Rome Shore Excursions

Rome Tours From Cruise Ships – How to Tour Rome Italy in 1 Day ! Most cruise ships which make a port call at Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, remain in port for one day only. Passengers on ships must make decisions. Should you:

• Take the cruise line shore excursion of Rome
  • Which cruise line tour itinerary?
  • How much for a group shore excursion in Rome?
• Engage a private shore excursion of Rome
  • Which private Rome tour company?
  • How much will I pay for a Private shore excursion of Rome?

Before you make any decisions you should know the following:

1. Civitavecchia is 1+ hour by auto, from Rome. (depending on traffic)
2. Private tours with 12 persons+ may be cheaper than group tours
   • Will cruise line group tours of Rome definitely be cheaper?
     • No.

How much can I realistically see in on a 1 day Rome shore excursion?

• You can get a broad overview of Ancient Rome and the Vatican or
  • You can see one theme of Rome thoroughly. Examples:Ancient Rome – Your 1 day shore excursion could include:
    • Roman Forum
    • Colosseum
    • Pantheon
    • Piazza Navona
  • Vatican City
    • Vatican City
    • Vatican Museums
    • St. Peter’s Basillica
    • Pantheon
    • Piazza Navona
  • Art Tour of Rome
    • Borghese Gallery
    • Santa Maria Del Popolo
      • 2 paintings by Caravaggio
    • Drive by of the Colosseum & Fourm (OR)
    • Palazzo Barbarini
      • Home to 2 Caravaggio paintings
      • Hans Holbein of Henry VIII
      • La Fornarina – Raphael
      • Bernini’s – “David”

If you want a private shore excursion of Rome, how much? There are 3 costs:

• Guide
• Vehicle
• Entrance fees

A full day private tour of Rome will cost approximately $1,100+ for 2 persons or about $100 per person for groups of 12+. Will I be able to select my itinerary if I engage a private tour of Rome?

• Absolutely

MyRomeTourGuide.com is a USA company. Call or email to speak to a Rome tour planner who knows Rome and has been there many times. We listen to you and create an itinerary which is perfect for your interests and budget. Enjoy your day in Rome the way you want. You will have a much better experience if you decide on your goals and choose the path which will best achieve them. We can help and are at your service. You can also see some of our articles on Rome here.

A “Not So” ancient sight in your guided tour of Rome

  CONTROVERSIAL MONUMENT WITH A STUNNING VIEW

Victor Emmanuel Monument in Piazza Venezia

We all know that humans are attracted to action and controversy by nature. So why wouldnt you want to go to one of the most controversial and beautiful sites in Rome?

The Victor Emmanuel Monument in Piazza Venezia has a reputation of stunning crowds, but also has many arguments built into its beauty.

When built in 1911 in honor of the first king of unified Italy, the citizens of Rome were horrified by its size and shape. Not to mention the color of the snow white Botticino marble did not blend at all with the ochre or Terra di Siena hue with which so many historic buildings are plastered. But, over time, many people learned to love it and now it has turned into an outstanding sight for tourists.

Thanks to the former Italian President, Mr. Ciampi, the Victor Emmanuel Monument was recently opened to the larger public. Tourists can now:

• Enjoy art exhibitions around and inside the monument
• Learn about the history of Italy starting with the year of its unification in 1861
• Obtain breath-taking views of Rome
• See the Tomb of the Italian Unknown Soldier

Inside the monument, after scrambling through a maze of rooms and climbing many marble stairs, an upper terrace shows a nice view of the city. Using a glass elevator (close you eyes if youre afraid of heights!), whether you enjoyed your visit to monument or not, the ascent to the very top level is an absolute must. Words cannot even begin describe the jaw dropping beauty of the spectacular view. Be ready to embrace the effects of Stendhal Syndrome, though, for a panoramic view can be obtained simply by rotating 360 degrees!

While the visit of the memorial is free of charge, a fee is applied for the use of the elevator. Senior citizens are granted a reduced fee.

So make your mental note: as part of your Classical Rome Tour plan a visit to the Victor Emmanuel Monument. Dont worry, the controversy is over, but the Victor Emmanuel Monument – Part of a Tour of Rome in English

Your Rome Tour Supervisor and Guide, Gabriella – Private guided tours of Rome in English are our specialty!

We can assist with tour planning for a Rome vacation. Classical Rome tours (Ancient Rome Tour) are some of the most popular walking tours of Rome.

We suggest that you might want to include a walking tour of Rome, which includes the Victor Emmanuel Monument in Piazza Venezia and Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, to precede or follow your Classical Rome walking tour.

