11-Nights Wings Over Europe's Iconic Capitals - Wings Over the World — CALL
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1544648
Wings Over Europe's Iconic Capitals
Savor unforgettable experiences in four of Europe’s most celebrated capitals, exploring London, Paris, Rome and Athens alongside expert local guides and enjoying exclusive insider access to the cultural and culinary treasures of each timeless destination on one seamless luxury journey made possible by private air.
Aircraft: Bombardier Challenger 850 or comparable
Aircraft and seating configuration subject to change.
Flight Details: London–Paris (50 min) | Paris–Rome (1 hr 50 min) | Rome–Athens (1 hr 50 min)
11 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
Abercrombie & Kent: Wings Over Europe’s Iconic Capitals
Day 1 London, England
Arrive in London, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. Tonight, join your Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for a welcome dinner.
Brown's Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 London
Explore the Household Cavalry Museum and view the daily changing of the Mounted Guard on an A&K-exclusive escorted experience. Then, stroll to Westminster Pier, passing Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben along the way. Board a ferry along the Thames to the Bankside Pier to sample delicacies at the Borough Market on a foodie walk. Return to your hotel for time at leisure before dinner at a local restaurant.
Brown's Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 London
Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
Visit the Churchill War Rooms, including a World War II focused walk covering Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.
Savor a Gin-Focused Walking Tour through the neighborhoods of old London, stopping for tastings of the “white satin.”
Explore the British Museum, dedicated to human history, art and culture, with over eight million works, it is the largest in the world.
All choices include lunch. Return to your hotel with the remainder of your day at leisure.
Brown's Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 Paris, France
Fly by private charter aircraft across the English Channel, taking advantage of convenient executive airports in both cities to make your passage virtually seamless. On arrival, enjoy lunch in a typical Parisian brasserie before embarking in a classic Citroën 2CV, which the French nicknamed the deux chevaux, for an old-style excursion around the city. Cap off your ride with a Champagne toast atop Montmartre, the fabled hill district renowned as a bohemian enclave of artists, replete with cobblestone streets and lively bistros and crowned by magnificent Sacre-Coeur Basilica, on a relaxing Scenic Sundowner experience. This evening, indulge in an onboard dinner and toast the City of Light as you cruise by boat along the romantic Seine.
Le Grand Mazarin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Paris
Begin your day with a stroll to some local patisseries for an authentic taste of morning in the City of Light. Next, enjoy a class that teaches you the secrets of making delicious French macarons. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure, free to explore the city. Tonight gather for dinner, followed by cocktails at an iconic Parisian jazz club.
Le Grand Mazarin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 Champagne
Head into the Champagne region, past softly rolling hills and quaint villages, for a private visit to a family-run winery that produces organic wines. Discover their vine cultivation techniques and winemaking methods as well as the Champagne production process. Visit the barrel room, fermentation room and cellars, taking in the aromas and tasting two of their emblematic cuvées, brut and rosé. Cap off this culturally immersive experience with lunch at the winery. Later, visit the cathedral of Reims, coronation site of the French kings, before returning to Paris.
Le Grand Mazarin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Rome, Italy
Fly by private charter aircraft to Rome. On arrival, enter the historic city center for lunch at a traditional trattoria near the Campo de’ Fiori, and then set out on a guided stroll of Rome’s most historic neighborhoods. Check in to your hotel and relax in its hidden gardens before dinner.
Hotel De Russie
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Rome
Join a guide to privately explore the Castel Sant’Angelo, once the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian and the Imperial family, and later a personal fortress of popes. On an A&K-exclusive experience, enter the secret passage that connects the castle with the Vatican itself, and then join a guide for a panoramic exploration of some of Rome’s most iconic sites. Later, enjoy a private visit to the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, admiring the incomparable views over Rome’s ancient Forum on another A&K-exclusive moment. Tonight, gather for dinner with music overlooking the ruins.
