A day In Rome: Coliseum & Vatican with lunch

Journey Through Millennia: From Imperial Rome to Vatican City

Experience the essence of Rome in one day, traversing through ancient ruins, Renaissance art, and the heart of Catholicism.

Morning: Colosseum Archaeological Park
Begin your journey at the Colosseum, which once hosted gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. 
Next, explore the Palatine Hill, the centermost of Rome's seven hills. Legend has it that Romulus founded Rome here in 753 BC: today, it is an open-air museum showcasing ruins of imperial palaces.
Conclude the morning at the Roman Forum, once the heart of ancient Rome. For centuries, this was the center of public life, hosting everything from political speeches to criminal trials.

Lunch: Taste of Roman Cuisine
Enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant, savoring traditional Roman dishes, such as pasta alla carbonara or saltimbocca alla romana.

Afternoon: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Post-lunch, delve into the Vatican Museums, home to one of the world's most extensive art collections. Traverse the Pio Clementino Hall, featuring the Apollo Belvedere, a sculpture that greatly influenced Renaissance art.
In the Gallery of Maps, admire 16th-century topographical maps of Italy, a testament to Renaissance cartography. The tour culminates in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's frescoes adorn the ceiling.

Late Afternoon: St. Peter's Basilica and Square
Your day concludes with a visit inside St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. You'll have the chance to marvel at Michelangelo's Pietà, sculpted when he was just 24, and Bernini's magnificent baldachin, rising 29 meters above the papal altar.
The tour also includes an explanation of the Basilica's exterior.
In St. Peter's Square, admire Bernini's sweeping colonnade, designed to embrace visitors like "the maternal arms of Mother Church."