Catacombs and Hill Towns of Rome
A road less travelled...

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Tour Description

The most entertaining and beautiful visit we can offer, is an open air museum full of history, faith, tradition, nature, excellent food and of course wine! Of course, we all know the amazing beauty’s Rome has to offer within its’ city walls, but just go a little outside of these walls, and you can discover even further sites that will also leave you stunned at the engineering skills and ability of the Ancient Romans.

What did the Romans need to conquer the world?….. Roads!!! Not only a passageway to reach unconquered lands, but also show the world, they won’t be messed with. Their modern thinking is to be applauded, they thought of the width for their soldiers and horse carts, the navigation to new lands, the stones for a flat surface and even huge trees that sprawl out to protect them from the burning sun.

The saying goes, “all roads lead to Rome”, which was in fact true, Romans were the first to develop a road network that connected the entire empire to the city and vice-versa, and we will take you through the most important and first of them; the ‘Appia Antica’. In this private tour you will learn about and see not only the most extraordinary works of engineering from ancient times (roman roads, aqueducts, city walls and circus maximus), but also the site where Christianity set its first roots (in Rome) and the beautiful hill towns surrounding the city. Within a 5 hour time period you will explore what would have taken an ancient Roman a whole day’s walk.

We will have a private driver-guide arrive at your hotel to meet you to begin the half-day journey.

First stop, a look at Circus Maximus, the largest entertainment area of all time capable of holding up to 300,000 spectators who once enjoyed the most spectacular, violent, thrilling and exciting races still to date; Chariot races. Strategically placed below the Palentine Hill so the emperor at the time could look down and view the games from the best sit around…. His Palace! Hopping back into the vehicle, we begin our drive down the Ancient Appian way, leaving behind Rome’s impressive walls and passing through one of the most beautiful of the many Roman gates; Porta San Sabastiano.

After a short, but captivating drive over the ancient roman mile stones, we arrive at the 5 mile mark where you will visit the Catacombs of St Sebastian. We will begin your 40 min visit and tour of the underground cemetery and chapels where Christians buried their dead and paid their respect to the martyrs that died for their beliefs. In particular, Saint Sebastian (who is buried there). Back on the road we will drive past the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella. It was built during the 1st century B.C to honour Cecilia Metella, daughter of Quintus Metellus Creticus, a Consul in 69 B.C. The Tomb of Cecilia is one of the most well known and well preserved monuments along the Appian Way. We will also see the ancient Roman paving of the Appian Way (Bassolato). Although the Appian way is impressive, it’s also quite long (we might end up in Naples) so, at this point we will drive to the Park of the Aqueducts, admiring the breath taking view of seemingly endless arches, which poured gallons of fresh, drinkable water into the city. Learn about and see first-hand, the extraordinary water systems which provided the Roman population water to drink and again, be amazed at the outstanding millimetre precision of the construction of such a colossal structure.

From here, we drive up the hill of Latium Volcano, an area of land that makes up the Castelli Romani. 14 small villages populate this area, all built over a volcano who’s craters have created some of the most picturesque lakes you will ever see, surrounded by vineyards, villas, trattorias and parks all of which have delighted Romans for centuries. Not even the pope’s throughout history could resist the fresh air, amazing views and local delights and in fact Pope Francis himself nowadays spends a quarter of the year in his residence in Castel Gandolfo. I don’t blame him! We will visit the best of what Castelli Romani has to offer stopping at the towns of Albano and Gandolfo, including the Papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo (from the outside), before finishing for lunch while admiring the beautiful volcanic lake of Lago Albano.


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*As the Catacombs of San Sebastiano are closed on Sundays, we will instead visit the equally impressive Catacombs of San Callixtus.
Monday - Saturday : Catacombs of San Sebastiano
Sunday - Catacombs of St. Callixtus

• Meeting Point : Your Hotel - Driver pickup service
  
  
• Meeting Time : 9.00 AM
  
  
• Admission Fees : San Sabastiano Catacombs – €13 adult, €10 children (6 - 16yrs)
  
  
• Dress Code : Comfortable walking shoes