We are happy to make your tour planning for a Rome vacation easy. Just tell us your interests and we will create a tour of Rome just for you.  

Rome Site Seeing – Don’t Forget the Bridges

  Touring Rome –Rome Site Seeing to Include the Ancient Bridges

Tours of Rome are only successful if you can remember them. Visits which are the most memorable are the ones which you can see AND touch. Bridges, in addition to being vital can also tell a story.

Only four ancient bridges that cross the Tiber River have survived the centuries in Rome- three of which can be easily admired during normal Rome shore excursions. However, the fourth is more out of sight and requires a specific ride to see it. This bridge is the Ponte Milvio or Milvian Bridge in the northern part of the city, not too far from the Vatican area. All four bridges can be crossed on foot and it is a unique experience not to be missed during your classical Rome tour.

The Milvian Bridge is usually connected with the famous battle of Constantine against his rival Maxentius, which is so superbly illustrated by Raphael in the Stanze at the Vatican. Constantine is the emperor who gave the Christians freedom of religious expression. This battle was a turning point in Roman history when Constantine, in his fight to gain leadership, had the vision of the flaming cross in the sky on the eve of the battle. This cross is said to have helped him come out of the fight victorious and firmly rooted in his well deserved stand.

Astrologists have indicated that the day of the alleged vision, the stars were positioned in a manner that may have connected larger stars so “Chi-ro” (the first two letters of the word Christ in the Greek language) could have been clearly read.

On a more romantic note, the bridge has recently been chosen by lovers as a favorite place to declare their love by locking their names and the date into a locket. Many citizens, though, did not like the idea and these lockets have been sadly removed by the city authorities.

In ancient Rome, it was the duty of the highest religious authority to supervise the building of a bridge. The supervision was so highly thought of, the title of this authority was Pontifex Maximus literally meaning the highest bridge builder. This “pagan title” has been adopted by Christianity and now the Pope is referred to as the Pontifex Maximus, often abbreviated as P.M.- clearly readable after the pope’s name!

During Rome site seeing If you walked over this bridge on a “go it alone” visit to Rome you would miss this rich history. We suggest that a visit to Rome is an investment in life. Let your private tour of Rome help your investment yield a higher return.

Enjoy your Rome shore excursions! Gabriella- your Classical Rome Tour supervisor and guide

All Roads Lead to Rome

 

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME.

The infrastructure of Roman roads was an exquisite network of ways that connected the capital to cities, towns and even the most remote areas and provinces of the Roman empire. These roads were of utmost importance to the military and were surprisingly built by the engineers and architects of the Roman army.

The most famous of the roads is the Via Appia (or Via Appia Antica) that connected Rome to the southern port of Brindisi. As a part of your classical Rome tour, visiting this site couldn’t be any more “classic”. The 450 mile long road, constructed in two different phases, was the only ”quick” way to get to the port and sail to Greece and Middle East.

In ancient times, roads were flanked by rich families’ tombs- the majority of which are now lost or dilapidated. The Via Appia was the burial place usually chosen by wealthy families; a sort of “status symbol” if entombed in this area. Later, Christians started to develop their cemeteries or catacombs close to the road creating miles and miles of underground tunnels. These were excavated by devout workers wanting to provide a dignified burial place to thousands of followers of the “new” religion, who were interred with the hope of a final resurrection. Some of these tunnels can be viewed,and is very interesting. I suggest a jacket for travelers during warm weather, for the underground is a bit chilly!

A few steps away from the entrance to the Catacombs, you can view the remainsof the Tomb of Romulus, son of emperor Maxentius, who buried his son close to the family villa and private circus, the latter for the delight his royal guests.

Visitors can better enjoy the Via Appia on Sundays when the traffic entering the tombs is less severe. Renting a bike would be a healthy way to spend an afternoon roaming around, or for the less active- buying a pass on the Archeological bus starting at Piazza Venezia it is certainly an easier way to reach yourclassical rome tour destination.

Gabriella- your Classic Rome Tour supervisor and guide  

Rome Airport Code – FCO – Before Your Favorite Rome Sites

The airport which serves Rome is 16 miles from the Rome city center.
 
The 3 letter Rome airport code is FCO. Why is “Leonardo di Vinci” airport identified with an airport code of FCO? The answer is that the old name is Fiumicino, the name of the nearby town.
 
Rome airport is a modern facility and ,unlike some larger airports, very well designed for expeditious arrivals and departures. Once you leave the airplane, it is quite a distance to luggage claim but you will find clearing Customs to be a breeze!
 
