Sightseeing Tour of Rome (FDSE)
- Sightseeing Tour of Rome -
The sightseeing tour of Rome will take you for a visit to the city that is also known, with good reason, as the Eternal City, since its foundation is traditionally dated as far back as 753 B.C. Its founders, Romulus and Remus, were, according to legend, the sons of the Roman god of war Mars, and Rhea Silvia, a Vestal Virgin priestess; they were also said to be descendants of Aeneas, the Trojan hero. In actual fact what started off as a village of shepherds and small farmers in time became the capital of the most powerful and civilized empire of antiquity, matching in size the dimensions of the U.S.A. Obviously, a sightseeing tour of Rome can only start from the Colosseum, the best known symbol of Rome all over the world. The mere name is enough to call to mind scenes of life-or-death fights between gladiators, bloody battles between men and wild animals, mock sea battles and Christians being put to death, all this amid the enthusiasm of the crowd. However, this awesome structure also highlights the different attitude introduced by Christianity into the social life of the Romans who gradually came to adopt the new religion, which spread to the rest of the Western world. And the Colosseum, with the crosses placed in the arena, has become a testimony to Christian faith and its martyrs. Not far from the Colosseum, you will be shown the surviving remains of the Forum. In ancient Rome this was a market place, but its importance in the city's life was enormous because people would go there also to discuss politics as well as other matters of public interest. Nearby stands the Pantheon, originally a pagan temple, later converted into a Church, then used as the tomb of great Italian artists, like Raphael, and finally as burial place of Italian monarchs. The continued use of the Pantheon through the ages has contributed to its preservation so that it has come down to us pretty well as it was originally. Its stately and dignified appearance has inspired the design of many famous buildings throughout the world, such as the Jefferson Memorial, in Washington, D.C. As your sightseeing tour of Rome moves on, you will reach Piazza Navona, known for its perfect Baroque style as much as for the rivalry existing between Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed the Fountain of the Four Rivers and Francesco Borromini, who built the opposite Church of SantAgnese in Agone. According to a popular story, the statue of Rio de la Plata seems to be stretching out its arm as if to protect itself from the collapse of the Church, while the Nile covers its eyes that cannot stand the sight of the horrible Church facing the Fountain. There is not an ounce of truth in the story, of course, since the Fountain was built before the Church, but the story is part of the legends that have grown over time in this fascinating city, where charm, tradition, popular beliefs and teeming multitudes of Romans and visitors mix naturally to form a unique blend of history and modernity, unmatched in any other city. Speaking of fountains, what is the most popular one in Rome? Trevi Fountain, of course. And that is where your sightseeing tour of Rome will go next. Do you recall the scene in Federico Fellinis 1960 movie La Dolce Vita in which Anita Ekberg walks into a fountain? Well, this is the fountain - which, incidentally, has been the setting of many other movies and the subject of various songs (remember Three Coins in the Fountain?). Piazza di Spagna, the square at the bottom of the Spanish Steps leading down from the Church of Trinita' dei Monti, is another tourist favourite. The same applies to this square as to Trevi Fountain, or indeed to a number of places in Rome: when you get to see them, they look familiar, somehow; thats because you have seen them in so many movies that they have stuck in your memory. The charm of its Baroque style defies description, but has an enormous appeal on anyone seeing the square for the first time. Bocca della Verita', or Mouth of the Truth, is a must for any tourist visiting Rome. Put your hand inside that Mouth and..dont imitate Gregory Peck who, while they were shooting the movie Roman Holiday, pretended he had lost his hand in the Mouth and for a second gave Audrey Hepburn a terrible shock, followed by a great laugh! The sightseeing tour of Rome is now about to begin its second part, the tour of the Vatican. Here you will visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums , housing an excellent collection of antiquities from Egyptian times onwards, including Greek and Roman artworks and Renaissance masterpieces. Passing on to the Sistine Chapel you will be able to admire Michelangelo's astonishing fresco of the Last Judgment, a striking example of the genius of this unsurpassed Renaissance artist. And, as a fitting conclusion of this magic tour, you will be driven up Janiculum Hill to enjoy the glorious panorama of the city ..at your feet.
Roadbook for shore excursion
You will be picked up at your ship's gangway by an English-speaking driver-guide who will take you for a sightseeing tour of Rome, which will comprise two different parts, reflecting the history of the Eternal City. It will begin from the very heart of Ancient Rome. The visit will include all the celebrated buildings and monuments of the Ancient City and the most famous sights of Rome. The sightseeing tour of Rome will then move on to the Vatican, where you will visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Your driver-guide will also accompany you during your visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel since he is a fully qualified and licensed guide to the Museums. At your request we shall make arrangements for your lunch at some time during your tour.
Note: full-day shore excursion (FDSE) will normally last 9 hours, inclusive of travelling time to and from your ship.
Kindly note also that, in order to ensure that you bypass tiring and time-consuming lines and the tour takes place as described above and within the ordinary time limits, it would be essential for you to obtain admission tickets to the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums in advance. We shall of course gladly make arrangements on your behalf to this effect.
Sightseeing Tour of Rome - by Cristiano Rubbi for Nice & Easy Travel - Shore Excursions
picture for Nice & Easy Travel - Sightseeing Tour of Rome
Reservations
In order to request us to make reservations you must fill out the registration and the booking page of the tour or services selected on the website.
In the event of customized tours or additional services not shown on the website, you should send an email to
info@niceandeasytravel.it specifying your requirements. We shall promptly revert to you. In any case we would also welcome your registration on the website for the proper exchange of information and to facilitate our task in meeting your request.
Payments
Full payment for the services contracted is due 45 days prior to commencement of the tour. Reservations made less than 45 days from the commencement of the tour are subject to an additional fee of Euro 30,00 per person, unless specific arrangements are made with our Company's management and confirmed by an e-mail.
Mode of Payment
Payment can be made by Wire Transfer to our bank or by credit card. We accept American Express, Master and Visa Credit cards. In case of payment by credit card you are required to print, fill out, sign and fax back one of the 2 formats shown below. In case of late payment or payment of additional services required and agreed with the Company, the payment can be made in cash, travelers cheques or by credit cards.
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We are listing below some examples of the Shore Excursions, Tours and Blue Lining offered by our Company. To find out the full list of those available, please go to the "choose boxes" beneath the three respective headings.