-minute walk brings this iconic, imposing structure into view, and you are immediately taken back in time. The grandest amphitheaters ever built, no building in existence gives such an impression of imposing size. Be sure to photograph this awe-inspiring icon from several angles to truly capture its architectural significance. The Colosseum holds a special place in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, and on each Good Friday, the Pope leads a torch-lit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around it.

After the photo stop at the Colosseum, your tour concludes with a walk back to your motorcoach and a scenic return to Civitavecchia. Relaxing in the comfort of your motorcoach, you will leave the Eternal City but take a lifetime of memories home.

Special Notes:

This tour does not include the Colosseum inside visit.
This tour includes extensive walking on cobblestone surfaces as well as negotiating 250 steps while visiting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. This tour is not recommended for Guests on wheelchair and Guests with walking difficulties.

This tour is not available to passengers beginning or ending their voyage in Civitavecchia (Rome).

This tour does not operate on Sundays, public holidays and religious holidays due to the closure of the Vatican Museums, which houses the Sistine Chapel (It will be replaced by ROM010)

The drive between Civitavecchia and Rome is approximately 1 1/2 hours, subject to traffic conditions. Sightseeing in the Vatican City will be on foot as motorcoaches are not permitted in the vicinity. This tour involves a great amount of walking, therefore it is not recommended to Guests with walking difficulties or using wheelchairs. Guests must be able to negotiate the steps of the coach.

Proper attire that covers shoulders and legs must be worn by both men and women in the St. Peter's Basilica - mini-skirts, shorts and capri pants are not acceptable. Please note that for tour groups on visit to St. Peter's Basilica the use of headsets owned and provided by the site's management is compulsory. It is very important for guests to be aware that they will be responsible for the headset devices provided. The headsets company will charge Euro 50.00 for every missing device.

Visitors must pass through metal detectors at the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. Large bags or umbrellas, bottled water, video cameras, knives or scissors must be checked at the security check-points. Large back-packs or bags cannot be taken inside Vatican Museum. Flash photos are not permitted in the Vatican Museum. Photography and video are not permitted at all in the Sistine Chapel.

You might encounter considerable crowds, lines and delays at the venues. Should your guide determine that the queue at the St. Peter's Basilica security check point is longer than a 45-minute wait, they will forego the interior visit of the Basilica and provide you with a full explanation and description while outside. You will be provided more time during your shopping or free period to compensate for not entering the basilica. Please be aware that Basilica might close for security reason at any given time without previous notice; this is particularly the case on Wednesdays if the Pope chooses to hold mass services in St. Peter's Square, also in this case free time will be provided to compensate.

Tour groups are not allowed inside St. Peter's Basilica during religious services. However, entry will be allowed on an individual basis to view the interior quietly and reverently. Should a mass be taking place in St. Peter's Basilica, the entrance may be restricted. Please be aware that Basilica might close for security reason at any given time without previous notice.

Please be aware that ongoing restoration work is often being carried out at the various venues visited.

Tour order may vary but always covering the same sites

This tour uses headsets.

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.

Board motorcoach, drive to the Vatican Area

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
01:30
Air conditioned:
Yes
Wheelchair accessible:
No
Restroom available:
No

arrive at coach drop off point walk to Colosseum

Transport type:
Walking
Travel time:
00:15

Outside visit of Colosseum, Guides commentary & time for pictures

Transport type:
Walking
Time at site:
01:00
Inside visit:
No
Photo/video opportunity:
Yes

walk to motorcoach pick up point

Transport type:
Walking
Travel time:
00:15

drive back to Civitavecchia

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
01:30
Air conditioned:
Yes
Wheelchair accessible:
No
Restroom available:
No

Arrive at the Vatican Area, meet local english speaking guide and walk to the entrance of the Vatican Museums

Transport type:
Walking
Travel time:
00:15

Visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Transport type:
Walking
Time at site:
01:40
Inside visit:
Yes
Restroom available:
Yes
Photo/video restrictions:
Yes
Photo/video opportunity:
Yes

Proceed for St. Peter's Basilica & inside visit

Transport type:
Walking
Time at site:
00:50
Inside visit:
Yes

walk to St. Peter's square time for pictures

Transport type:
Walking
Time at site:
0030
Air conditioned:
No
Restroom available:
Yes
Photo/video restrictions:
Yes
Photo/video opportunity:
Yes

walk to motorcoach pick up point

Transport type:
Walking
Travel time:
00:15

Drive to lunch venue

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
00:30
Air conditioned:
Yes
Wheelchair accessible:
No
Restroom available:
No

arrive at Lunch venue, enjoy lunch

Time at site:
01:30
Wheelchair accessible:
No
Restroom available:
Yes

board motorcoach, drive to the Colosseum area

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
00:30
Air conditioned:
Yes
Wheelchair accessible:
No
Restroom available:
No