Hotel De Russie
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 Rome
Begin your day in charming Trastevere, one of Rome’s most iconic neighborhoods, where you embark on an Italian food and wine adventure. Join a specialist guide to discover the bustling local market and lively back streets lined with artisanal businesses. Finish with a pasta-making class to satisfy your well-earned appetite, the culmination of a rich and varied Chef’s Table experience. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure or, if you wish, enjoy the option to accompany your Resident Tour Director on a guided visit of the Vatican Museums, pausing to admire the immortal works of Michelangelo that grace the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Hotel De Russie
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Athens, Greece
Journey on your private charter aircraft to historic Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Begin with lunch in the traditional Plaka neighborhood, and then embark on a guided walk that reveals the history and mythology of this ancient culture. Transfer to the nearby Athenian Riviera and settle into your luxurious hotel.
One&only Aesthesis
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 Athens
Devote a day to indulging in everything Athens’ Apollo Coast — a sun-splashed enclave of jet-set glamour, otherwise known as the Athenian Riviera — has to offer. Start with a scenic drive along the seashore as dawn reveals the Aegean’s crystal-blue splendors. Continue to a local’s home where your host reveals the secrets of traditional Greek cooking in a fun, hands-on experience. Pair what you’ve created with a glass of local wine for a culinary experience worth savoring. Return to your seaside resort with time to relax and enjoy the many facilities at your disposal. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner in a refined venue overlooking the flashing blue Aegean Sea.
One&only Aesthesis
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Athens
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Excursions
Athens at a Glance - 3 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple.
During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos. Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian's Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian's new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament.
In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
Notes:
- Sun protection indispensable
- Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
- Bottle of water recommended
Duration: Approx. 3 hours
Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours
Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics.
Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's' Arch. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Plaka (old part of Athens).
In the afternoon (or even before lunch), continue with a visit to one of the following of your choice:
- The National Archaeological Museum: This is the most important archaeological museum in Greece and one of the richest in the world concerning ancient Greek art. The Ancient Agora: At the foot of the Acropolis is the archaeological site of the ancient Agora. The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens; the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity; the religious and cultural centre and the seat of justice.
- The Cycladic Arts Museum: A private museum founded ten years ago in order to present the art that was created in the Cycladic islands in the central Aegean Sea during the 3rd and 2nd millenniums BC. The sculptures on display are extremely interesting, sophisticated and modern for their time.
- The Benaki Museum: Visit the outstanding Benaki Museum, housed in an elegant neoclassical mansion and travel through the millennia of Greek History starting from the depths of prehistory to the 20th century.
Notes:
- Benaki Museum and Cycladic Museum will remain closed on Tuesdays
- Sun protection is recommended
- Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
- Bottle of water - recommended
Duration: Approx. 6 hours
Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours
Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica" to Cape Sounion. Enjoy the splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Here stands the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
Enjoy the most enchanting at sunset before your transfer to the Ithaki Restaurant located on the waterfront of Vouliagmeni.
Enjoy a lovely dinner at the waterfront restaurant, Ithaki overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay and the sparkling Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is probably the best outdoor sea viewpoint of Attica. A typical Greek fishing boat at the entrance, full of crushed ice, fresh fish and lobsters of all sizes give you a hint that you are not here for steaks, although they are available. The elegant, exclusive seaside restaurant is built amphitheatrically on varying levels in a way to secure privacy and a magnificent view of the bay. The Ithaki cuisine is based mainly on traditional Greek recipes and gives priority to seafood delicacies and fresh fish. Soft piano music and songs are entertaining the guests during the whole evening. Greek hospitality and excellent service are priority at the Ithaki, ensuring clients' satisfaction!
Notes:
- Sun protection is recommended
- Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
- Bottle of water - recommended
Duration: Approx. 6 1/2 hours
Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours
Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica", which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, to Cape Sounion the southern-most point of the entire peninsula of Aemos (Balkans). Here stand the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
This tour is most enchanting at sunset!
