- Day Seven -
Rome
Today we are off to Rome, with a stop halfway for lunch at a winery. We toured the underground cellars and enjoyed a wine-tasting lunch. The place was beautiful!
Our arrival in Rome began with a short walking tour, followed by a group dinner. It was nice to begin each new city with a walk and dinner together, got us off to a good start in each new place. After dinner we walked to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Wow!!
DAILY TIP
Crossing the street in Rome is an experience.
- Day Eight -
Rome
Our local guide took us to the Doria Pamphilj Gallery. It was beautiful, with a very Intriguing family history! We also saw the church of Sant'Ignazio with it's impressive monument to Pope Gregory XV.
Unfortunately we were not able to see the Vatican due to the death of Pope Francis. Instead, we went to the Victor Emmanuel Monument and really enjoyed it. The view from the top is great! We also had time to squeeze in a walk through the Villa Borghese Gardens.
DAILY TIP
Need a bathroom? Purchase a coffee, water, or snack and use one there.
- Day Nine -
Rome
We started the day at St. Peter-in-Chains church and saw Michelangelo's Moses. Then had a walking tour around the Colosseum. From there it was on to the Roman Forum where our guide told us about the history and past excavations at the site. Then the Pantheon, I found it remarkable that it's been in use as a church/temple for the past 2000 years!
After lunch we had tickets to go inside the Colosseum - amazing! Then it was a farewell dinner with our tour group.
DAILY TIP
Don't feel rushed to see everything, take time to enjoy la dolce vita!
Click on a photo for the description
-Day Ten -
Breakfast in Rome
I was pensive at breakfast this morning, as it was the last moments of our tour and we said goodbye to our new friends. We exchanged email addresses and social media information to stay in touch. Everything about our Rick Steves tour was great. The itinerary was perfect, transportation was smooth, the local guides were excellent, and our fellow tour members were friendly and easy-going. A special thank you goes to our Rick Steves tour guide, Marianna. She was with us all 10 days and worked throughout to make our time in Italy the best. She taught us common Italian phrases, shared her almond cookies, and told us stories about her family traditions. Grazie Marianna, sei la migliore!