Rome and Surroundings

Colosseum Tour

Colosseum Tour

🏛️ Explore Ancient Rome: Colosseum and Forum Tour 🏛️

Step into the grandeur of Ancient Rome with our immersive Colosseum and Forum tour! Embark on a journey through time as you walk in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors, unraveling the captivating history of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.

🔍 What to Expect:
👑 Colosseum: Marvel at the architectural brilliance of this ancient amphitheater, where fierce battles and spectacles once enthralled crowds of thousands. Learn about its construction, the games held within its walls, and the stories of the gladiators who fought for glory and honor.

🏛️ Roman Forum: Wander through the heart of ancient Rome, where politics, religion, and commerce intersected. Discover the ruins of temples, basilicas, and government buildings that once stood as symbols of Roman power and prestige. Let your expert guides bring the ruins to life with fascinating tales of triumph and tragedy.

🗓️ Private tour
📍 Location: Rome, Italy
🕒 Duration: 2 hours
🎟️ Tickets: Included in the tour package
🌐 contact me directly for more information and booking inquiries info@roman-gateway.com

 

Sistine Chapel Tour

Sistine Chapel Tour

Sistine Chapel Tour

Our  Sistine chapel tour will focus on the most famous and grandiose religious monument hidden in the heart of the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican museums that are among the most visited museums in the world.

Over 7 millions tourists flock to discover the splendor of these 12 museums annually. The museums are compromised of no less than five galleries and 1.400 rooms, inaugurated in 1771. They consist  of an extraordinary collection of works of art, mainly paintings and sculptures, collected over the centuries by the popes.

After visiting the Sistine Chapel , we will pass through a door (for tour guides only) that will get us directly to St. Peter's Basilica. The tickets, purchased for this tour,  will allow us to skip the lines. This will give us more time to enjoying exploring this memorable sight together.

Saint Peter is the largest basilica in the world. Construction began in 1506, but was not completed  until 1626. It contains wonderful masterpieces like the Pietà by Michelangelo or the canopy over the main altar by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Upon entering the church, you will overwhelmed by the beauty of its hundreds of giant mosaics and the atmosphere that reigns in this amazing house of worship.

Tour length: 2/3 hours.

 

SAINT PETER

Suggestions: Vatican dress code – no bare shoulders, skirts and shorts under the knees, no weapons ad no big bags or backpacks.

Vatican Scavi Tour and St. Peter’s basilica

Vatican Scavi Tour and St. Peter’s basilica

Vatican Scavi tour and St. Peter's basilica

Vatican Scavi Tour: Explore the Underground Tomb of St. Peter
The Vatican Scavi Tour, which takes you through the excavations beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, is one of the most exclusive and fascinating experiences in Rome.

I have been an official Vatican Scavi guide since 1996. After decades leading visitors through these underground passages, I know every corner of the site so well that I could practically guide the tour blindfolded.

During the tour, we will explore the Ancient Roman necropolis discovered by archaeologists in 1939 during excavations ordered by Pope Pius XII. This extraordinary underground burial city dates from the 1st to the 4th century AD and was originally located along the ancient Via Cornelia, a Roman road that once ran beside the hill where the Vatican now stands.

The necropolis contains remarkably preserved mausoleums and tombs belonging to wealthy Roman families. Many are decorated with colorful frescoes, intricate mosaics, stucco reliefs, and inscriptions that reveal details about Roman funeral traditions and early Christian beliefs. Walking through these narrow ancient streets feels like stepping back into the world of Imperial Rome.

One of the most important highlights of the Scavi is the early Christian burial area surrounding the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle. According to tradition and archaeological evidence, St. Peter was buried here after his martyrdom in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero in the 1st century AD. His grave soon became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine the Great ordered the construction of the first basilica directly above this sacred site to honor St. Peter. The present St. Peter's Basilica, begun in 1506, was later built in the same location, preserving the apostle’s burial place deep below the high altar.
Because the site is extremely delicate and protected, access to the excavations is strictly limited. Only small groups of about 15 visitors are allowed at a time, making the Vatican Scavi Tour one of the most exclusive experiences in Rome.

