Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Rome. You'll see not only the Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica and other iconic Roman sights, but also exclusive tours such as a private look inside a Borghese villa.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Rome

Your tour begins when you board your overnight flight for Rome.

Day 2 - Rome

Upon arrival at the airport, a Go Ahead representative will meet you and assist in your transfer to your hotel. This evening, join us for a Welcome Reception and Dinner, featuring a buffet dinner of some traditional favorites and a toast of the quintessential Italian sparkling wine: prosecco.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Rome

Step back to the elegance and charm of the early 1960s on this morning’s guided walking tour inspired by Federico Fellini’s seminal film La Dolce Vita (“The Sweet Life”). The movie centers on Marcello, a tabloid journalist searching for love and the meaning of life during a week in Rome. Even if you haven’t seen the film, you’re probably familiar with one of the characters: Paparazzo, who gives his name to tabloid photographers around the world. Fellini captured a glamorous image of Rome in black and white—dark sunglasses, exquisitely tailored suits and dresses, Vespas zipping through narrow streets—in short, a city that had emerged from the destruction of World War II reinvigorated and determined to enjoy the good life.

This exclusive tour brings you to some of the film’s iconic sights. Start with the vast Piazza della Repubblica, where you’ll find the Fountain of the Naiads and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, built in 1563 on the ruins of the Roman emperor Diocletian’s baths. From here, you’ll walk to the 381-year-old Trevi Fountain, the largest in the city and the site of La Dolce Vita’s famous nighttime swimming scene between Marcello and the stunning Sylvia. Local legend holds that tossing a coin into the fountain will ensure your return to Rome.

You’ll walk three short blocks from the fountain to Via del Corso, Main Street for the historic center of Rome. Pass by the Column of Marcus Aurelius, a nearly 2,000-year-old monument etched in the finest Carrara marble, before reaching Via Condotti. Here, you’ll pass Antico Caffe Greco—the oldest café in Italy and a favorite haunt of artistic luminaries including Goethe, Byron and Keats—on your way to the peerless Spanish Steps. Built in 1725 and still the longest and widest staircase in Europe, you’ll climb all 138 steps as you ascend from Piazza di Spagna to the heights of Trinita Dei Monti, a beautiful white church that has served Rome for more than 500 years. You’ll enjoy the panoramic views of Rome that spread before you. From Trinita Dei Monti, you’ll walk to the serpentine Via Veneto, where leafy trees offer shade to anyone who wants to wile away an afternoon at a sidewalk cafe. One of Rome’s wealthiest thoroughfares, Via Veneto’s opulence led Fellini to film much of La Dolce Vita nearby. The film’s cast and crew enjoyed their time here, mingling with locals in the many bars and cafes lining the street. You’ll stop in at Doney—one of Fellini’s favorite watering holes—for a prosecco toast to cap off your tour.

This afternoon, your sightseeing continues with a look at Imperial Rome. You’ll ride through the ancient Roman and Imperial Forums on your way to the Colosseum, where you’ll have a chance to explore the arena that played host to gladiators, lions and even a mock sea battle! Then, head to the Circus Maximus, where Roman emperors once drank in the spectacle of chariot races, a scene dramatized in the film Ben Hur. Finally, you’ll pass by the Mouth of Truth—backdrop for a famous scene from the film Roman Holiday—and the Marcellus Theatre, built in the final days of the Roman Republic. This evening, explore the Eternal City and live La Dolce Vita on your own.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Colosseum

Day 4 - Rome

Set out this morning to discover Rome’s famous basilicas. You’ll visit four stunning churches, each with a fascinating story. First visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the only Roman basilica that retains the core of its original structure. Standing inside the ornate Pauline Chapel, commissioned and funded by the Borghese family, you’ll gain a sense of the Roman Catholic Church at the height of its wealth and power.

Next, explore the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the official cathedral of Rome. The church survived a series of fires in the 1300s, but subsequent reconstruction efforts—including the superb Baroque façade—have restored its former glory.

On your way to the Church of St. Peter in Chains, pass the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, which originally served as the private chapel of the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine. The Church of St. Peter in Chains was built to house a relic: the chains that bound St. Peter during his imprisonment. Gorgeous frescoes from as early as the 16th century cover the church’s walls, and at the tomb of Pope Julius II, you’ll find Michaelangelo’s masterful sculpture of Moses.

Your tour concludes at the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christian house of worship in the world. Commissioned near the beginning of the 16th century, St. Peter’s signifies Rome’s place at the center of Christianity. Construction was financed by the sale of indulgences, a practice that later led Martin Luther to break away from the Church. The beautiful façade and interior of the Basilica represent the efforts of some of the Renaissance’s greatest artists. Michaelangelo’s emotive Pieta is also housed here, marking St. Peter’s as both a holy site and one of the world’s finest art museums.

This afternoon, you’re free to explore at leisure. Tonight, join us for a family-style dinner at a typical Roman restaurant, where you’ll dine on regional specialities including bruschetta, carbonara, pasta all’ amatriciana and, of course, Italian wine.  After dinner, board a bus for a guided tour of Rome by Night. After sunset, the city lights up, infusing Rome with a magical air. You’ll get to see several sights—including the Colosseum—in a totally new light. Begin at Trevi Fountain, where Marcello and Sylvia splashed one another in La Dolce Vita.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Basilica of St. Mary Major, Basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s Basilica

Day 5 - Rome

After breakfast, board a bus for the coastal town of Nettuno where you’ll enjoy a rare tour of a private Borghese estate. The Borghese family first rose to prominence in 1605 when Camilo Borghese became Pope Paul V. During Camilo’s papacy, the Borgheses’ wealth and influence grew rapidly as the family purchased land, gained noble titles and laid the foundations of its exquisite private art collection. Walking through this Borghese villa, you’ll feel a connection to the nearly 400 years of history contained in these walls. During World War II, the villa’s proximity to the Nettuno and Anzio beachheads led to its use as Allied Supreme Headquarters in Italy.

Then, your Tour Director leads a stroll through Nettuno’s old town and the nearby ruins of Nero’s imperial palace—the source of some of the ancient statuary inside the Borghese villa. Later, stop at a local winery to learn more about the art of winemaking on a guided tour. Enjoy a light lunch of local fare including crumbly Pecorino Romano and succulent porchetta alongside the wines you’ve just learned about. During your return to Rome, time and weather permitting, you’ll stop at the Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place of the 7,861 American soldiers who gave their lives to liberate Italy. Tonight, you’re free to meander through Rome at your leisure.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, wine tasting
Included entrances: Borghese villa, winery

Day 6 - Rome

Today, you’ll discover two monuments to Rome’s long history: the famous Appian Way and the Catacombs. The Appian Way served as the “queen of roads” in ancient Rome. This ancient thoroughfare has seen millions of footsteps, from both ordinary people and some of history’s most well known figures, such as Spartacus, whose rebellion ended here.

Then, descend into the candlelit world of the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. Early Christians faced severe persecution from the Romans, so they conducted their services in secret underground caverns. The crypts, chapels and sanctuaries of Rome’s catacombs serve as a thought-provoking counterpoint to the grandeur of St. Peter’s.

Tonight, gather for our 20th Anniversary Dinner, where you’ll feast on Italian fare and share your favorite memories of Rome with your fellow travelers. You’ll savor your farewell meal at Casina Valadier, a centuries-old home. Renovated in the 1990s, Casina Valadier lives on as a monument to the famous architect who gave the house its name. From the Casina’s terrace, the twinkling lights of Rome will unfurl at your feet.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Appian Way, Catacombs

Day 7 - Rome

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Please note: This tour is not eligible for any special offers or promotions.