ROAM GLORIOUS ROME

As you disembark your cruise ship in Civitavecchia, meet your private driver and set off for the Eternal City. Here your guide will be waiting ready to lead you on a full-day exploration of Italy’s best-loved art collection and the capital’s famous piazze.

You will be led right to the heart of the Christian world and begin your day admiring some of the greatest works of art ever created, carefully safeguarded within the hallowed walls of the Vatican State. Can you believe that the smallest existing nation was once one of the West’s most influential seats of power? You will dip into the history of popes and artists, hear about their ambitions, feats and foibles and gain an understanding of the intricate connections between art, authority and faith.

The origins of the Vatican Museums date back to 1506 when art lover Pope Julius II first started arranging his acquisitions of classical sculptures in the Octagonal Courtyard. This extraordinary – though originally modest – assembly of works was enriched and extended throughout the centuries by successive pontiffs and evolved into the 7-kilometre-long collection you see today. The dazzling array of wonders on display includes artefacts from so many different eras, traditions and artistic styles, ranging from Egyptian steles to Renaissance fresco paintings, from Etruscan bronzes to Flemish tapestries. Weave your way back down the centuries, through the museum’s corridors and halls, and listen as your guide unravels the history behind the masterpieces preserved here.

Highlights along your trail include the Gallery of Maps, featuring 16th century forerunners of today’s atlases; the Room of Animals, filled with masterfully carved marble creatures; the Sala delle Muse, housing an ancient Greek sculpture which was to inspire generations of artists; Raphael’s Rooms, four beautifully decorated chambers once belonging to Pope Julius II’s private apartments. Nestled among these marvels lies the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo spent eight years of his life in this sacred room painting what would become the most renowned images in the whole of Western art. As you gaze up at the stunning frescoes of the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement your guide will help you decipher the secret messages left here by the Renaissance master in the 16th century.

Your Vatican exploration will end inside St. Peter’s Basilica, built upon what is believed to be the burial place of the apostle and topped by one of the tallest masonry domes ever built. Michelangelo’s moving Pietà and Bernini’s magnificent bronze baldachin never fail to leave a deep impression on visitors to the largest and arguably the most glorious church on earth.

After some free time for lunch follow your guide on a stroll through Rome’s historic centre. You will amble along quaint cobbled streets, cross picture-postcard squares, taking in the very best sights of this true open-air museum. In Piazza Navona, while you inspect the glorious Fountain of the Four Rivers and the facade of the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, lend an ear to an account of the contention between famous art champions Bernini and Borromini. Rivalry is one human characteristic that never changes! Just a few steps away you can admire one of the capital’s oldest, best-preserved and most spectacular buildings: the Pantheon. Built by Emperor Hadrian in around 125 AD, it was originally a temple devoted to many gods. With its grandiose colonnade, vast bronze doors and imposing dome it still fascinates visitors today, almost two thousand years after its completion. You’ll also get the chance to stop for photos in Piazza di Spagna, with its monumental stairway of 135 steps leading up to the Church of Trinità dei Monti, and make a wish by the Trevi Fountain for good luck as well as to ensure your return trip to Rome.

Your guide will animate your tour with tales and anecdotes about the daily lives of past and present-day residents – from ambitious popes, to quarrelsome artists, from yesterday’s powerful patrons to today’s prime movers – ensuring you take away an unforgettable and enriching experience.