Leaving Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses Fountain, the itinerary will continue passing by Via Veneto and Villa Borghese, surname of a family of Italian noble and papal background. Then we will reach the fortress Castel Sant' Angelo, which the original structure was built between the 117 and 138 A.D. and was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.

Castel Sant'Angelo, whose name probably is the result of a miraculous apparition of Archangel St. Michael sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590 A.D., passed under the Papal State's property converting it in a fortress prison, in a castle and in a refuge for the Popes: Pope Nicholas III connected the castle to St. Peter's Basilica by a covered fortified corridor, a secret passage way called Passetto del Borgo.

Ended the visit of the fortress we'll walk along Via della Conciliazione having a wonderful panoramic view of the Basilica of St. Peter, to reach the square for the Holy Father's Blessing.

Leaving from Piazza San Bernardo, crossing Piazza della Repubblica, we will reach and visit the Basilica of St. John in Lateran (internal visit), cathedral of Rome and of the world, famous for its baroque and medieval masterpieces kept intact inside of it. Hence, we will go to the Holy Stairs, consisting of twenty-eight white marble steps, now encased by wooden steps. According to tradition, the staircases were part of the praetorium of Pilate in Jerusalem, hence were sanctified by the footsteps of Jesus Christ during his Passion. Leaving the Basilica and skirting along the Mura Latine, the tour will pass through the Porta di San Sebastiano to arrive on the Ancient Appian Way, where we will find the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis” there St.Peter supposedly met Jesus while the former was fleeing persecution in Rome.

We’ll reach the Catacombs of St. Sebastian and after the visit we will continue walking along the Ancient Appian Way up to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, built around 50 B.D. (on Sunday the Catacomb and the Ancient Appian Way visits will be substituted with the visit of the Basilica of St. Mary Major). On the way back, from the coach you will enjoy the view of the Caracalla Baths: they were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between 212 and 216 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla.

Departure Dates :	Sunday Mornings
Departure Time :	Click Here For Hotel Pickup Information
Duration :	All Day
Price :	111 € Convert
Includes :	Hotel pick up, transportation, entrance ticket, guide service Pickup from Hotels within the greater Rome area only. Lunch and guide service
NOTE: We suggest you wear comfortable shoes as there is some walking involved. Knees and shoulders must be covered. No shorts allowed. * From 16th Nov to 8th Dec the visit of the catacombs will be at S. Callisto and S. Mary Major.

This tour is transported by our co-operator and is bilingual.