Gastronomic & Ancient Rome

Welcome to Rome, the Italian capital. On arrival at the airport, you will be collected by a driver and taken to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to settle in and begin your exploration of the city. This evening, you will be collected and taken to a local restaurant in Trastevere, one of the most vibrant districts in the Italian capital. Enjoy an included dinner (drinks not included) at a traditional Roman trattoria and indulge in local specialties dating back in time. After dinner, you will be returned to the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be joined by an expert guide for a small group (max 10 people) tour of the Colosseum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient stadium once held 50,000 - 80,000 spectators and was the scene of vicious battle re-enactments and games, where gladiators fought to the death. You also visit the Arch of Constantine and the historic Forum. Then its on to Palatine Hill to learn about the legend of Romulus and Remus, before there is free time for lunch and for you to explore Rome further at leisure.

You will need to make your own way back to Trastevere this afternoon for our family-friendly pizza making class in a small group (max 12 people). Learn what ingredients are needed to make the perfect Italian pizza dough and have a go at kneading your own dough. Add fresh tomato sauce and whichever toppings you like before baking in the oven. Before you eat your own creation, there is an appetizer of bruschetta and an included drink. After our pizza making experience, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Don't eat too much at breakfast this morning, because you've got a glorious day of eating ahead! You will be transferred to our starting location to meet a local foodie guide, and will then embark on a mouthwatering private food walking tour through the city. Explore the areas of Campo De’ Fiori, Trastevere, and the Jewish Quarter. There will be several stops along the way: 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”. You can tuck into a “Supplì”, a little ball of deep-fried tomato sauce risotto with a heart of melted mozzarella cheese. And we haven't forgotten about pasta, you will get to try some of Rome's freshest. Taste some Roman-Jewish specialties like carciofo alla giudia, a Jewish style deep-fried artichoke that resembles a tiny sunflower or the fried zucchini flower (according to seasonality). Save some space for dessert, because there's gelato to enjoy too!

After the food tour, it's time to explore the Vatican City. Joining a small group tour (max 10 people), you discover the museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Take in some of the most famous works of art in the world, including works by artists including Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael and Giotto. Explore the Sistine Chapel, which dates to 1483 and is the most famous chapel in the world thanks to its elaborate ceiling and of course the famous painting, The Final Judgement by Michelangelo. That's it for the day, your evening is free!

Rome - Tivoli - Rome. Today you will enjoy a private day trip to Tivoli, located a few kilometres outside Rome. Tivoli is home to two renowned UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ruins of Roman Emperor Hadrian's luxury country villa. There are more than 30 ruined buildings to discover at the complex, and Hadrian also built himself several swimming pools.

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 exploring both villas, you will be returned to Rome, where the final night of your tour is at leisure.

Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast at the hotel, check out and an included transfer to the airport. Arrivederci!