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Discovering Rome & Florence

Sample Package Trip Itinerary

Day 1

We'll begin the tour at St. Peter's Square. This is one of Rome’s greatest sites, visited by millions of tourists and faithful. The splendid square and colonnade, Bernini's finest work, form a superb entryway to the greatest church of Christendom, dominated by the magnificent Dome of Michelangelo.

It's a short walk from the St. Peter's Basilica to Castelo Sant'Angelo. Constructed by the Emperor Hadrian(117-138) as a mausoleum for himself and his successors, the Emperor Aurelian rebuilt the ruins into a fortress that was eventually connected to the Vatican by a safety passage that runs along the top of the encircling wall of the Vatican. Henceforth, it remained under the control of the Popes who used it as a fortress until modern times. Now it is a museum.

Next, we'll cross the Bridge of Angels to the other side of the Tiber River. This bridge is adorned by some of Bernini’s most beautiful and interesting statues, and leads to the true Centro Storico - The Historic Center of Rome. We'll wind our way through cobblestone streets to Piazza Navona. A marvel of light and sculpture, it is exceptionally long and owes its shape to the ruins that formed it, for under the buildings that surround Piazza Navona are the remains of the Circus Domitianus, Domitian's stadium - a part of which can still be seen.The piazza features many fine old buildings, a beautiful church and three stunning fountains. In the center of the piazza is Bernini's most spectacular fountain, la Fontana dei Fiumi (Four Rivers) erected in 1651. Piazza Navona is an extremely lively place with open-air cafes around it. During the summer, numerous artists draw or paint members of the public for a fee. The place is crowded each day and there are often buskers and sometimes mimes to entertain.

After lunch, we will photograph the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. The Pantheon was begun in 27 BC by the statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It fell into ruins but was completely rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian sometime between AD 118 and 128. Its dome was the largest built until modern times. It was dedicated in AD 609 as the Church of the Santa Maria Rotonda, or ad Martyrs, which it remains today. The tomb of Raphael is found inside.

The Trevi Fountain (or Fontana di Trevi) in Rome is known the world over as the fountain where Anita Ekberg cooled off at night in Fellini's film "La Dolce Vita." The Trevi Fountain is also famous as the setting for the popular romantic film "Three Coins In a Fountain." Located in the heart of Rome’s historic center, the Trevi Fountain derives its name from its position at the intersection of three roads (tre vie). It is one of the world’s most photographed monuments in Rome and many visitors agree that, among the many ancient buildings of Baroque Rome, the Trevi Fountain is unrivalled as a spectacular aquatic structure. It is a popular meeting or gathering spot for Romans and visitors alike.

The Spanish Steps (or Scalinata della Trinita' dei Monti) are a majestic series of three flights of steps that lead up to the impressive double-bell towered church (before which stands an obelisk). An intriguing fountain sits at the bottom of the steps that always has people around it puzzling over its peculiarities. This is la Fontana della Barcaccia that is set very low, almost at street level, in order to function with the low water pressure that arrives there. The water is potable and you will see people filling their water bottles constantly.

Day 2

For our 4-Night participants, we'll start the day early to catch the sunrise at the Roman Forum (our 6-night tour participants can sleep in!). Then at 9:00am we'll see The Campidoglio, a remarkable square and an urban masterpiece designed by Michelangelo. At the center of the square stands the great bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.

Then down into the Roman Forum, the focal point of the city in ancient Rome. It was the center for commercial, political, and civil activities and contained markets, prisons, statues, entertainment areas, temples and monuments built by various emperors. Perhaps more than any other Roman ruin, the Forum with its great temples and arches gives us a glimpse into both the architectural and political power of Rome during the time of the emperors and is the perfect outdoor classroom to make exciting and memorable photographs of one of the world's greatest historic sites. Photographing the forum will surely be one of the highlights of your tour.

Finally, we'll walk out of the Roman Forum to the Coliseum, one of the world’s most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. Although it survives only as a ruin, it still rates as one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering.

The rest of the day is yours to wander and explore Rome. Tony can suggest several excellent places to grab a snack or have a pizza.

Rome after sunset is magical and we would be remiss if we didn't include a special Twilight Photo Session. We'll move around a bit, from one side of the Tiber River to the other, capturing the fleeting light as it gives way to the artfully designed artificial lights that bathe the Castel Sant'Angelo, The Bridge of Angels and the Tiber River. Although large tripods are generally forbidden in Rome, a small table-top tripod will be just perfect for this session. But don't worry! We'll show you an easy way to shoot at night without the use of a tripod.

We've reserved dinner at one of Tony's favorite trattorias. Don't forget to bring your camera as well as your appetite! We won't say "good-by" to our 4-Night participants, rather "ci vediamo" - we'll see you again!

Day 3

For those on the 6-night tour, we'll take an early morning train to arrive in Florence in time to catch the Tuscan morning light that makes this city so romantic. We'll photograph the cathedral of Il Duomo, with Brunelleschi's cupola, an architectural masterpiece that has become the symbol of Tuscany. Nearby we'll see the Baptistery adorned with Giotto's Doors of Paradise - intricately carved in bronze by the great Renaissance genius. Then, we'll visit Piazza Signoria, dominated by Palazzo Vecchio with its commanding view of Florence and the Arno River that winds lazily through city. We'll walk across the famous Ponte Vecchio, lined with miniature jewelry stores and curio shops.

After lunch, we'll walk upward to the magnificent Boboli Gardens, offering spectacular panoramas of Florence, the Arno River, Il Duomo, and the towers of the Bargello and Palazzo Vecchio. Our train back to Rome leaves in the late afternoon, getting us back in time for a late dinner. Tony can suggest several fine restaurants near your hotel.

Pricing on request depending on time of year.
3,4 and 5 star hotel accommodation available.

Tours Dates: All year long -  excluding August

Inquiry Form

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 Additional Information                                                                                           

• Participants must have a basic knowledge of their cameras.
• We reserve the right to change the route based on local conditions.
• Tours leave rain or shine. In extreme conditions please call the local number.
• We suggest good walking shoes, a lightweight poncho, in case it rains and in high temperatures a small bottle of water & sun hat.
• A lightweight tripod is recommended for evening sessions
• Clients who have not booked this activity in conjunction with a hotel are advised to provide contact details.
• Cancellation fees may apply.

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