Descrizione
We suggest Rome & the Vatican Tour to enjoy the heart of Christianity area in just 2 hours. If you like to visit the Sistine Chapel or up the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, please inform us in order to buy tickets in advance and skip the line. With Rome & the Vatican Tour you will see all of following areas:
Rome & the Vatican Tour – St. Peter’s Basilica
Castel Sant’ Angelo : was built in A.D. 35 as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. Afterwards, it was used by Aurelian as a fortress. Residence, fortress, and mediaeval prison, it was embellish by Pope Alexander VI, by Pope Julius II, and by Pope Paul III. In 1277, the Vatican Corridor was built to link the Vatican Palace to the Castle, thus giving the Pope an eventual way to escape during the periods of political instability. Today, it houses an important Military Artistic Museum.
St. Peter’s Square : is the largest one of Rome (314 meters long), its centre is occupied by an Egyptian Obelisk 25 m high, and 2 fountains: by Maderno on the right and by Fontana on the left. The wonderful colonnade was made by Bernini in the middle of the 17th century and the facade was built by Maderno at the beginning of A.D. 1600.
St. Peter’s Basilica : was erected during the Constantine Empire, replacing the Nero Circus, where Peter, one of the apostles, was martyred and buried in A.D. 324. Before 1309, when the Pope moved to Avignone, the pontifical court was in St. John Lateran. In 1377, when the pontifical court came back to Rome, the Pope Nicholas V decided to rebuild a new Basilica, but the work was interrupted till 1503 when the Pope Julius II gave the project to Bramante. The best artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods worked on this project that lasted for more than 100 years. The Basilica is nowadays 187 m. long and 132 m. high and is the heart of Christianity. The Dome was finished by Della Porta following the original project of Michelangelo, who died before the end of the works. Thanks to a lift, we get to a terrace overhanging the central nave and 92 meters high. Here we find the stairs to the Loggia that surrounds the skylight. Photo: St. Peter’s Dome.
The Vatican Museums : are a group of palaces with about 10.000 rooms, galleries, libraries, halls, gardens, full of works of art of every kind. They include:
– Raphael’s Rooms : Raphael was introduced to the Pope Julius II by Bramante, and the Pope gave Raphael the project to paint several rooms of the Vatican apartment.
– The Sistine Chapel : in 1475 the Pope Sixtus IV decided to build the Sistine Chapel, an essential building, isolated from the other buildings and fortified. In 1483, the best painters of the Renaissance started working here. Perugino, Botticelli, and others, illustrated the Old and New Testaments. In 1508, the Pope Julius II ordered Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Chapel. He worked 3 years to paint a surface of 800 square meters, famous are the Episodes from Genesis. After 23 years, Michelangelo painted the Last Judgement fresco on the wall behind the altar.
The Vatican Wall : a look to all the Vatican Wall that separate Rome from Vatican, from piazza Risorgimento up to the helicopter airport used by the Pope when travelling in Italy.
Janiculum Hill : it is one of the 7 hills of Rome, and besides a wonderful view of Rome, you’ll also find the church of St. Peter in Montorio and Paola Fountain, built by Fontana and Maderno in 1611 restoring the old aqueduct constructed by Trajan in A.D. 109 to carry water from the Bracciano lake to Rome.
Rome & the Vatican Tour – Piazza Navona
The Pantheon : raised by M.V. Agrippa in 27 B.C., was dedicated to Mars and Venus. This Roman building has been restored over the centuries, thus leading to a modification of its original structure. Domitian restored it in A.D. 80. after a fire, and Hadrian did it some years later. It was closed by the first Christian Emperors, and then devoted to Virgin Mary and opened to the worship. It underwent through important restorations during the Renaissance. Amongst the tombs of great Italian artists that it houses we find that of Raphael, and that of Umberto I, King of Italy.
Piazza Navona : on its lengthened oval plant are placed 3 splendid fountains, amongst which Fountain of the Four Rivers, by Bernini. Piazza Navona was built on the Stadium Domitian ruins in A.D. 1650 and nowadays it is surrounded by Baroque buildings, such as: Palazzo Pamphili, present headquarters of the Brazilian Embassy, and Sant’ Agnese in Agone by Borromini.
Palazzo Altemps : the Palace was built near a once devoted to Apollo temple, and was to be the residence of the nephew of Pope Sisto IV. In 1570, it was restored by desire of its new owner, Cardinal Altemps. At the end of the 19th century, the Palace, property of the Vatican, was given to be used by the Pontificio Collegio Spagnolo (Spanish Pontifical College ). This lasted until 1982, when it was given to the Italian state. In 1997, it became a museum and today, houses one of the most interesting collections of Roman sculpture.
