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1. National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia:
In this impressive Renaissance villa rests delicate and intriguing artifacts from the earliest inhabitants of the land stretching between the Tiber River and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Etruscan Museum houses one of the most complete collections offering a look into the world that existed centuries before Christ, the Caesars, and the republic of Rome. Built between 1550 and 1555 for Pope Julius III, Villa Giulia holds artifacts from Rome’s early history that began in the southern Eturia area of the region of Lazio. The Etruscans inhabited the area from the 8th century BC, leaving behind a trove of bronze, gold foil and terracotta treasures. One of the museum’s most famous residents is the bronze statue of the god Apollo, recently restored to reveal its intricate design that was originally crafted in the 4th century BC along with other figures of the gods that once stood on Mt. Veio. The museum’s collections cover different eras and civilizations, from Greek, Phoenician, and Falsican to medieval and Renaissance periods. The villa’s grounds- with beautiful gardens and courtyards- also houses a reconstructed Etruscan temple, and beneath the museum lies underground coves built as a nymphaeum, and the remains of the Vergine aqueduct that courses below Rome.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour availability: any day except Monday
Admission: 4 Euro.
2. National Museum of Rome: Palazzo Massimo
Here we will take a voyage through the history and art of the city in a museum whose collection is unrivaled in Rome. One of the three facilities of the National Museum of Rome, the Palazzo Massimo houses vivid depictions of ancient life as chronicled in the frescoes taken from such noble houses as that of Livia, the wife of the emperor Augustus. These incredibly well-preserved frescoes from the 1st century B.C. capture an ancient paradise filled with a variety of trees blooming with fruit and flowers and surrounded by delicate species of birds. The collection also includes other diverse artistic and archeological treasures: obscure and grand paintings from the Villa della Farnesina; a sarcophagus of a mummified child who died in the 1st century, buried along with toys like a small wooden doll, perhaps to lessen the sadness of his premature passage to the next world; an intriguing collection of jewelry made of gold and precious stones which once adorned Rome’s noble socialites; the famous statue of the emperor Augustus dressed as the Pontifex Maximus, representing himself as officiating a sacred religious rite; and famous statues and sculptures such as the bronze statue of Dionysus and a 2nd century reproduction of the Greek bronze discus thrower originally from the 5th century B.C., allowing us to admire the perfect beauty of classic Greek works which often were reproduced to decorate the homes of ancient Romans. A rich coin collection with extremely rare pieces, such as the medallion of Theodoric, the silver plasters of the Pontifical State with views of Rome and the four ducats of Pope Paul II, are also on display, completing our view of the luxury and beauty that abounded in the Roman world.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour availability: any day except Monday
Admission: 6.50 Euro.
3. Castel Sant’Angelo:
Originally built as a mausoleum for the emperor Hadrian in 139 AD, Castel Sant’Angelo looms above the river Tiber and imposes itself on the city skyline as a Titan. The remains of successive emperors joined Hadrian's until the massive tomb was converted into a defense fortress in 271 AD by the emperor Aurelian. In the Middle Ages, the fortress was connected by an underground passageway to the Vatican, which was used as an escape route when the ruling popes were under siege. On this tour, we will explore the castle’s winding ramps, papal apartments, terraces and clandestine corridors that were transformed into a prison and torture facility for several centuries. Working our way to the top of the castle, we will stand in the shadow of the Archangel Michael, who guards over the riverside fortress and the expanse of the city below. From this perch, we will see one of the loveliest panoramas of Rome, including the view down to the “bridge of Angels,” the Bernini designed bridge over the Tevere with his graceful sculptures of angels holding symbols of the passion of Christ.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour availability: Any day except Monday
Admission: 7 Euro.
