Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Arrive in, Italy’s hot-blooded capital & one of the world’s most romantic & charismatic cities, Rome with its heady mix of haunting ruins, awe-inspiring art & vibrant street life.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? – Rome Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort, transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the morning / afternoon is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (we shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

There simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history and dazzling artistic and culinary diversity. From the thrill of fresh powder on the mountain top to the peace of a twilight stroll through a gorgeous medieval town, Europe is a place that stimulates your sense of curiosity. Through shared history, cultural diversity, and natural beauty, this continent inspires connections, experiences and memories that stretch beyond borders.

Whether you wish for the serenity of a quiet trip in the countryside or the excitement of a music festival, it’s all here in Europe, waiting just for you. In a continent where travel is free-flowing, adventures are limitless.

Home to many of the world's greatest works of art, architecture and gastronomy, Italy elates, inspires & moves like no other.

Italy's cities each have a unique character with a wide range of attractions. Epicentre of the Roman Empire & birthplace of the Renaissance, this European virtuoso groans under the weight of its cultural cachet.

Amongst the masterpieces housed in Cathedrals, Museums & Galleries are Michelangelo's David & Sistine Chapel frescoes, Botticelli's Birth of Venus & Primavera & da Vinci's The Last Supper. In fact, Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites than any other country on Earth. Should you walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in Pompeii, revel in Ravenna's glittering Byzantine treasures or get breathless over Giotto's revolutionary frescoes in Padua?

In few places do art & life intermingle so effortlessly. This may be the land of Dante, Titian & Verdi, but it is also the home of Prada, Massimo Bottura & Renzo Piano. Beauty, style & flair furnish every aspect of daily life, from those immaculately knotted ties & seamless espressos to the flirtatious smiles of striking strangers.

One day you are tearing down Courmayeur's powdery slopes, the next you could be galloping across the marshes of the Maremma, or diving in coral-studded Campanian waters. After a day of exploring or sightseeing, finding a local trattoria for a taste of Italy each evening is always a highlight. The Italians are, after all the masters of pizza & pasta and a traditional gelatto during the day always refreshes things nicely too. And, why not also enjoy a visit to a vineyard, olive grove or cheese producer & sample their fares. Not bad for a country not much bigger than Arizona.

Ah…Rome - there is simply no place like it.

Monumental History| Artistic Treasures| Roman Feasting| Living Life

A trip to Rome is as much about lapping up the dolce vita lifestyle as gorging on art & culture. It is about relaxing into the city's Mediterranean rhythms & idling around the picturesque streets. Whiling away hours at street side cafes & people-watching on pretty Piazzas are an integral part of the Roman experience. The tempo rises as the heat of the day fades into the evening cool & the fashionably dressed aperitivo (aperitif) crowd descends on the city's bars & cafes. Restaurants & trattorias hum with activity & cheerful hordes mill around popular haunts before heading off to cocktail bars & late-night clubs.

Few cities can rival Rome's astonishing artistic heritage. Throughout history, the city has starred in the great upheavals of Western art, drawing top artists & inspiring them to push the boundaries of creative achievement. The result is a city awash with priceless treasures. Ancient statues adorn world-class Museums; Byzantine mosaics & Renaissance frescoes dazzle in art-rich Churches; baroque facades flank medieval Piazzas. Stroll through the centre & without even trying you will come across masterpieces by the titans of European art – sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Caravaggio, frescoes by Raphael & fountains by Bernini.

The result of 3000 years of ad hoc urban development, Rome's cityscape is an exhilarating spectacle. Ancient icons such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Pantheon recall Rome's time as the fearsome hub of the Roman Empire, the caput mundi (capital of the world), while catacombs & clandestine Churches hark back to the early days of Christianity. Lording it over the Vatican, St Peter's Basilica is the greatest of the city's monumental Basilicas, a towering masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Elsewhere, ornate Piazzas & elaborate Churches add a baroque flourish to the city's historic streets.