Now once you have your bags and you are in the crowded lobby, how do you intend to travel from the Rome airport (FCO) to the city?
 
Here are some of the most likely choices for making the journey from Rome airport to the city:

• The Train
  • Rome airport (FCO) to Rome runs frequently.
  • Cost about $15 dollars per peson.
  • You must “lug” your bags
  • Once you arrive at the station "Roma Termini" you are still not at your hotel.
    • The cab from the "Roma Termini" may destroy any savings you enjoyed.

 

 

 

• Taxi cab from Rome airport (FCO) to Rome
  • Quite a bit more expensive but it takes you to your door.
    • $55-$80 Remember that the price is not fixed and traffic can run the meter way up
    • If there are multiple people in your party, this is beginning to look pretty good.

 

 

• Private transfer or “pick up service” from Rome airport (FCO) to Rome
  • In this case a private driver is waiting with a sign which has your name.
  • The price is negotiated in advance so there are no surprises
    • Sedan – 55 Euro
    • S Class Mercedes 90 Euro
    • 6-8 passenger minivan 80 Euro
    • 9-16 passenger mini bus 135 Euro

The private transfer from the Rome airport seems the most lavish but I can tell you from personal experience that sometimes it is the least expensive option. For example,

• 4 people
• Rome Hotel not near the Rome railway station
• Lots of baggage
  • Train – 60 dollars + cab to hotel $20 to $25 about $85 and a huge hassle
  • Taxicab from Rome airport (FCO) to hotel. Let us say $50 dollars PLUS
    • waiting time in traffic $25 dollars
    • for 4 people there is no way all of the bags are going to fit in one cab

If you are engaging a proper tour, like those provided by www.MyRomeTourGuide.com, we can arrange a private transfer from Rome airport or the Rome port at Civitevecchia if you desire it. With regret, we do not arrange transfers unless we are providing tour and hotel services. That is true with most tour companies.

 

So for a proper Private tour of Rome in English, or Rome shore excursion, we have the transport in place.

 

Travel Tip for Rome Visits: In addition to having made your plans regarding the Rome sites you want to visit, do a bit of planning on how to get to your hotel from the airport or port at Civitevecchia. Remember when you arrive at Rome:

• You have been on a long journey and can be quite tired
• You are in unfamiliar territory
• The combination can often cause you to make some bad decisions.

Best Private Tours of Rome – Gabriella’s Favorite

Over the many years of my guiding in the Eternal City, whether the tours are shore excursions from Civitavecchia or private tours of Rome in English, visitors tend to ask the same question: which is my favorite tour site in Rome? Which area do I most enjoy illustrating to my customers? This is, indeed, a very difficult question to answer. It has been said, “there is no place like Rome,” declared a “world site” by UNESCO.  However if I had to pinpoint one place, it would most likely be the Basilica of St. Peter.  Some people might argue that technically speaking the Basilica is not a site in Rome, as it is located in the Vatican City, which is a sovereign state of its own, politically separated from Rome. This was true as of 1929, when the Vatican was recognized by the Italian Government as an independent sovereign state, Citta’ del  Vaticano, and the Basilica of St Peter was part of it!
To me, the Basilica is a fully Roman site since its history (which spans over 2000 years) is strictly interwoven with the events  that took place in  both ancient and papal Rome when the Vatican territory was part of the city- a district  across the river Tiber, in the Trans-tiberim or the Trastevere area of today. Allegedly, the basilica rests above the tomb of the Apostle Peter, interred  there  after his martyrdom in the pre-existing necropolis. Part of this necropolis is open to the public, pending a proper booking often obtainable after placing one’s name on a long waiting list.
St Peter’s is the largest church in the world and its scale is only fully appreciated when visitors realize that the Bernini’s Bronze Baldacchino is about 100 feet tall, the equivalent of an 8-9 story building. The Basilica is best approached from Via della Conciliazione- you shouldn’t miss the spectacular sight of the dome and the grandiose and “inviting arms” of Bernini’s colonnades!
As any other church in Rome, St Peter’s houses an incredible amount of art, the most famous being  Michelangelo’s La Pieta’. The artist hired a family of Roman port workers trained in the transportation of marble blocks to have the Pieta’ installed in the French chapel without incurring any damage to the statue. A generous fee was negotiated to carry out the job, but the workers refused the payment after the safe installation as they were so moved by the beauty of the Virgin Mother’s face that they actually fell on their knees, transfixed in silent adoration.
An extraordinary person buried in the Basilica is Christina, Queen of Sweden- a ruling queen of a Lutheran country, who renounced her throne and all the privileges of her royal status in order to embrace the Catholic faith! Her choices were so memorable that after her death, she received a burial among the Popes in the Vatican Grottoes. Her funeral monument is close to the Pieta’, but her sarcophagus is actually empty. A peculiarity of the church is that every altarpiece, except the one in the Blessed Sacrament chapel flanked by Bernini’s two kneeling angels, are mosaics and not oil paintings. The side domes and Michelangelo’s cupola are also decorated in glass mosaics made by the Vatican mosaicists during the course of several centuries. The Mosaic Studio is still active and can be visited on request.
And now a practical note: Access to the Basilica is free of charge, but at times during the day and according to the season, there are long lines as visitors are required to enter through metal detectors.
My tip is to go to the church as early as possible to avoid long lines. The doors are open as early as 7.00 a.m., and until 9.00 a.m., it is not over subscribed.
Consequently, the self-guided visit is indeed more enjoyable in the silence without crowds.
Masses are also celebrated that early for those interested. There is a fee, however, if you want to climb the dome. Again, you have free access to the grottoes   where no photography is permitted.
We think the very best way to see the wonders of this city is to take one of out best private tours of Rome, “The Vatican City Day Tour“. Visitors by cruise ship can book the shore excursion from Civitavecchia. Either way a proper tour of Rome is best in the long run.
I hope that if you decide to tour Rome, you will stop to marvel at one of Rome’s (or the Vatican City’s!) most marvellous sights. Thank you, Gabriella- Your Rome Tour Supervisor and Guide