4. St. Peter in Chains:
In this one location we will find one of the greatest masterpieces of a great sculptor as well as one of the treasured religious relics of early Christianity. Built in the 5th century, The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) houses Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of Moses, which was designed for the tomb of Pope Julius II as a part of a series of other figures that were never completed. It is considered one of the world’s greatest works of art, an intricately imposing figure that some consider to be unrivaled in beauty. Just next to the Moses, incased beneath the basilica’s altar, lies the chains that bound the first pope and founder of the Catholic Church, St. Peter. Brought from Jerusalem by the wife of Emporer Teodosio II in the 5th Century, the chains are believed to held the apostle during his imprisonment there during the time when Catholics were prosecuted for practicing the religion. The basilica was built as a sacred site to house the chains, and was dedicated to the famous apostle in the year 442. We will also admire the medieval frescoes that adorn the vaulted ceilings, added in the 17th and 18th centuries, making this basilica one of the world’s most artistically and spiritually significant in the world.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: 60 Euro
Tour Availability: Everyday
No admission fees
5. Mamertine Prison/Trajan’s Markets:
Our tour of the Mamertine prision, located on the vast grounds of the Roman Forum, will venture beneath the Church of San Giuseppe to the subterranean cells that once held political dissidents, criminals, and- most famously- St. Peter. According to legend, the Apostle Peter was imprisoned here before he was martyred at a site across the river Tiber where now lies St. Peter’s Basilica. Built in the 7th century BC, the underground prison- a collection of cells and with a dungeon-like feel, was incorporated into the above Church of San Giuseppe in 1597 and consecrated in 1726 by Pope Benedict the XII. In 1842, a bas-relief was added depicted the legendary baptism of two prison guards by St. Peter using water from a spring that miraculously appeared in his cell. From here, we will cross the Foro Imperiale to the Mercati di Traino, or Trajan’s Markets. This vast complex built between the years 94 and 113 was a bustling commercial center for traders, carrying everything from exotic fabrics and spices from the east to local produce and wares. Built under the Emperor Trajan, the markets held more than 150 shops, as well as libraries, temples and offices, all of which are remarkably well-preserved in this sprawling complex. A precursor to today’s modern malls, Trajan’s Markets inspire the mind to imagine everyday life in the ancient city.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour Availability: Any day except Monday
Admission: 3.50 Euro
6. Baths of Caracalla:
Built in the early 3rd century and named after the emperor Caracalla, this was once a sprawling center for leisure and licentiousness, complete with gymnasiums, libraries, gardens, art galleries, restaurants- even brothels. The 27 acres of baths, both subterranean and outdoor, welcomed more than 1,600 bathers at a time. Visitors could swim, take massages, read in the libraries or simply admire the beautiful grounds adorned with impressive sculptures such as the massive Farnese Bull and Farnese Hercules. The skeletal remains of this massive complex still offers a vivid glimpse into recreational life in the earliest days of the republic. Located on the periphery of ancient Rome, close to Circus Maximus, our tour of the Baths of Caracalla is a perfect supplement to tours of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, completing a full picture of ancient Roman society.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: 60 Euro
Tour Availability: Everyday
Admission: 5 Euro
7. Trastevere & Janiculum:
Just over the Tiber river from the historic center lies the quaint community of Trastevere. Here, among the narrow streets characteristically adorned with clotheslines and cascading greenery from tiny balconies, we will explore one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Historically home to foreigners living in Rome- from Cleopatra to Napoleon’s mother- Trastevere is a community forged by the influences of Etruscan, Syrian, Jewish, and working-class artisans. Despite its long history, the neighborhood is mostly known for its Medieval legacy, as can be seen in the lovely mosaics of the main church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. First built in the 4th century, the current structure was rebuilt in a Romanesque style the 1100s and is believed to be the oldest basilica in Rome dedicated entirely to the Virgin Mary, as evidenced by the 12th century mosaic of the Virgin feeding the baby Jesus that glistens in gilded tiles across the façade. We will also stroll along the Via della Lungara, which boasts some Rome's most splendid palaces, such as the Villa Farnesina with frescoes of Raphael, the 15th century Palazzo Corsini- once home to Queen Christina of Sweden, and the lush Botanical Gardens. Above Trastevere sits one of the seven hills upon which Rome was founded: Janiculum. A lovely stroll along a winding, tree-filled road, and past a beautiful Baroque fountain will lead us to one of the most amazing views of the city. Among the serene trees and elegant statues, we will admire the expanse of Rome stretching out beneath us.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour Availability: Everyday