Eating out is one of Rome's great pleasures & the combination of romantic alfresco settings & superlative food is a guarantee of good times. For contemporary fine dining & 5* wine, there are any number of refined restaurants, but for a truly Roman meal head to a boisterous Pizzeria or convivial neighbourhood Trattoria. That is where the locals go to indulge their passion for thin, crispy pizzas, humble pasta dishes & cool white wines from the nearby Castelli Romani hills. To finish off, what can beat a gelato followed by a shot of world-beating coffee?

The Eternal City is one of the world's most beautiful & inspiring capitals. The well-preserved remains of the capital of the Roman Empire stand alongside modern Rome creating a city like no other with wonderful opportunities for exploration. From the Coliseum & Forum to St. Peter's Basilica & the Vatican Museum, the city's fine art & architecture are arguably second to none. Famous fountains & Squares sit amidst cosmopolitan shops & amenities.

Rome at night is unparalleled by any city in the world. Why not begin your discovery of Rome by taking a stroll along some of the charming avenues & boulevards, shop in charming boutiques or simply people-watch from a sidewalk cafe? Love the aroma of freshly ground coffee that comes out of the cafes & share a carafe of local wine over lunch in a Trattoria. Experience the Eternal City at its memorable best.  

Overnight.  

Morning, proceed (on your own) to Metro station entrance in Piazza di Spagna to meet the Tour-guide - at 09:00 am - and embark on a - 3 hour - Discover Rome “walking” tour.  

You will have your guide on hand to educate & amuse you! Traveling in groups of 25 people or less, your stroll through the streets & piazzas of Rome will be hassle-free & unhurried.

Ask any local about the best way to spend a day in Rome & they are likely to recommend “il dolce far niente”, the sweetness of doing nothing. The best way to experience Rome is to spend a day wandering its streets, enjoying hidden gems & lively piazzas in the historical core of the city - sites like the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon & Piazza Navona.

Let the Eternal City enchant you as you stroll through its picturesque cobblestone alleyways & discover some of the world’s most famous sites, all in a single afternoon!

Our Tour does just that, visiting all the most important sights of central Rome & a few of its unsung heroes, with an expert Guide to ensure that you get the most from your day of adventure.

Let the Eternal City enchant you as you stroll through its picturesque cobblestone alleyways and discover some of the world’s most famous sites, all in a single morning!

Bring history to life visiting Largo Argentina, place of the murder of Julius Caesar.

Move on to perhaps, the most beautiful piazza in all of Rome. Piazza Navona is home to spectacular Renaissance buildings & Bernini’s beautiful Fountain of Four Rivers, the sculpture that saved his reputation after he almost tore St. Peter’s Basilica in half. One of the best examples of Baroque art in Rome

You will then walk to the Roman Catholic Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, not far from Piazza Navona.

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to St. Denis the Areopagite & St. Louis IX, king of France, this opulent baroque church of Rome’s French community since 1589, is home to a celebrated trio of Caravaggio paintings: the Vocazione di San Matteo (The Calling of Saint Matthew), the Martirio di San Matteo (The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew) and San Matteo e l’angelo (Saint Matthew and the Angel), known collectively as the St Matthew cycle

These three canvases, housed in the Cappella Contarelli to the left of the main altar, are among the earliest of Caravaggio's religious works, painted between 1600 and 1602, but they are inescapably his, featuring a down-to-earth realism & the stunning use of chiaroscuro (the bold contrast of light and dark).

Before you leave the church, take a moment to enjoy Domenichino’s faded 17^th cntury frescoes of St Cecilia in the second chapel on the right. St Cecilia is also depicted in the altarpiece by Guido Reni, a copy of a work by Raphael.

Experience the magnitude of the emperors visiting Colonna Square with the sublime Column of Marco Aurelio.

Walk through the “door to Rome”, Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) with its twin churches & ancient 36m high Egyptian obelisk which was brought by Augustus from ancient Egypt & was originally placed in Circo Massimo. This massive piazza was laid out in 1538 to provide a grandiose entrance to what was then Rome's main northern gateway. Standing sentinel at its southern approach are Carlo Rainaldi's twin 17^th century churches, Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli & Basilica di Santa Maria in Montesanto..

The name of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the northeast corner of the piazza, is derived from the poplars which, once upon a time, were placed as markers for new arrivals to indicate a passage between the most important churches in the city.

