The Colosseum and the "Cuppolone", as Romans affectionately call St. Peter's Dome, are the two symbols of the Eternal City! This tour is a great opportunity to see both in a day and save on the cost of booking the two tours separately!
Our day together will start with the main attraction of Rome: the Colosseum, with its tales of blood, lions and gladiators. After that, we will visit the Roman Forum, center of business, religion and political life in the ancient city, and the Palatin Hill, where Rome was founded. After a break for lunch, we'll move to the Vatican Museums, to see the beautiful courtyards, the galleries and the Sistine Chapel, painted by the genius of the Renaissance: Michelangelo. With a direct access from the chapel, we'll conclude the tour in St. Peter's Basilica, the biggest church in the world, and we'll enjoy the great view of St. Peter's Square.
The Colosseum is one of the longest-standing and most impressive monuments in the world. Built under the rule of the Flavian emperors some 2000 years ago this elliptical architectural masterpiece played host to free games to entertain the emperors and the public. An earthquake destroyed the southern part of the building in 847 and parts of the felled section were used in the construction of other famous landmarks like the St. Peter's Basilica.
The erstwhile center of life for the Roman public, the Roman Forum is now a plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important government buildings that include the Triumphal Arches (for emperors to announce their victories), Curia Julia (where the senate assembled) and the Rostra (the speaker's platform). It also houses several temples and basilicas.
It is the centermost of the famous seven hills of Rome. The Palatine Hill is littered with ruins of palaces and stadiums. Since most of the hill is an excavation site, a good way to understand its significance would be to visit the Palatine Antiquarian Museum on Domitian's Palace.
The museums of the Vatican are by far the best place to experience Renaissance art. A collection that has taken over five centuries to build, it houses 54 galleries, the last being the Sistine Chapel, the roof of which has been designed by Michelangelo. To get here, one must go through the previous 53 galleries, which, given the objects of beauty placed within them, is something nobody would object to.
This work of Renaissance architecture is the largest church in the world. The burial site of St. Peter, this church is much revered in Christendom. Even otherwise, the church is an architectural marvel whose design has had contributions from immortalized artists like Bernini, Bramante, Michelangelo and Maderno.
Right next to the Basilica is the St. Peter's Square. With an imposing Obelisk in the center and fountains on the axis, which was relocated from Egypt, the square looks particularly delightful in the night with the light playing on the water as well as dancing through the columns of the Basilica.
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