No admission fees
8. The Aventine Hill
The Aventine Hill is one of the seven mythic hills upon which Rome was built, separated from the Palatine hill by the valley of Circus Maximus. In the time of the republic, this was the gathering place of everyday Romans who held grand sacrifices to the goddess Diana near the large temple dedicated to her on the hill’s summit. We will stroll up to the beautiful “Parco degli Aranci,” or park of the oranges, situated on the hilltop where lies an ancient medieval fortress, once the home of the Savelli family. The splendid trees, the ancient walls and the panoramic view of the Tiber river and of the entire city expanding across to the Janiculum hill and the dome of St. Peter’s makes this one of the most magical and enchanting locations in Rome. We continue on to the Church of Santa Sabina, one of the most beautiful basilicas from the early origins of Christianity in Rome, dating back to the beginning of the 5th century. The church has a unique entrance door constructed in cypress wood from the 5th century and on which are carved stories from the old and new testament of the bible. Inside the church is the cell where Domenico da Guzman, the founder of the Domincan order of monks, was once held and where in the the garden he planted an orange tree brought from Spain. After exploring the nearby Church of Sant’Alessio, dating back to the 4th century BC, we will visit the intriguing Villa of the Knights of Malta. It includes the monastery that in the 12th century belonged to the Knights Templar, the famous order of warrior monks charged with defending Christianity against the Muslims. A curiosity visited by all Romans is a hole in the large door to the villa where one can see the dome of Saint Peter’s magically framed by the hedges of the garden.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: 120 Euro
Tour Availability: Everyday
No admission fees
9. Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Farnese and Palazzo Spada
Campo dei Fiori, with its influences and heritage from the various periods of Roman history, can be one of the most magical locations in the city. While today it is known for its vibrant fresh produce market by day and lively bar scene by night, it was first built as the theater of Pompeo in the 1st Century BC. It was also once home to a temple dedicated to the goddess Venus during the pagan days of the Roman empire, though after the empire’s fall the abandoned area was little more than a vast field, lending to its current name, “field of flowers.” By the late Medieval period, commerce bloomed in the field as well, as merchants and proprietors turned it into a bustling marketplace and popular hotel zone for the flux of pilgrims who often traversed the nearby avenue, Via del Pellegrino (Avenue of the Pilgrims), which once was the main passageway to St. Peter’s Basilica. The piazza was also home to courtesans such as Vannozza Cattanei, the lover of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia who became Pope Alessandro VI. Unfortunately, however, the bustling square was known for more than just the business of trade and affairs of the heart; for centuries it was also a theater of death. Among throngs of on-lookers, torture, corporal punishment and capital executions were conducted here against enemies of the state- those whose ideas or actions were against the political powers of the day. While these public reprisals ended, the square continued to be a social and commercial haven, and today the piazza is a perfect location to stroll among the picturesque colors of the morning market, filled with fruit, vegetables and aromatic flowers, or to enjoy a good glass of wine and watch the Roman night action with friends. Less bustling and perhaps even more beautiful is the nearby Piazza Farnese, where sits a splendid Renaissance palace built in the 16th century for the cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who became Pope Paul III. Influenced by Michelangelo, the palace and surrounding piazza is known for its two beautiful fountains whose 3rd century marble tubs were taken from the ancient Baths of Caracalla. More beauty abounds in this area of the city at the Palazzo Spada, a sumptuous gallery designed by the great Borromini, a genius of Baroque architecture and rival of the famous Bernini.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: 60 Euro
Tour Availability: Everyday
No admission fees
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