Group: Best of Rome with Colosseum and Gelato

About the Tour:

Great for history buffs and those with limited sightseeing time, this tour lets you take in many of Rome’s major historical sites in a single day. Your small group (with a maximum of 25 people) will explore the fascinating, iconic Colosseum, as well as the still-grand ruined temples, palaces, and Senate House of Palatine Hill. You’ll also take in several more central city highlights—The Pantheon, The Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain—which sit amid bustling modern shops and cafés. Guiding you will be an English-speaking history expert, whose knowledge will bring these ancient attractions to vivid life.

What We Love About This Tour:

• Delving into the fascinating—and bloody—history of The Colosseum, the iconic amphitheater of ancient Rome 
  
• Wandering among the ruined emperors’ palaces and still-blooming gardens of Palatine Hill, the oldest of the Seven Hills of Rome 
  
• Gazing up at the open dome of The Pantheon—which is still considered an architectural marvel today
• Posing for pictures at two of the most-photographed sites in Rome: the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain
  
• Skipping entry queues to spend more time sightseeing 

“This tour was one that we were particularly looking forward to since we had wanted to see the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon—and
it didn't disappoint. Our guide was fantastic; she was extremely knowledgeable about the stops we made but also gave a really interesting talk about Rome while we were walking from stop to stop. She didn't hurry us, she gave us extra information and little stops along the way to the scheduled destinations, and she allowed us plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy the points of interest.”

- Nadine, February 2016

Tour Itinerary:

After meeting at the Colosseo metro stop, your group will head straight to The Colosseum: the extraordinary amphitheater that was
ancient Rome’s center of public entertainment. Gladiatorial clashes, wild-animal fights, and mock-naval battles were once staged here; and today, you can still see remnants of the seating arcades that once fit 50,000 spectators, and the staging areas where the brutal spectacles took place. 

The onetime cultural, economic, and political center of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum still retains its grandeur today. You’ll walk along the Via Sacra, a path once lined with bustling market stalls, tracing the paths of ancient military processions and political rallies. You’ll also see important sites like the Temple of Julius Caesar (which still contains the altar where the emperor’s body was ceremonially burned), and the Curia Julia—the still-intact Senate House where Cicero and Mark Antony once orated.

Stop 3: Palatine Hill

According to legend, the twins Romulus and Remus first decided to begin building the city of Rome atop this impressive hill (the most famous of the city’s Seven Hills). Here, you’ll get to walk among ruined emperors’ palaces, and the still-verdant plantings of the Farnese Garden (one of Europe’s first botanical gardens). You’ll also enjoy the hill’s sweeping views over the nearby Forum, Colosseum, and Circus Maximus (a grand sporting arena where chariot races were held).

Stop 4: The Spanish Steps

After an extended lunch break (during which you are free to relax on your own), you’ll meet up again with your group for a walk to the best people-watching destination in Rome: the Scalina Spagna, better known as the Spanish Steps. This broad, trisected staircase, which leads from the Piazza di Spagna (below) to the Piazza Trinita dei Monti, has been a gathering place for street artists, musicians, and visiting crowds since the 18th century.

Stop 5: Trevi Fountain

This massive, 18th-century Baroque fountain is the largest in Rome—and it gushes such an enormous volume of water that you’ll likely hear it from a block away as you approach. Once there, you can join the throngs of visitors admiring its grand travertine façade, its sprawling aquamarine pool, and its marble statues of Oceanus and his Tritons. You can pose for photos, or just pretend you’re in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Stop 6: The Pantheon

When Michelangelo first saw this magnificent temple, he reportedly described it as appearing to be the work of angels. You’ll discover this sense of wonder yourself as you wander between its soaring Corinthian columns and beneath its stupendous, oculus-topped dome. Though nearly 2,000 years old, the structure is still the best-preserved remnant of ancient Rome.

Your tour finishes at one of Rome’s most famous, and beautiful piazzas: Piazza Navona. A sweeping, oval-shaped square that’s
anchored by three historic fountains (including the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or Fountain of the Four Rivers), it’s also a hub of nightlife for the modern city.

What’s Included:

• All entry fees
• Special Skip-the-Line access
• Headsets that insure you always hear your guide
• Coffee or gelato at a traditional café

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Gratuities

• Please be sure to arrive at the tour departure point 15 minutes before the starting time. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets will not be refunded.
  
• Unfortunately, wheelchairs and strollers cannot be accommodated on this tour.
  
• Please note that one or more sites on this tour may occasionally experience last-minute, unforeseen closures. If this
  occurs, your group will instead be treated to alternate arrangements. Tour refunds or discounts will not be provided.

Important to Bring:

• A small purse or camera bag only (no backpacks or large shoulder bags). Security checks at some sites restrict the size of bags that can be brought inside. 
• Good walking shoes. The tour includes several sets of stairs.
  
• A hat, sunscreen, and bottled water. Many parts of the itinerary are not shaded.