WONDERS OF THE EMPIRE

Bask in the glories of Rome’s unequalled feats on a private tour of the capital’s world-renowned archaeological monuments. Your guide will lead you out of the modern-day metropolis, along a time-worn route, past triumphal arches, majestic temples and impressive colonnades, to a time when the city stood at the centre of one of history’s most powerful empires.

There are few experiences in travel more exciting than your first sight of the Colosseum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most visited site in the whole of Italy. Marvel at the engineering skills needed to build this grandiose amphitheatre, astonishing evidence of the Romans’ know-how and innovation in the fields of technology, science and architecture, and listen as your guide illuminates the history behind its construction. The first stone was laid in 72 AD at the request of Emperor Vespasian whose intention was to appease public discontent and control the masses by donating a gift to his citizens and win their support with panem et circenses – bread and circuses. The gruesome calendar of brutal spectacles staged inside the Colosseum included warrior combats, wild animal hunts, public executions and even mock sea battles. These events were like nothing seen before or since, and were designed to entertain not only the people of Rome, but also the emperor himself. Roam through the ruins of stone walls and bleachers and imagine how a gladiator must have felt while he prepared for battle and awaited his destiny, stirred by the roars and cheers of 60,000 impatient spectators echoing through the arena.

While the Colosseum is undoubtedly a highlight of any tour, it’s only a fraction of the full picture. Fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle and gain a deeper understanding of ancient Roman society, culture and religion on a tour of Palatine Hill, where emperors lived in palaces of unimaginable luxury, and the Roman Forum, the beating heart of the city. Enjoy the myths and stories rooted in Rome as you follow a carefully planned route through the ruins of the Caput Mundi, retracing the footsteps of powerful rulers, faithful temple-goers and busy shop keepers. Famous – and infamous – figures such as Nero, Julius Caesar and Cicero, will make their appearance as you stroll along the cobbled streets, still marked by Roman carriage wheels. Your guide will bring the ancient city back to life, conjuring up rallies, fires, conspiracies and political assassinations that took place long ago. With her help you will decipher Roman numbers and Latin inscriptions, find out about Roman deities and the rituals of pagan creed, explore the ruins of once vibrant public spaces where trials, business dealings and elections were held. You will also discover which wild beast is closest to the heart of the Romans and learn about the legendary origins of the Eternal City. Can you believe it all began with a fight between two brothers?

The final stop on this tour will lead you to the Pantheon, one of Rome’s best-preserved and most spectacular ancient monuments. Built by Emperor Hadrian in around 125 AD, on the site of Marcus Agrippa’s earlier 27 BC construction, it was originally a temple devoted to many gods. With its vast bronze doors and awe-inspiring dome – one of the largest unreinforced concrete domes in existence – it still fascinates visitors today, almost two thousand years after its completion. The Pantheon’s harmonic design, its grandiose proportions and monumental cupola left a deep impression on Renaissance master Michelangelo. As he admired this wonder for the first time, he exclaimed that it looked more like the work of angels than humans. Gaze up to the sky through the opening directly above your head, an eye onto the heavens. According to a medieval legend, the central oculus was created by the explosive crash of pagan demons fleeing the building at the moment of its conversion into a church in 609 AD. Each year at Pentecost a cascade of rose petals falls through the oculus, symbolizing the descent of the Holy Spirit. Today the Pantheon is a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to all the martyrs of Rome and also the burial place of kings and illustrious artists, including Raphael.

From the legendary beginnings of Rome in 753 BC to its heyday as the ancient world’s greatest superpower, your private guide will rebuild the city from the ground up, filling it with anecdotes and curiosities about everyday life in ancient times.