Rome and Venus Transit Itinerary Page 2

Rome and Venus Transit Itinerary Page 2

Day 4 Wed, June 9 Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Ancient Ostia & Rome

		After checkout we will journey west to the beautifully preserved, tree-shaded ruins of Ostia Antica. Founded in 400 BC, this massive city was home to more than 100,000 people during the second century AD. As you stroll down the main street, Decumanus Maximus, you’ll see the deep ruts left centuries ago by carts used to ferry supplies through the city. After lunch at a local seafood restaurant, we’ll travel to our hotel in Rome. Once a monastery, the Domus Sessoriana opened as a hotel in 2003 and is furnished simply with 18th-century paintings, frescoes, and Italian terra-cotta tile floors.


Adjacent is the Basilica Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, with its beautiful mosaic floors and ceilings. We’ll toast our arrival in the Eternal City on the hotel’s Roof Terrace before walking to a favorite restaurant for an evening of Roman culinary delights. Overnight: Domus Sessoriana (3 nights)

Day 5 Thurs, June 10 Breakfast / Lunch

*Ancient & Baroque Rome Walking Tour*
Today we will break into small groups to begin our walk through Roman history, beginning at the Colosseum, where 50,000 spectators came to see gory games between wild animals and gladiators. Our guide will then take us through the famed Roman Forum, a complex of squares with colonnade ruins and temples, which was the core of ancient Rome. From the Forum we will walk up to the Campidoglio, the epicenter of Roman government since the city began.

After lunch overlooking the city, we will walk to the wonderfully preserved Pantheon. The massive columns that front the building and its unique proportions make it an architectural masterpiece. From there, we will wander narrow streets to a small piazza dominated by the rushing waters and sculpted marble sea creatures of the famous Trevi Fountain — toss in a coin to assure your return to Rome! Our last stop of the day will be at the impressive Spanish Steps, where the crowd is always lively. We’ll have time for an espresso or gelato before returning to the hotel. Enjoy this evening in Rome on your own.

Day 6 Fri, June 11 Breakfast / Dinner
Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
Rising early this morning, we will depart for the smallest country in the world — Vatican City — to visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. There we’ll see Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling fresco depicting the story of humanity and featuring the classic painting of Creation. Then we will stroll to St. Peter’s Basilica, an imposing structure filled with icons and masterworks that include Michelangelo’s Pietà. After touring St. Peter’s, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner.

Day 7 Sat, June 12 Breakfast
Fly home or extend your stay!
We will arrange a transfer to the airport for your flight home, or you may choose to extend your stay in Italy. Hotel and transportation packages can be arranged to other destinations such as Venice, Florence, and the Tuscany region. Contact TravelQuest for details.

Copyright 2003 TravelQuest International. All rights reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised: October 25, 2005.
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