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A Week In Rome
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A A taste of La Dolce Vita. Discovering Rome and the surrounding countryside |
Ref: Ex-DIR
8 days
from £759 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
Italy
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A taste of La Dolce Vita. Discovering Rome and the surrounding countryside
With the relics of over 2000 years of history, Rome is arguably the most fascinating of Italy’s cities. Classical features jostle with ancient basilicas and the fountains and churches of the Baroque period. According to legend, the city is named after Romulus, who killed his brother Remus to take control of the city and in 753BC named the city Roma. Such is the legend, but it is more likely that the people of Latium built the city as a fortress. The city gradually spread over the adjoining hills and thanks to its strategic position by the River Tiber and proximity to the coast, Rome dominated trade routes from Etruria to Campania. Until 510BC, when Rome became a Republic, Etruscan kings ruled the city. By the 2nd century BC the city was poised to take over the whole Mediterranean, but several civil wars ended the Republic, the Emperors took over and a frenzy of monumental building began; each Emperor wanting to leave his mark on the city. Nero built the Domus Aurea, Vespasian the Colosseum, and Hadrian built Castel Sant’Angelo, all famous buildings which still stand today. With the rise of Christianity in the 4th century, Rome became the centre of a new empire, Christendom, and many of the city’s large basilicas such as San Pietro were built. On two days we shall walk in the rural areas outside the city. The landscape of Lazio varies from gently undulating hills in the north to the mountains south and east of the capital.
Extend your stay:
additional nighs accommodation, either before or after the trip, can booked for you at the Hotel Continentale in Rome on a B&B basis; single room £55, double £72. A £5 booking fee is charged.
Further Information:
Special equipment required:
comfortable walking shoes or boots for sightseeing and walking, a small daypack, some waterproofs and perhaps an umbrella.
Extra Expenses:
you should allow about €100 for lunches and the evening meal not included - the cost will depend on the standard of restaurant chosen and whether you have a picnic style snack at lunchtime or a light restaurant meal. You will also need extra if you intend to buy wine at the table each evening. Entrance fees to various museums and historic sites are not included in the trip price. The total cost should not be more than €40, but this will depend on how many you choose to visit. You should also allow for any excursions on your free day.
Meals Included:
all breakfasts and 6 evening meals.
Transport:
transfers to and from the airport are by train and/or taxi, and transport for most organised excursions is on public transport.
Children:
children under the age of 16 can not join this holiday.
Joining locally:
the land-only joining point is the Hotel Continentale. From Rome airport you may take either the airport bus to Termini Station followed by a very short taxi ride or 10 minute walk to the hotel, or a taxi directly to the hotel. The costs are approx. €20 and €40 respectively.
Group & Staff:
Min. 6, max. 16 plus leader.
Accommodation:
We stay at the Hotel Continentale, which is a 2-star hotel. It is not luxurious but is of an acceptable standard and has the major advantage of a central location. The main sites are not far away and the proximity to the main railway station is convenient when taking trips out of the city. All city centres are noisy places and Rome is no exception but on the positive side there is also a wide choice of restaurants, bars and cafes.
Food:
Breakfast is taken in the hotel and is usually continental in style, with coffee, tea, fruit juice, bread jam and honey. Lunches can be bought at one of the many cafes and bars; alternatively there are supermarkets nearby if you prefer to buy a picnic. Italians live to eat and the evening meals are celebrated affairs. We shall take our evening meals in local restaurants, trattorias or pizzerias, where in addition to traditional Roman cuisine, we can enjoy many regional specialties. The evening meal not included is on the free day.
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Day 1 | Fly from London to Rome and transfer by rail and/or road to the hotel, a journey of about one (this does depend somewhat on the traffic in Rome). Those booking land-only arrangements should join us in the afternoon/evening at the hotel. | Day 2 | Rome is best explored on foot and we shall spend three days exploring the historic centre, visiting some of the famous landmarks and monuments. The oldest and most evocative ruins are those of the Roman Forum, once the heart of the Mediterranean world. Once through the gates the noise of the city seems to fade away and it’s easy to imagine the city as it was over 2000 years ago. The most imposing monument of ancient Rome is the Colosseum. Gladiatorial contests and mock sea battle took place here and up to 50,000 people could be seated in the amphitheatre. No visit to the Eternal City would be complete without spending a day in the environs of St Peter’s and the Vatican Museum – Piazza San Pietro is one of the most beautiful squares in the world with its marvellous colonnade and triumphal arches designed by Bernini, an obelisk from Egypt at the centre and the awe-inspiring basilica of St Peter, with its breathtakingly beautiful cupola designed by Michelangelo and a hauntingly beautiful stained-glass window. Ascending to the gallery around the interior of the dome we can see the artwork close up and go out onto the roof for a panoramic view over the city. Rome is a city of fountains and piazzas, and these make an ideal spot to soak up the atmosphere and watch the world go by, whilst enjoying an ice cream or a coffee at one of the many street cafes. We see Piazza Navona with its magnificent ‘Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi’ - The fountain of the Rivers, a masterpiece with personifications of the four great rivers of the world – the Nile, Danube, Ganges and Plate – portrayed as lions and fantastic animals. Hidden in a maze of narrow streets is the impressive Baroque Trevi Fountain, a statue of Ocean, borne on a carriage made of a shell drawn by sea horses. A magnificent stairway – the Spanish Steps - leads down to Piazza di Spagna with its famous boat shaped ‘Barcaccia’ fountain, from where we can go shopping in the elegant Via dei Condotti. We also have two days of mixing sightseeing and walking in the rural areas outside the city. On one day we go up to the lovely hill village of Rocca di Papa, go up to Monte Cavo and then down to Lago Albano. On another day we go out to Hadrian’s Villa, visit the 16th century Villa d’Este and Tivoli. There is one free day. | Day 3 | As above | Day 4 | As above | Day 5 | As above | Day 6 | As above | Day 7 | As above | Day 8 | Travel back to Rome for the flight to London. Those who have land-only arrangements will end the trip at the hotel. |
Departures Between | Price from | 16 Oct 04 | *£759 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment €130 (approx. £90)
Single supplement £135
Insurance £25
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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A Week In Rome
A A taste of La Dolce Vita. Discovering Rome and the surrounding countryside
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