Rome & the Vatican Tour – Piazza di Spagna
Italian fashion is worldwide known as the best and the most popular shopping area in Rome is Via Condotti housing shops of Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and surrounding streets. If you have to spend in Rome only 2-3 hours or 1 week, in both cases never miss a visit to this area. This is the most fantastic area of Rome for shoppers and fashion lovers, and it is a great way to begin your sightseeing in Rome. Piazza di Spagna has been always crowded with rich tourists and artists since the 18th century. Today, it is one the most famous square over the world thanks to the “Italian Style”. A marvellous fountain, called “Barcaccia” (by Bernini), occupies the centre of the square. On the right, you’ll find the Keats Shelley Memorial House and on the left, Babington, one of the most exclusive Tea Rooms of Rome.
Up the stairs you will see the Hotel Hassler, is one of the best hotel of the city thanks to the view that can be enjoyed while having breakfast on its terrace. Near the hotel there is Trinità dei Monti, a small Gothic style church built in A.D. 1495. Due to the marvellous view of the square that it offers, this is one of the destinations preferred not only by tourists, but also by local people. Step down the Spanish Steps and in the square you can find Dior, Moncler, Missoni, D&G, Valentino, and more appreciated fashion designers.
At the end of Via Condotti, you will see the Fendi Palace, the storlle of one of the ancient fashion house of Rome. Going on Via di Fontanella Borghese you can have a look at the Rome Tod’s store.
Going to Via del Babuino, famous for Tiffany and shops specialized in selling antique carpets, paintings, and furniture (before buying, ask for a detailed description of the article you’re interested in) you will arrive in Piazza del Popolo, restored by Valadier in A.D. 1824 during the Napoleon era, preserving the already existing buildings. Here you’ll find two twin churches, St. Mary of Montesanto and St. Mary of the Miracles, and still another church, St. Maria del Popolo (considered to be a museum since it houses works of art by Raphael, Bernini, Pinturicchio, and Caravaggio).
After visiting the churches, go up to the terrace of the Pincio, the ideal place to have a rest, to enjoy a drink at Casina Valadier, and have a look at Villa Borghese, one of the biggest villas of the city, famous thanks to the spring equestrian event that takes place there. In the heart of the park, you’ll find Casino Borghese, built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early 17th century. Nowadays it houses the Museum and the Borghese Gallery.
Important streets start from Piazza del Popolo of great importance for all Romans: Via del Corso, and Via di Ripetta. Via del Corso, full of casual style shops, is the right place for young people in search of shopping and meeting people (especially on Saturdays).
Walking back towards Piazza Venezia, you will see Piazza Colonna, occupied by Palazzo Chigi (Government seat) and Montecitorio (Parliament seat). From here, it is easy to arrive to Piazza Sant’Ignazio, splendid square of the 18th century where you can have a dinner in a lovely restaurant.
Rome & the Vatican Tour – Fontana di Trevi
Trevi Fountain : designed by Nicola Salvi and finished in 1762. In its center, you can see Neptune surrounded by 2 newts symbolising the sea. As the tradition says, tourists today still throw coins into the most spectacular fountain of Rome. From here you can easily reach the Quirinal hill.
Piazza Venezia : the very heart of Rome. Its name comes from Palazzo Venezia built in 1455 by the Venetian Cardinal Paul II. You can see the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, built at the beginning of this century to celebrate the first King of Italy, is today the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Capitol : used for the triumphal processions during the Roman Empire, is presently the house of the Mayor. A big flight of steps lead to Piazza del Campidoglio, the first modern square, with a great terrace overlooking Rome. Michelangelo designed the best square in the world (as it was published by the New York Times) and, after his death, Della Porta continued the works which went on until 1654. Here you will find Palazzo dei Conservatori (Conservatories Palace, 1400), the Pinacoteca Capitolina and Museo Nuovo, whereas on the left, you will see Palazzo Nuovo (1600). There are antique sculptures of marble and bronze representing the history of the city: the Capitoline Wolf and the famous bronze Statue of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 80), the only surviving example of the many equestrian statues that adorned Rome. It used to stand in the centre of the square until 1980, when was moved to the Capitoline Museum. Today, in the centre of the square we find a perfect copy of it.
Participants
Minimum age: 14.
Duration
Two hour.
Availability
Rome & Vatican Tour is available from Monday to Saturday. Exclusions may apply. You must book the tour in advance, all bookings are subject to availability.
Language
The tour is in English and Italian. We can arrange a private tour with a guide in your language, just specify your language while contact us.
Cancellation
If you cancel the reservation 48 hour before the date of booked tour, you will be reimbursed.
The tour will start with a minimum of 2 people. In the event that the minimum of participants is not reached, we will inform you 24 hour in advance and will give money back.
You can change date and time without any additional costs 24 hour in advance.
The tour will start also if raining.
