|
DAY 11
ROME ORIENTATION CITY TOUR
OVERNIGHT IN ROME
It has been said that “All roads lead to Rome”, or as was written in 1175,
Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam (A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome).
Here is where Nero fiddled, where Mark Anthony praised Caesar and where Charlemagne was crowned
Holy Roman Emperor.
Roman civilization was, together with that of Greece, the ancient cradle of Western
Civilization. Rome has more masterpieces per square foot than any other place on earth.
According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by the twin-brother kings,
Romulus
and Remus , and has been continuously inhabited since.
Traditionally Rome is said to be founded on
seven hills. The
Palatine Hill (Palatium) is the central hill and where the city of Rome
was founded by Romulus, according to legend.
Highlights of our afternoon
Classical Rome city orientation tour include seeing the Roman Forum and Coliseum and
the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus.
Situated between the Palatine,
Capitoline,
Viminal and Quirinal hills, the Forum
was from earliest times a meeting place for the citizens, a center of business and public
functions.
The Coliseum could hold 50,000 spectators to witness gladitorial combats
or chariot races.
DAY 12 / THURSDAY / NOVEMBER 13
DAY FREE IN “THE ETERNAL CITY”
OVERNIGHT IN ROME
Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
©2009 Photo by Michael Reed ~ Creative World Travel
Today is free for last-minute shopping and sightseeing on your own, through the oldest part of Rome with its narrow streets, which can
only be done on foot.
Be sure to visit
the Trevi Fountain .
Not far away are
the Pantheon and
Piazza Navona with its famous fountains.
Another must-see is Il Vittoriano, the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, also called
Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland). It is worth climbing the huge staircase to the
top for the excellent views.
Also worth visiting are the two free museums in the monument. One is the
The Central Museum of the Risorgimento at the Vittoriano, an historical display of the period of
Italian unification. The other offers art exhibits.
Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) at Piazza Navona
©2005 Photo by Michael Reed ~ Creative World Travel
DAY 13 / FRIDAY / NOVEMBER 14
VISIT TO ST. PETER'S AND VATICAN CITY
OVERNIGHT IN ROME
This morning we take those who would like to visit Vatican City, a state and a city
all in one, whose sovereign is the Pope, Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic
Church. (Cost is $60.00 per person.)
St. Peter’s is the largest church in the world and the most overwhelming architectural
achievement of the Renaissance. Inside is the Chapel of the Pietà, with its famous
Michelangelo statue of the dead body of Christ lying in the lap of his Mother.
In and around St. Peter’s Square are the Swiss Guards, young Roman Catholic citizens of
Switzerland wearing Renaissance-style uniforms of the Medici Popes.
DAY 14 / SATURDAY / NOVEMBER 15
RETURN TO USA
(If you want to see more of Rome or would like to venture off on your own to explore other
parts of Italy, you may extend your stay.)
|