After visiting the underground necropolis, we will continue with a guided visit inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Built beginning in 1506, St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world and home to some of the most important masterpieces of the Renaissance, including the famous PietĂ  by Michelangelo.

This tour can also be combined with a visit to the Vatican Museums or with the Papal Audience on Wednesdays for a complete Vatican experience.

Tour Duration: 2 hours



 

Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour

Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour

We will start the Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour crossing an ancient Roman bridge connecting the charming Tiber Island to the left bank where Rome's main Jewish Synagogue is situated; it was completed in 1904 in the area that was once Rome's Jewish Ghetto, the small enclave where the Roman Jews were confined to live from 1555 to 1870.

We will walk through the remaining areas of the former Jewish Ghetto and down the old lanes of first century b.c. Portico d’Ottavia, a Roman library transformed into a church where the Jews were forced to attend mass.

At the end, we’ll stop at the Kosher Bakery to taste the famous Pizza Giudia or if it is the right season we can eat the delicious Jewish artichokes.

 

Papal Audience Free Tickets

Papal Audience Free Tickets

Papal audience
Papal Audience
Papal Audience free Tickets

I will be glad to get for you, your family and friends free tickets for Papal audience.

What is Papal audience?

Papal audience also called the General Audience  is when the Holy Father addresses the crowd, usually in different languages in Saint Peter’s square

It’s not a mass but the Pope gives a themed speech, followed by prayers, a homily, and some singing.

At the end of the ceremony, the Pope will bless religious articles. If you have arrived in Rome with a rosary or bible or other object that you want blessed, bring it with you.

Or, you can buy these objects in many places in Rome, especially around the Vatican, and certainly inside the many gift shops you will find throughout the Vatican.

The whole audience lasts around 1.5 hours, so it should end  by around 11 a.m..

The General Audience is held (nearly) every Wednesday at 9h30 , when the Pope is in Rome.

Most of the time, the Papal Audience is held in Saint Peter’s Square, which can accommodate around 80,000 people.

During the cold winter months, , or if it’s raining hard , then the General Audience will be in Paul VI Audience Hall, which is to the left of Saint Peter’s Basilica. This space can only accommodate around 6000 people.

If the Pope is in Rome, but on summer holiday, there will not be any Papal Audiences at the Vatican. It can be in July or August.

Other chances to see the Pope in Rome 

The other opportunity to see the Pope is on a Sunday at 12 noon when he is in Rome. 

He will appear from the window of his apartment where he gives a short speech followed by the Angelus and ending with a blessing. 

He may also greet the crowds in various languages and the whole event usually lasts around 15-20mins. 

He will impart the Apostolic Blessing at the end of the prayer. 

You DO NOT need tickets for the Sunday Angelus.

 

Rome day trip

Rome day trip

Here a couple of suggestions. I have put together for those who have a limited time in Rome and want to see as much they can on a guided tour!

Option 1

Vatican museums (Sixtine Chapel),  St. Peter's basilica, Colosseum, Forum

 

Option 2

Venice Square, Colonna Square,  Ghetto, Teatro di Marcello, Capitol Hill, Forum, Colosseum

 

Downtown Rome Tour

Downtown Rome Tour

Downtown Rome Tour

Plenty of surprises!!!!

This walking tour begins at Trevi Fountain. This is known as Rome's "wish fountain", where a small coin dropped into the Trevi's waters assures your return to Rome. We will then then continue along the side streets of Old Rome, the city's historic center. We will  pass near Colonna Square where in the middle of the square, you can see a 90 feet high second century a.d. Roman Column dedicated to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (the same emperor you saw in the movie Gladiator with Russell Crowe).

Just around the corner a narrow street will lead us to a wonderful church St. Ignatius is well known for its  moving ceiling!!!!

We will pass  in front of the and we stop inside to marvel at the concrete dome the ancient Romans poured in the 2nd century AD.We will admire the light streaming in through the opening at the center of the dome. Seeing the Pantheon for the first time leaves even modern architects amazed at how it was built by the ancient Romans. In this square, we will have a break for a delicious cappuccino. One block away from Pantheon, we can even visit St. Louis of French church if it is open at the time of our tour. This church houses  three wonderful paintings of Matthew’s life by the famous Italian painter Caravaggio.