Notes:
- Sun protection is recommended
- Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
- Bottle of water - recommended
Duration: Approx. 4 hours
Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour
Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Enjoy a scenic drive to Delphi via the National Highway passing through the spectacular sites of Boetia, Thebes and Levadia.
Delphi is by common consent the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece and the one, which, even to the uninitiated, most vividly evokes the Classical Past. In antiquity Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world (omphalos of the earth) and to this, and its oracle, the place owed its prestige, which extended far beyond the Greek world.
Our visit to Delphi is divided into three parts: the Sanctuary of Apollo with the Stadion; the Castalian spring and the Sanctuary of Athena at Marmaria (from above as it is a steep ragged climb to access it); and the Museum.
Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant. En route to Athens, there will be a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village is famous for its attractive hand-woven carpets and rugs as well as for its wine and cheese.
In the early evening return to Athens.
Notes:
• Sun protection indispensable
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
• Bottle of water recommended
Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours
Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Departure for the excursion to Corinth and Cenchreae, from the where St. Paul left for Ephesus. Stop to view the Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea. Ancient Corinth is sited inland at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth. The City’s ‘Long Wall’ began from the summit of the mountain, encompassed the city and ended at the port of Lechaio, which was the artificial harbor built on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth.
In the area of the city itself, the ruins are those of its Agora (Forum) as it was in the days of the Romans in the 1st century AD. On the northern side of the agora, seven of the thirty-eight columns of the Ancient Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) still stand. To the northeast of the Agora are the remains of the Theater and the Roman Odeon. Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Bema can be seen single structure from where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians. Corinth was the city where St. Paul created one of the biggest Christian communities in Europe. A visit to the Museum is also included as well as a stop at the small port of Lechaio, where Paul disembarked.
Duration: Approximately 4½ hours
Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended
Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours
Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to the city of Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian’s new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament. In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
We continue onward with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Athens. The Museum was founded in 1977 in order to collect, conserve, research and exhibit the material evidence of 2300 years of Jewish life in Greece. Its collection, which is continuously enriched, consists of seven and a half thousand original artifacts, photographs, documents and archives, and includes diverse material pertaining to the domestic and religious life, as well as the historical course of the Greek Jews.
The permanent exhibition illustrates subject areas such as the synagogue, the Jewish Holidays, traditional costumes, the Holocaust, the cycle of life and more.
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Opening hours of the Jewish Museum: Daily 09:30-14:30
Sunday 10:00-14:00
Saturday: closed
Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour
Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the Plaka area. Following the Ermou Street, the most famous shopping street which begins in the Syntagma square, and going down south, you will arrive in the neighbourhood of Plaka.
The neighborhood is an historic center, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, cafe, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants). One will surely enjoy walking around in the small streets of Plaka Monastiraki - As you near the point where Adrianou and Ayiou Philippou Streets meet, you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music can be heard simultaneously from the loud-speakers of record shops and street-vendors selling second-hand records. Shopping or simply walking around in Monastiraki is an experience not to be missed. You will be amazed by the variety and the quality of the things sold in this busy market.
Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours
Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours
Join us on this tour of Athens and learn the history of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and most vibrant cities of Europe If this is your first time visiting Athens this is the ideal way experiencing as city rich in history and culture. Our enthusiastic licensed guides will narrate the significance of all the landmarks and sites and bridge the past with present, while you enjoy your leisurely panoramic drive through the city of Athens.
The next stop on the tour is the Acropolis the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon positioned high above and visible from almost every part of the city. You will feel uplifted high above the city as you marvel and stand amongst this everlasting achievements of ancient Greece: The Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone draped maidens, the Caryatids.
The Acropolis is the prelude to the final visit on the tour the Acropolis museum, where the final chapter of the tour will be told and your short odyssey will end. The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and throughout the middle ages. These circumstances cultivated the need and conception of the Acropolis museum. One museum that would house and conserve the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited.
Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours
Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours
Start on a walking tour of the local markets: The senses of taste and smell are so powerful that Greece will intoxicate you and create a mystical experience. Take a look, sniff, and taste the vegetable, meat, and fish markets of Athens. Try the traditional Greek tastes: Greek sweets, koulouri, sausages, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), and spices and herbs.
-Ariston (for tyropitta)
-Zisis, traditional small fish bites in a paper cone
-Bairaktaris Souvlaki
-Varvakios central food and spice market, then visit Ouzeri for ouzo-meze
-Traditional honey dough bites in Lukumades
-Brettos, for a shot glass of masticha,
-Time permitting, go for a Greek coffee at Café Melina in Plaka
The program and shops visited are indicative and may differ on the day depending on opening hours
Available May to October, morning to mid-afternoon*
Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide, Metro Tickets, Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, anything not mentioned above, Snacks or meals
Tips: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes a hat & plenty of sunscreen. Don’t eat before the tour!
Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours
Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours
Start this fascinating tour with a visit to the magnificent Acropolis, and admire the world's masterpieces, the Temple of Apteros Nike, the Erechtheum and the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics. After the visit of the Acropolis, enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the old Plaka area, one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods of Athens. Its architecture is mostly neoclassical and dating from King Otto’s time. Plaka and the Parliament were the only composites of the city of Athens when it first became a capital in 1834. The neighbourhood is an historic centre, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little shops, cafe, bars and taverns.
Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide / Entrance fees to the Acropolis /Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities / Personal expenses/ anything not mentioned above
Tips: Not recommended for those with walking / health difficulties
Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes & carry a cold bottle of water with you on hot days. In the summer, wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen.
Flavors of Athens - 5 hours
Highlights/Description:
• Explore the streets of Athens and visit some of the best food stores
• Sample a selection of sweet and savory local delicacies
• Enjoy a cup of Greek coffee
• Visit the city's central food market
• Learn about the local food culture and gastronomy
• Private and possible to customize on the way
Tantalize your taste buds and gain insights into Greek gastronomy with this delicious private tour. Learn all about the tastes Athenians cherish and sample appetizing local treats. Discover small shops, explore the city's central food market and find out for yourself what the local food culture is really like.
Tour Duration: 4-5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Licensed, English-speaking foodie guide
- Applicable taxes
- Transfers
- Meals, unless otherwise noted
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Jewish Tour in Athens - 5 hours
Jewish Tour in Athens - 5 hours
Highlights/Description:
Discover the long history of Greece together with its Jewish community’s history and visit the most important Jewish sites on this private tour.
Your tour begins with a visit the Athens Jewish Museum to enjoy a guided tour of the museum's collections.
Continuing we will descend to the Ancient Agora, where an ancient Synagogue is thought to date from the 3rd century CE. On the way you will enjoy a stop at the the Cathedral at the statue of Archbishop Damaskinos.
We will continue walking into the heart of the city visiting the flea market at Avissinias Square which is also called "Yousouroum" after an influential Greek Jew.
We will continue our visit to the New Holocaust monument and the Beth Shalom Synagogue in the Thission area.
You may choose to end your tour with lunch at Gostijo, the only Kosher restaurant in Athens.
Tour Duration: 5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Licensed, English-speaking guide
- Entrance Fees
- Applicable taxes
- Transfers
- Meals, unless otherwise noted
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Athens Scavenger Hunt - 4 hours
Athens Scavenger Hunt - 4 hours
Highlights/Description:
- Discover Athens in a fun way
- Learn about contemporary Athens
- View significant landmarks and sights
- Visit local shops
- Enjoy panoramic vistas
- Savor drinks and snacks that Athenians cherish
- Interact with locals
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- English-Speaking game moderator
- Entrance fees
- Applicable taxes
- Transfers
- Meals, unless otherwise noted
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.
Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.
Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.
Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.
Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.
Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.
Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.
Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.
Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:
Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.
The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.
Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.
Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.
St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.
St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.
Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.