Rome History & Gastronomy 2023

Welcome to Rome! Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight stay in Rome. (D)

Today a must-see for every traveller who visits Rome - the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome! You can now take advantage of the exclusive prime service and enjoy this day in the most relaxing way. Wake up in the morning at your centrally located hotel and after breakfast wear a pair of comfortable shoes and wait for the driver to come and pick you up. You’ll reach the archaeological area to join a super-agile small group of up to 10 people. Gain your special access to the Colosseum and, once inside, breath the bloody past of the Amphitheatre and its atmosphere led by passionate and expert guide. This huge travertine and tuff structure could hold between 50,000-80,000 spectators, all hungering for pretty gory shows such as hunting games or gladiatorial fights. The tour also includes a guided walk in the Roman Forum, the cultural and political centre of Ancient Rome, as well as a stroll around the Palatine Hill, the area where the city of Rome was legendary founded by Romulus and where the emperors used to live for centuries. At the end of the tour time at leisure. In the afternoon reach Trastevere (Vicolo della Scalaccia 8) on your own, ready to join a family-friendly class of up to 12 people at Lo Studio (Vicolo della Scalaccia 8). You’ll learn what ingredients are needed to make the perfect pizza dough, how to knead it and how to top it properly. You’ll be able to choose your own ingredients and experiment with various recipes and toppings. Bake the pizza in the oven and wait for it to turn into a thin-and-crispy-but-still-fluffy delicacy. While the pizza is in the oven, enjoy your well-earned rest. Relax and immerse yourself in the unique experience of an Italian pizza dinner. Start with a tasty bruschetta and make a toast to the good life - water, wine or a soft drink is included. Taste the pizza you prepared and find out whether you developed the skills of an authentic pizzaiolo. After this cool experience, you can fully enjoy some time to stroll around on your own. Trastevere is one of the cores of the Roman nightlife, bustling and busy with pubs, restaurants and clubs for all ages. You can have a walk before heading back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Rome. (B)

After a rich breakfast at the hotel you will meet your driver who will take you to the meeting point with your local foodie guide. You will enjoy a lovely walking tour through local food markets, grocery stores and gelato shops in the areas of Campo De’ Fiori, Trastevere, and the Jewish Ghetto. We know that walking makes one hungry, that’s why we thought you’d appreciate some pit-stops! You’ll enjoy a slice of freshly baked crispy ‘Pizza Bianca’ (Rome’s own version of focaccia) cut in half horizontally and filled with thin slices of freshly cut ‘Mortadella’, a traditional, more-Roman-than-the-Colosseum easy snack that locals love. And what about trying a ‘Supplì’? This little ball of deep-fried tomato sauce risotto with a heart of melted mozzarella cheese is everyone’s favourite street food. Pasta will be on the list too, along with some dishes from the Roman Jewish tradition - ‘Carciofo alla Giudìa’, a deep-fried artichoke that looks like a tiny sunflower, as well as ‘Filetto di Baccalà’, a battered and deep-fried fleshy cod fillet. Save some space for dessert because we won’t skip our portion of artisan gelato! At the end of this experience, meet your driver to head to Vatican area, ready to join a super-agile group of up to 10 people. Meet your professional guide and take a tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, skipping all lines! Admire the Gallery of Tapestries, the Geographical Maps and the beautiful Raphael’s rooms before arriving at the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s masterpiece. After the Sistine Chapel you will be taken, through an exclusive access to St Peter’s Basilica, skipping long lines. At the end of the tour, time at leisure to discover hidden corners of Rome. Overnight stay in Rome. (B)

Today after breakfast, you will visit Tivoli and its villas on a private tour. You will meet your driver to head to Tivoli, a small town located few kilometres away from Rome, in a splendid natural environment between the ‘Eternal City’ and the high hills to the east of Rome. It’s a world-renowned town for hosting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s here that, back in the 2nd century AD, the emperor Hadrian built his majestic villa, a luxury country residence where he used to retreat and where he lived his late years. The huge complex includes more than 30 buildings, several swimming pools, former thermal stations and covers an area that’s larger than a square kilometre, which gives quite an idea of this place’s aim - to show the greatness, opulence and vast power of the emperor. In the 16th century, much of the remaining marble and statues were removed from Hadrian's Villa by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, to decorate his own villa located nearby - Villa d’Este, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Largely frescoed on the inside, the villa is surrounded by a unique garden, displaying a complex system of pools, water jets, channels, fountains, cascades, and water games. And what makes this system of fountains such an incredible masterpiece of engineering is that it works entirely by the force of gravity, without pumps. After the tour, return to Rome with rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. (B)