And finally, it is on to the Spanish Steps, one of the most atmospheric spots in Rome. From there we trace a path through the cobbled streets of the city to the colossal Trevi Fountain, part water feature, part magnificent sculpture. Listen as the Guide explains the strange history behind this famous monument, including the reason why there’s one spot from which the entire structure is obscured. Throw your coins into the famous fountain water & make a wish, as is the centuries old tradition at the fountain.

You are now in the very heart of Rome now, where narrow streets snake out in every direction. Next stop will be the Pantheon with its famous occulus, a hole in the roof through which the sun shines and rain falls. Here you will see Raphael’s tomb & learn about the real cause of the famous artist’s death.

The Tour ends in Campo dei Fiori, a favorite hangout among locals. The square plays host to a flower market during the day, becoming one of the city’s hottest social spots after nightfall. Like so many of the sites you’ll visit on your tour, this piazza has a history you never would have guessed.

You will stop for a coffee, beer or wine break (your call!) before paying homage to another incredible artist - Rome’s favorite sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Later in the afternoon, reach the Meeting Point before 02.00 pm to embark on another ‘walking’ tour to visit the Vatican, a country in its own right - the smallest in all of Europe.

Enjoy your guided tour of the Vatican Museums with one of the most extensive collection of art in the world (Admission ticket included). The Sistine Chapel with the Last Judgement of Michelangelo, the statues of Laocoon & the Apollo Belvedere, the Tapestries & the Maps Gallery, are only some of the treasures that you will discover.

Next your expert guide will lead you in St. Peter’s Basilica, revealing you its masterpieces as the Pieta by Michelangelo & the internal decorations by Bernini, ending the visit in St. Peter’s Square.

Return to the hotel (on your own).

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions or perhaps you might want to try one of the many “Optional” tours available here).

Today, you have the time at leisure to do as you please... whatever you feel like (we would be happy to offer suggestions or perhaps you might want to try one of the many “Optional” tours available here).

Let the Eternal City enchant you as you stroll through its picturesque cobblestone alleyways & discover some of the world’s most famous sites, all in a single afternoon!

Or, go back one of the spots that you saw during your introductory ‘walking tour’.

Rome’s ancient roots uncoil throughout the city, flaunting icons like the Colosseum & Pantheon and priceless masterpieces by Bernini & Michelangelo.

Not to be missed is the iconic Colosseum, the mainstay of Italian tourism images & so many movies. Debuting in 80 AD, the behemoth 50,000 seat amphitheater famously hosted frenzied spectators who would watch Gladiators facing off against each other or wild animals. No photograph can prepare you for the thrill of seeing it for the first time. More than any other monument, this iconic amphitheatre symbolises the power & drama of ancient Rome & still today, it is an electrifying sight. Its muscular form has survived in remarkably good shape & it doesn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to picture it in its pomp, its steeply stacked stands full of frenzied spectators as armoured gladiators slug it out on the arena below.

Right next to it is the Roman Forum, a bustling stretch of Markets & Temples in its heyday, encompassing must-see sights like the Arco di Settimio Severo & Tempio di Saturno. To walk through the tumbledown ruins in what was once the heart of the Roman Empire, is to retrace the footsteps of the great figures of Roman history - people like Julius Caesar, Augustus & Pompey.

Rome's 7 hills offer some superb vantage points for memorable photos. Palatino (Palatine Hill) where Romulus allegedly founded the city in 753 BCE, is one of the best. It is a gorgeous green expanse of evocative ruins, towering pine trees & stunning views that rise above the Roman Forum.

Overnight.  B

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end. Time to say to say arrivederci to this enchanting country & go home.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you want to go out). 

Bell'Italia! Repubblica Italiana, with a long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture & cuisine. Cradle of European civilization - established by the Roman Empire, carried on by the Roman Catholic Church, Italian art, architecture & culture have had an influence around the world. Exploring Italy, you will stand face-to-face with some of the world's most iconic images from its 2,000 year history.

And we are sure you will want to come back to discover some more, after this glimpse & we will be waiting to handle your arrangements.

 “Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Rome Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport, for your onward journey. Buon Viaggio!  B

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