DEBARK: Best of Rome for Small Groups with City Center Drop Off

9 hours | Rome (Civitavecchia) | ROM-985
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$ 279.95
Medical restriction (See special notes)
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Points of Interest

  • Colosseum
  • Forum
  • St. Peter's Square and Basilica
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
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 drop off at Ostiense Station from where you may continue your onward journey. Relaxing in the comfort of your motorcoach, you will leave the Eternal City but take a lifetime of memories home.

Special Notes:

· Tour is valid only to passengers disembarking in Civitavecchia. The tour ends at Ostiense Station.

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 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

The tour uses headsets.

Your luggage will travel with you onboard the bus.

Medical Restriction:

This tour is not recommended to Guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. Guests must be able to negotiate the steps of the coach. Guests needing "special assistance" must be accompanied by an able bodied companion. Inside Vatican Museum & St. Peter's Basilica there is an itinerary dedicated to visitors on a wheelchair. Since this route is not the same used by groups, guests using a wheelchair will be on their own and miss large part of guide's commentary. This tour includes extensive walking on cobblestone surfaces as well as negotiating 250 steps while visiting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica.

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.

Depart from ship for a guided tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
04:15

walk to St. Peter's Square. Free time for shopping in St. Peter's Square

Time at site:
00:45

Drive to a local first class hotel restaurant and enjoy lunch

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
02:00

drive to the Colosseum and outside visit

Transport type:
Air Conditioned Motorcoach
Travel time:
01:30

walk to the coach pick up point, Re-board your motorcoach and drive to a central drop off point location

Travel time:
00:30