Best Rome Walking Tour – Ecstasy of St. Teresa

Rome is a spectacular city full of famous churches and museums But sometimes its the small things that are the truly amazing features; a diamond in the rough, if you will. During my visit to Rome with my wife and daughter, we were fortunate enough to have some of the best Rome walking tours possible.

One of the many churches that is not considered a “big stop” is St. Mary of the Victory. The church was built in the early 1600′s and was named for the victory won by the Catholic League army in 1620.

The jewel of this church is a masterpiece sculpture, designed by the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini, portraying the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. The faces of the angel and the saint are extremely beautiful. Even though this is not on the list of top 10 sites to see in Rome, it is one of the most marvelous sites in Rome.

Bernini’s tomb can be found nearby at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. In comparison to his fabulous work, his family tomb is very simple. Bernini died at an abnormally old age for his time- about 82 years old. Engraved on his tomb is, “The Noble Bernini Family here awaits the Resurrection.”

Not withstanding the amazing Bernini sculpture, the Ecstasy of St. Teresa, St. Mary of the Victory houses many other fantastic works of art including a sculpture of the Dream of St. Joseph, a spectacular high altar, and a gorgeous organ.

Advantages to visiting small churches like St. Mary of the Victory in the context of a Rome walking tour -No crowds -Little or no admission charge -Our guide gave us the “behind the scenes” stories of each site

I consider St. Mary of the Victory one of the secrets of Rome, and you can see this as part of your Rome Shore Excursions. I have discovered that Rome is a bottomless cup; the more you drink, the more there is to drink!

Rome for Art Lovers – Borghese Gallery- My Ten Best Sites to Visit in Rome

The Borghese Gallery is yet another gem for art lovers in Rome. 
 
The Borghese Gallery is one of the great secular visits available in Rome. When compared to other great cities Rome has a larger percentage of its appeal in works of a Christian theme. That is not a detraction. On the contrary, it is often the source of inspiration for those who have lost the conviction of their faith. Yet, it is nice to sometimes visit a secular site like the Borghese Gallery in this seat of Christian wonders.
 
The Borghese Gallery has so many fine works of art it is hard to mention any of them for fear of leaving out the most important. For me, however, the statue by Bernini of Apollo in pursuit of Daphne, sculpted when Bernini was only 24 years old, is the show-stopper.
 
This piece is enough to change the mind of those who don’t appreciate sculpture as much as paintings. (I was in that category.)
 
  The Borghese Gallery is not in the line-of-sight for most of the tours of Rome in English. Visitors to Rome arrive with the classical Rome tour or the Ancient Rome tour or the Vatican tour in mind. The day Rome shore excursion definitely does not have enough time to make it to the Borghese.
 
The Borghese Gallery is north of the Vatican near the zoo. It is only a short walk from the Spanish Steps and the Barbarini Plazza.
 
