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Walking Key
Light = Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate = Four to six miles and/or up and down hills and/or some stairs.
Strenuous = Six to ten miles, lots of stairs, uneven terrain.
Best of Rome in 7 Days
$1,795 + air • 22-26 people • Begins and ends in Rome
With a week to peel and sort through Rome's many fascinating layers, this Eternal City is a joy.
You'll resurrect the ruins of the ancient Forum and gain an inkling of the grandeur of ancient Rome in the Pantheon. You'll carbonate your soul in St. Peter's, and marvel at Michelangelo's colorful genius in the Sistine Chapel.
When the sun sets, the winding streets will draw you into a cultural scavenger hunt, where you dodge dripping laundry, alley cats, kids on Vespas, and gelaterias that spill out into the street — ending with a memorable dinner from your guide's list of prized trattorias.
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Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 0: Depart USA
Remember, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the USA.
Day 1: Welcome to Rome
We'll get together for introductions around 3 p.m., take a walk through the neighborhood, and have a city orientation, followed by dinner together. Walking: moderate.
Day 2: A Walk through Caesar's Rome
This morning we'll focus on the heart and soul of ancient Rome: the Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon. After this busy morning, your guide will orient you to lunch options and afternoon activities before setting you free, so you can wander through the nearby Palatine ruins, St. Peter-in-Chains church, Mamertine Prison — or simply relax at a sidewalk café with a foamy cappuccino. The evening and dinner are on your own. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Renaissance Rome
We'll spend much of the day on the other side of the river Tiber, where the Vatican City beckons. We'll see the treasures of the Vatican Museum, including the sublime Sistine Chapel, and the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, with Michelangelo's moving Pietà and Bernini's amazing, seven-story bronze canopy. You'll have free time to explore the crypt or climb the dome for a fantastic vista. We'll meet in the early evening for dinner and a la dolce vita stroll (stopping to throw a few coins in the magical Trevi Fountain), as we enjoy the evening excitement that surrounds the Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Navona. Walking: strenuous.
Day 4: Italian Treats and Free Time
Your guide will come up with something delightfully different for this morning's sightseeing. Then you'll be treated to a cooking demonstration and a delectable lunch. You'll have the rest of the day free to make your own Roman discoveries. Walking: strenuous.
Day 5: Roman Ruins of Ostia Antica
Today we'll gain a new perspective on this ancient city. We'll tour the ancient Mediterranean seaport of Ostia Antica before returning to the city along the historic Appian Way. Your dinner and evening are on your own. Bus: 3 hrs.Walking: moderate.
Day 6: Rome's Baroque Treasures
We'll begin with a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery, filled with Bernini's beautifully Baroque sculpture and other masterpieces. Then you'll have the afternoon free to spend in the surrounding park, ramble through more ruins, or do some shopping. Tonight we'll meet for our own "Last Supper" and toast this magnificent city. Salute! Walking: moderate.
Day 7: Tour over after breakfast
This morning we'll say our final farewells and head for home or further adventures in Italia. Arrivederci, Roma!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
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Recommended reading and viewing list for this tour
Favorite tour memories from a recent alum:
"I was somewhat prepared for the ruins, the fountains, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's. What caught me totally by surprise was the flawless beauty of the statuary and artwork at the Galleria Borghese…Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpine, David...oh, to be there again. Our guide was outstanding — more host than guide: well-organized, intelligent, kind of heart, enthusiastic, and playful of spirit. He seemed to truly enjoy watching us discover all that is Rome."
— Dorothy in Seattle, WA
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