Rome

Meet at Thessaloniki Makedonia airport at 17:30, check in and fly to the Eternal City. At Rome airport our tour leader welcomes us and we board our coach for an enchanting first look at the city. This night-time panoramic drive is a short but thrilling introduction to Rome's unique atmosphere as it comes alive under the city lights. As the coach crosses the Roman night you can admire some of the most iconic monuments and squares: the floodlit Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia with the imposing Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. We continue along the Tiber, with views of illuminated Castel Sant'Angelo and St Peter's in the Vatican. The tour runs without stops, with short historical and cultural commentary along the way, and ends at the hotel, where you can rest and prepare for the days of exploring ahead. A perfect first taste of Rome's romantic, timeless beauty!

After breakfast we begin with a walking tour of Rome's historic centre, starting at the iconic Colosseum, the largest Roman amphitheatre and a symbol of ancient Roman glory. From outside we admire its architecture and learn about the battles and spectacles it hosted. We continue past the Imperial Forums to Piazza Venezia, the heart of Rome, dominated by the Monument to the Unification of Italy. The tour leads to the impressive Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient temples, dedicated to all the gods of Rome. Next stop is the legendary Trevi Fountain, where we can toss a coin to ensure our return, as tradition says. We end in elegant Piazza di Spagna with the famous Spanish Steps, one of the most romantic and photographed spots in the city. After the tour you have free time for a stroll, a meal or shopping in the historic centre: explore the pedestrian streets, enjoy a gelato, browse elegant shops or relax at a café. Return to the hotel independently when you wish. As the light fades, we invite you on an optional evening tour of the authentic side of the Italian capital. From Piazza Navona, full of restaurants and street painters, we admire its three fountains, especially Bernini's famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, each statue representing a river from a different continent. We then pass through Campo de' Fiori, which will captivate you with its liveliness, colour and picturesque lanes. Crossing the Tiber, we reach the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, in the heart of one of Rome's most picturesque and cosmopolitan neighbourhoods. Here we suggest dinner or a drink by the river. Later we meet again to return to the hotel.

Rome can hardly be exhausted in a day or two. After breakfast we continue with a visit to the independent state of the Vatican, the smallest country in the world and spiritual seat of the Roman Catholic Church. We start with the impressive Vatican Museums, one of the most important museum complexes in the world, with more than 4.3 million visitors a year. We tour stunning halls and galleries such as the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Gallery of Maps, and admire the Raphael Rooms. Our visit culminates in the incomparable Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's world-famous frescoes, including The Creation of Adam. Straight after, we visit the majestic St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in Christendom, built over the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Its architecture, monumental works of art and of course Michelangelo's Pietà make it a truly moving experience. Free time follows in the historic centre, where you can visit Piazza del Popolo and the impressive Castel Sant'Angelo. This iconic fortress, originally the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, became a papal stronghold over the years. At its top stands the statue of the Archangel Michael, who according to legend appeared in 590 and ended a deadly plague. In the afternoon you can continue exploring Rome as you wish. For those who choose, there is an optional excursion to beautiful Tivoli, a green area just outside Rome. There we visit the Villa d'Este, with its famous gardens and 100 fountains, a fine example of 16th-century Renaissance architecture, and then the Villa Adriana, the country residence of Emperor Hadrian (2nd century AD), an open-air museum of architecture inspired by the buildings Hadrian loved most on his travels through the empire. Free time for photos and relaxation in a unique setting of natural and architectural beauty before returning to the hotel.

Today you can spend your time in the Eternal City as you wish: visit museums and monuments you have not yet seen, go shopping or simply enjoy a coffee in one of its picturesque squares. Alternatively, we suggest an optional day trip to Florence, the city of the Renaissance and the Medici and one of Europe's great cultural centres. We travel by high-speed train or luxury coach, depending on availability. Florence is a living open-air museum, full of masterpieces of art, architecture and history. We visit Santa Croce, the city's most impressive church and burial place of 270 illustrious Italians such as Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. We walk across the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge whose little shops seem to float above the Arno, one of the most typical images of Florence. In Piazza della Signoria we see the Palazzo Vecchio, former seat of the city government, and in Piazza San Giovanni we admire the imposing cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi's iconic dome. Free time for sightseeing, lunch or shopping at the San Lorenzo market, known for leather goods and local products. Late in the afternoon we return to Rome, full of images and experiences from one of Italy's most iconic cities.

After breakfast, as our trip nears its end, we make the most of our time with a last walk through the heart of Rome dedicated to Baroque art, which was born and flourished here. Today's route focuses on the two greatest masters of Roman Baroque, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini, who were colleagues, collaborators and rivals. On an easy walk of about two kilometres we follow in their footsteps and discover some of their most impressive works, such as the Fountain of the Bees, the Triton Fountain and the imposing Palazzo Barberini. Our route also includes Roman Catholic churches that bear their artistic stamp: Sant'Ignazio, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, San Luigi dei Francesi, Sant'Agostino, Sant'Agnese and Santa Maria della Vittoria, famous for Bernini's masterpiece The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. After the tour you have a little free time to enjoy Rome at your own pace. We suggest a walk in Villa Borghese, a green lung in the city centre with Italian and English gardens, lakes and museums, and the Pincio hill, with a panoramic view of Rome from Piazzale Napoleone. From there you can head down to Piazza del Popolo or up to the top of Trinità dei Monti for a last coffee at the historic Casina Valadier, with the Eternal City as a backdrop. Or walk to Piazza Navona to buy your last souvenirs or enjoy an authentic Italian espresso, saying goodbye to Rome in the most authentic way. Early in the afternoon we leave for the airport and board our return flight, full of images, flavours and memories from a unique trip to Rome, with the promise that the Eternal City is always waiting for us.