    For those staying at my favorite small hotel, the Hotel Cecil, it is an easy as well as pleasant journey.
 
  Note that the Borghese tickets must be purchased in advance for a specific time. For a proper tour of the Borghese Gallery, from my colleages who know this place like the back of their hands, Click Here   If you are hungry after your visit, the Via Veneto, is the expensive district. You can find very nice restaurants all the way to the Barberini Plaza. If you are willing to walk just a small distance there is a wonderful “mom and pop” restaurant called “Da Mario”.  It is on Via Silvio Spaventa, 19/21. This restaurant is highly recommended if good food at a reasonable price is desired.
 
 

Best Guided Tour of Rome – the Church of St. Cecilia

 

First visit to Rome? You must see the “bucket list” items.

They include:

•  Vatican
•  Colosseum
•  Pantheon 
• Spanish Steps

But if you have seen these famous Rome sites, have you seen enough? Clearly the answer is “No”. Rome is a city which has magnificent little gems everywhere. Most of them can be easily missed if you are not on a proper tour.

One of my favorite “gems of Rome” is the Church of St. Cecilia or the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Rome.

The church is rather simple by our Roman standards. Is located across the Tibor River not far from the Colosseum. It is dedicated to a young girl who became a martyr for Christianity.

The story goes that Cecilia, shortly after wedding  Valerian, reveals to her new husband her Christian beliefs and that her chastity is protected by a guardian angel. Not only does Valerian gracefully accept this information but he also converts to Christianity himself and convinces his brother to do likewise.

Shortly thereafter the steadfastness of Valerian’s faith is tested and he is executed along with his brother. An effort is made by Roman authorities to suffocate Cecilia in her bathroom but she survives. She is ordered beheaded but the executioner made three attempts, in vain, to complete the job and only succeeded in badly wounding Cecilia. Three days later she died from her wounds.

 

In this wonderful church you can see the haunting sculpture of the dead Cecilia in repose. It is just in front of the altar. Around the inside perimeter of the church are paintings and mosaics which represent the story. Particularly interesting is the area underneath the sanctuary floor which are excavations from ancient Roman times. The area which is considered to be the place where Cecilia died has been beautifully decorated as a chapel.

If you like human interest stories as I do, this will be one of your favorite visits to Rome. Consider also a visit to the catacombs of San Callisto. There you will see the first burial place of Cecilia. You will recognize it as it contains a copy of the beautiful statue in the church of St. Cecilia.

To arrange a proper tour of Rome contact us a custom tour of Rome

Secrets of Rome for the Curious Tourist – My Top 10 Rome Sites to See

When we travel, we usually fall prey to the urge to see the same sights that millions have seen before us and have been made popular through films and books. While that is not altogether bad, one must ask if there are things which even the intellectually curious are missing.
 
Well, in Rome, the answer is a resounding “YES”.  It could be said that it is only matters if one really wants to learn the essence of Rome and not just the headlines.
 
For me, touring Rome is as much about “What not to miss” as it is “What to see”. One may ask, “What is the difference?”. Well, as typical tourists on their Rome shore excursions scurry from one major photo opportunity to another,(to show their less fortunate friends stuck at home) , they hurriedly pass the best sites in Rome which posses the things which truly make Rome memorable.
 
            An example of one of the “Ten Best Sites of Rome”:  Of the millions who come, camera in hand, to the Piazza Navona, to see the famous Four Rivers Fountain, only a small percentage bother making  the little walk to the edge of the Piazza to see the Church of Saint Agnes.
 
If you have been to Rome and Piazza Navona, and you are asking “What is the Church of Saint Agnes ?”, then you are the victim about whom I write.
 
This lovely church, designed by Borromini, is a memorial to a young girl, made a saint by the Church, for her courage in the face of a despot Roman Emperor.  The story is touching. The statue inside the church, of the young Agnes, is lovely. To see, below the present floor level of the church, where Agnes was martyred, is haunting.  It is the story you will remember long after you have forgotten which emperor built the Colosseum or how many animals were lost in the opening festivities.
 
While these facts are interesting to be sure, the human interest stories, all over Rome, which are frequently overlooked, are those things which enrich the classical Rome tour experience.
 
There are many private tours of Rome in English, Rome shore excursions and walking tours of Rome for small groups which seek to uncover the stories like that of Agnes and her encounter with Diocletian. Each one is different and memorable.  Take advantage of these tours on your Rome holiday and the tour guide’s knowledge and eagerness to share the open secrets of Rome.
 

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