Eternity in a Day - Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center

Extended Description

Have limited time to wrap your mind around Rome’s 2,500 years of art, history, and culture? There’s no more rewarding—or fun—way than with Eternity in a Day!

To start off with a bang, you begin as Rome did: with the ancient world. At an overlook of the Roman Forum, learn how the little-city-that-could became the heart of a vast empire, one that ruled more than 2.5 million square miles and 65 million people. At the Colosseum, discover what entertainments these ancients enjoyed. (Warning: They’re pretty bloody!) You’ll also get to experience the Pantheon, which, despite being 1,900 years old, is anything but a ruin—it’s a complete building. And one of the most impressive in the entire world, with an original, ancient dome that inspired everything from the U.S. Capitol to St. Peter’s Basilica!

The other side of Rome is a little more modern. Think of it as the Rome of Audrey Hepburn and Federico Fellini, a Rome of piazzas and fountains, gelato and photo ops. You’ll explore this Rome with 18th-century sites (“modern” by Roman standards!) like the world-famous Spanish Steps, immortalized in films like Roman Holiday, and the Trevi Fountain, where Fellini’s lovers cavorted in La Dolce Vita. At Piazza Navona, discover Rome’s other legendary fountain, Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, itself a key player in the movie Angels and Demons. From how many coins you really should throw into the Trevi Fountain, to why Piazza Navona has such a funky shape, get all of your questions answered, and more—a real perk of a private tour!

But let’s not forget the city within a city: Vatican City. An independent nation since 1870, it’s also been the home of the Pope, and an artistic and architectural treasure trove, since the 15th century. Here’s where you’ll find the Vatican Museums, the Pope’s palace. Like the rest of Rome, the Vatican museums overwhelming because of their sheer amount of art, like sculpture, paintings, and tapestry… not to mention the Sistine Chapel, that world-famous home of Michelangelo’s famous frescoes and the spot where the top-secret papal conclaves are held!

Although the museums are enormous (1,200 rooms!), and very popular, you won’t waste any time getting lost or standing in line. Instead, you’ll see exactly what you need to see, get the best and most entertaining stories behind it all, and get past the normal lines with the special entrance we’ve already pre-booked for you. It’s the only way to make the most of your time in Rome!

At St. Peter’s Basilica, meanwhile, experience what’s both the world’s biggest church and the very sacred site where St. Peter is buried… not to mention the Pietà, Michelangelo’s other main masterpiece in Rome. Get the scoop on why exactly the basilica, and St. Peter, are so important. And, with your guide’s help, be awed—not overwhelmed—by church’s immense size and amount of treasures!

See, we promised you’d be able to pack it all in… while still letting travel be what it should be: fun! Oh, and don’t worry, there’s time for lunch. We’ve built an hour of “break time” into the day’s itinerary, so you can either relax over a long meal in a traditional trattoria, or break it up into food-on-the-go and coffee breaks later on. It’s up to you… just one more benefit of a private tour!