Rome
The city with many layers, like a lasagna !
Day 1
Welcome to Rome
On Day One, our guides take us on an evening stroll through the ancient city of Rome.
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Each evening during the tour, a plan for the next day was posted at the hotel.
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The view from our hotel 's roof-top terrace overlooking the Vatican. We had breakfast here every morning while in Rome.
On our first evening in Rome, we are introduced to our first group meal together.
A great time to start building friendships during the tour.
Meeting outside our hotel, preparing for our evening stroll through Rome.
Walking into the Piazza Navona and seeing the Fountain of Four Rivers was incredible.
Day 2
Experience Rome like a Roman
We stopped in a local cafe to drink espresso and cioccolata calda (expresso and hot chocolate).
We visited the Torre de Agrentina, where Julius Caesar was killed. Locals have adopted this area as a haven for neighborhood stray cats.
It was fascinating to window shop in Rome, with the many stores selling religious clothing.
Historic landmarks like the Pantheon are incredible from the outside...
...But inside, the Pantheon becomes magical , especially after you read "Four Seasons in Rome" and imagine snow falling through the roof.
The landmarks like the Trevi Fountain are amazing.
And yes, we tossed a coin into the fountain and vowed to return to the Eternal City.
Our Afternoon at The Vatican
You can easily spend days touring the Vatican, but with the help of our Rick Steves Tour Guides, they offered some great time saving tips to beat the crowds and get the most out of our time here.
Day 3
Ancient Rome
After reading the history, and admittedly watching "Gladiator" dozens of times,
it was an indescribable feeling to get our first view of the Colloseum.
And when you walk inside, you realize that you are not on a movie set, and this is really one of the seven wonders of the world.
Walking from the Colloseum to the Forum, you feel like you are stepping back in time. Surrounded by ancient ruins, this was the center of everyday life for the Romans.
The
Engineering of
Ancient Rome
The Ancient Romans knew about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) long before it was a "thing." They used complex engineering at many of the city's famous landmarks.