Our tour will end in piazza Campo de' fiori, with its animated market. The colorful stalls of Campo de' Fiori's fruit and vegetable vendors displaying their bountiful produce will be a feast for your eyes. You may also want to pop into Campo de' Fiori's famous bakery ("forno") to sample, stand-up, a slice of the exquisite thin crust Roman pizza fresh from the oven.

Before the conclusion of the tour,  I will show you the off beaten track spot where J. Caesar was killed.

 

Rome Jewish Catacombs Tour

Rome Jewish Catacombs Tour

Explore the Jewish Catacombs of Rome at Vigna Randanini, an ancient underground burial site from the 2nd century AD. Discover Jewish symbols, history, and combine the tour with a visit to the historic Jewish Ghetto.
Rome Jewish Catacombs Tour – Vigna Randanini

Beneath the busy streets of Rome lies a hidden underground world of ancient tunnels and burial chambers. These fascinating labyrinths transport visitors back in time, to an era when early communities buried their dead in vast subterranean cemeteries carved into the soft volcanic rock.

The Jewish Catacombs of Vigna Randanini date back to the 2nd century AD and were created by Rome’s Jewish community as an underground burial site. Today they represent one of the most important archaeological testimonies of Jewish life in ancient Rome.

During this guided visit, we will explore this remarkable and little-known site, discovered in 1859 beneath a private vineyard along the historic Via Appia Antica area. Walking through the narrow corridors of the catacombs, you will see ancient tombs and burial niches that reveal centuries of Jewish history in the Eternal City.

Many of the tombs are decorated with beautiful carvings and frescoes featuring symbols of the Jewish faith, including:

  • the Menorah (seven-branched candelabrum)

  • the Ark of the Covenant

  • the Torah scroll case

  • the Etrog (citron fruit used during Sukkot)

  • the Shofar (ram’s horn)

  • the pomegranate

  • ritual objects such as the circumcision knife

These symbols offer a rare and moving insight into the beliefs, traditions, and daily life of the ancient Jewish community in Rome.

For those interested in exploring Jewish history further, this tour can also be combined with a visit to the historic Jewish Ghetto of Rome, one of the oldest Jewish quarters in Europe.

Tour Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Access: By appointment only

 

Food & Wine Roman Countryside

Food & Wine Roman Countryside

During the Food and Wine Roman Countryside tour, you will visit family vineyards and see the cellars where the wine is produced. You will be invited to taste the wines, which will also be accompanied by local specialities, such as porchetta, salami and bread cooked in a wood-burning oven. These farms also provide and unparalleled panoramic view of the city of Rome and its environment.

We will spend a lovely day visiting quaint villages, rich with history, located to the south of Rome.

The Roman countryside has drawn tourists since the time of the ancient Romans who came here to spend their vacations. Only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Rome, these hillside villages and their splendid lakes punctuate endless fields of olives and grapes. The volcanically formed earth and the mild climate are ideal for the production of wines, such as the Frascati Superiore and the red I quattro Mori, as well as extravergine olive oil.If you love Italian food and wine, then come with me to discover historic farms in the countryside, outside Rome.

We will spend a lovely day visiting quaint villages, rich with history, located to the south of Rome.

 

The first village to visit is Castelgandolfo and its palace (Pope’s summer residence) and the lovely lake of Albano, a former ancient volcano. Driving along the Tuscolana road we reach Grottaferrata that is very famous for its important 15th century monastery and church decorated with 16th century frescos of saint Nilus’ life.
We continue visiting Nemi village built on the slope of a hill, overviewing Nemi lake, another former volcano. This village is very famous because in Spring you can sit in a bar tasting wild strawberries with fresh cream and looking at the panorama over the lake.

Be prepared for an unforgetable trip back to the times and flavours of the past.

 

Photo reference: Wikimedia Commons

Your Travel and Tours pictures

Your Travel and Tours pictures

Pictures of your tours

I am not a professional photographer but I do love taking pictures.

It’s my passion!

Aaron Siskind once said “Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything”.

For this reason I will so glad to take pictures of you, family and friends during the tours with my camera.

I will  try to immortalize the best moments of your stay in Italy.

It will be like a little souvenir to bring home.

The service is complimentary.