The Heart of Rome and its Treasures: Full-Day Tour with Lunch

Meeting point

The Portico d'Ottavia complex is the only one preserved of the large porticoes that limited, on the northern side, the square of the Circo Flaminio, an area that corresponds to the ancient Ghetto. It was rebuilt by Augustus, in place of the older Portico of Metello, between 27 and 23 BC. and dedicated to her sister Ottavia. It was subsequently restored and partially rebuilt in 203 by Septimius Severus, after a fire in 191, a period to which the majority of the currently visible remains belong. The complex, a quadriportico of 119 x 132 metres, included the most ancient Temple of Juno Regina, which was then joined by the Temple of Jupiter Stator, the first in Rome entirely made of marble, two libraries, Greek and Latin, and the Curia Octaviae , a large environment for public meetings.

The ghetto of Rome, also known as the Jewish quarter of Rome, is one of the oldest in the world and arose about 40 years after that of Venice, which historically was the first. It is located in the picturesque Sant'Angelo district, where the Tiber island also stands, formed by the wedges of the Tiber. Today it is one of the areas of the Eternal City most loved not only by residents, but also by tourists and is famous for its Jewish-Roman cuisine restaurants appreciated by gourmet travelers from all over the world. Located next to the Theater of Marcellus, historically the ghetto of Rome was born in 1555 when Pope Paul IV issued a bull to revoke all the rights of Roman Jews by ordering the creation of a ghetto. This neighborhood therefore began as a place of segregation, but today it is also one of the most culturally vibrant areas of the city. Here is the Tempio Maggiore, one of the largest synagogues in the world.

Campo de' Fiori is one of the most particular and loved areas of the Capital, the only monumental square in the historic center not to host a church or a basilica, it was built by order of Pope Calixtus III on the site where in ancient times there was a colorful field of flowers , as its name suggests. In 1440, the square was paved and, around its perimeter, inns and hotels for pilgrims were built. In 1869, the market which previously took place in Piazza Navona and which traditionally takes place every morning from Monday to Saturday was placed there. Campo de' Fiori, however, also has a dark side: in fact, spectacular capital executions were held in the square, among which stands out the impressive one of the monk and philosopher Giordano Bruno who, accused of heresy, was burned at the stake here on 17 February 1600.

Attraversando Ponte Sisto possiamo vedere the Tiber Island, the only urban island on the Tiber, approximately 300 meters long and approximately 90 meters wide, is connected to the banks of the Tiber by two bridges: towards Trastevere by the Cestio bridge,and in the direction of the Ghetto with the Fabricio bridge, also called Quattro Capi bridge, for the Roman herms that decorate its parapets.

Piazza Trilussa is one of the most loved meeting places for young Romans and tourists, thanks to the locals and the welcoming atmosphere that characterize it: located in the heart of Trastevere, in front of Ponte Sisto, between the Farnesina Lungotevere and Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio, this enchanting little square is dedicated to the great Roman satirical poet Carlo Alberto Salustri, better known as Trilussa. Here is located the beautiful Acqua Paola fountain, designed by the architects Van Santen, known as Vasanzio, and Giovanni Fontana, commissioned by Pope Paul V Borghese (1605-1620) in 1613, to supply the districts of Trastevere, Borgo, Regola and Ponte . Conceived as a monumental arch with a central niche flanked by two Ionic columns, the fountain has a high attic on which the Borghese family coat of arms towers, with eagle and dragon, and a celebratory inscription dedicated to the pontiff, for having conducted the water also on the left bank of the Tiber.

At the end of the visit of the first part of the tour, stop at the famous "Cantina del Duca" bistro for a tasting of wines and Roman cuisine

Piazza Navona is one of the most spectacular and characteristic urban complexes of Baroque Rome. The square is delimited by the buildings that arose on the remains of the Stadium of Domitian, whose shape and dimensions are preserved. The original shape of the square faithfully imitates the perimeter of the ancient stadium that Domitian had built for athletics and horse racing. The square is dominated by the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, begun by Carlo and Girolamo Rainaldi and completed by Borromini, who significantly modified it, making it one of the most magnificent baroque architectures in Rome. Next to the church, there is Palazzo Pamphili, in front of the palace stands the church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, also known as San Giacomo degli Spagnoli. Three fountains adorn the square: the Fontana del Moro, the Fontana de' Calderari, also known as the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Four Rivers, the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

“The most beautiful remnant of Roman antiquity, the Pantheon is indeed one of the best preserved examples of Roman monumental architecture. Its history begins in 27 BC, when Marco Vipsanio Agrippa had the first temple built in this area dedicated to "all the gods". However, its current form is due to Hadrian who had it rebuilt between 118 and 125 AD, enlarging it, reversing its orientation and opening a large porticoed square in front of the new temple. The large circular cell is surrounded by thick masonry walls and eight large pillars on which the weight of the characteristic hemispherical concrete dome, larger than that of St. Peter's Basilica, is distributed. What is most surprising about the architecture of the Pantheon is its size: the height of the building is equal to the diameter of the dome, just over 43 metres, a characteristic that reflects the classic canons of rational Roman architecture.

Trevi Fountain is the most famous of the Roman fountains, its name derives from the confluence of three streets in the square, or from the triple outlet of the water of the original fountain. The construction of the current Trevi fountain is due to Pope Clement XII who, in 1732, among the various projects presented, that of the architect Nicola Salvi was chosen. In the center dominates the statue of Oceanus driving the shell-shaped chariot, pulled by the angry horse and the placid horse, braked by two tritons. Before leaving, don't forget to throw a coin into the fountain, you will definitely return to Rome, as custom says. If, however, you're looking for a bit of romance, perhaps even Italian love, you'll need to flip a second and third coin to ensure the wedding bells ring soon.

The tour ends at Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous and visited squares in Rome. In the center of the square and at the foot of the Scalinata Trinità dei Monti, stands the Barcaccia Fountain, designed and sculpted in Baroque style by Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Located in an extraordinary position in the center of the city, in Campo Marzio, Piazza di Spagna represents an internationally renowned place. Piazza di Spagna, with its characteristic butterfly shape like two triangles that intersect at the vertices, as well as being a symbolic monument of the majestic Roman Baroque, is today one of the most exclusive meeting places in Rome, with its palaces, sumptuous hotels, famous restaurants, shops and designer ateliers. The most famous shopping streets such as via Condotti, via del Babuino and via Borgognona branch off from here.