You will meet our English-speaking driver by your cruiseship at the port of Civitavecchia:

VATICAN MUSEUMS:

The Vatican Museums are packed with the treasures accumulated over the centuries by the popes. There's the incomparable Sistine Chapel, such priceless ancient Greek and Roman sculptures as Lacoon and the Belvedere Apollo, buildings whose walls were almost completely executed by Raphael (including his majestic School of Athens), and endless collections of art ranging from (very pagan) Greco-Roman antiquities to Christian art by famous European masters.

SISTINE CHAPEL & S. PETER'S BASILICA:

Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor, not a painter. While in his 30s, he was commanded by Julius II to stop work on the pope's tomb and to devote his considerable talents to paitings ceiling frescoes. Michelangelo labored for 4 years (1508-12) over this epic project, which was so physically taxing that it permanently damaged his eyesight. All during the task, he had to contend with the pope's urging him to hurry up, at one point, julius threatened to topple Michelangelo from the scaffolding or so Vasari relates in his Lives of the Artists

The S. Peter's Basilica is not only huge, but also a monument to artistic genius. The first basilica was built here by Rome's first Christian emperor, constantine, in the 4th century. More than 1000 years later the basilica had fallen into disrepair. In the mid-15th century Nicholas V took a stab at its reconstruction, but it was not until 1506, when Julius II employed Bramante, that serious work began. It took more thatn 150 years to complete the new basilica, now the second biggest in the world. Bramante, Raphael, Antonio da Sangallo, Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderno, all contributes, but it is generally held that St. Peter's owes most to Michelangelo, who took over the project in 1547 at the age of 72 and was responsible for the design of the dome.

TREVI FOUNTAIN:

Supplied by the water from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct and a triumph of the baroque style, it was based on the design of Nicolà Salvi (who's said to have died of illness contracted during his supervision of the project) and was completed in 1762. The design centers on the triumphant figure of Neptunus Rex, standing on a shell chariot drawn by winged steeds and led by a pair of tritons. Two allegorical figures in the side niches represent good health and fertility.

Take water, camera & sun cream; wear comfortable shoes. In low season warmer clothing may be required!

THIS TOUR WILL OPERATE RAIN OR SHINE, SO BE PREPARED FOR ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.