Civitavecchia

Civita di Bagnoregio is located in Tuscia on the border between Tuscany and Lazio. It is called the "dying city" because the land on which it stands is slowly falling away and will inevitably disappear when the final pieces crumble into the spectacular Valle dei Calanchi below. Knowing this, and knowing that nothing can be done to prevent it makes your visit all the more special, eternal and timeless. This is the feeling that makes it unique and marvelous to the people who have experienced the dying city. Connected to the rest of the world by a three hundred meter bridge, Civita di Bagnoregio is a charming village which will make you feel you are visiting a world that no longer exists. Made up of old houses, narrow streets and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, discover a walk through the scenes and stories of this place and choose the corner that sparks your intrigue the most. You can explore the Romanesque Arch at the entrance to Civita, the Renaissance Palace or the large Piazza (which is the site of donkey races on the first Sunday in June and the second Sunday of September and where all the remaining locals come to socialize in the evenings). After visit the dying city, you will head on to discover the Monster's Park situated in the town of Bomarzo. It is also called "Sacred Wood", and was designed by Prince Vicino Orsini and the great architect Pirro Ligorio in 1552. The park is unique and represents refined Italian style gardens that follow geometric and perspective rationality with embellishments such as wide terraces, fountains with water games and mannerist sculptures. You will also discover here eccentric wood blocks of peperino, emerging from the ground and sculpted into enigmatic figures of monsters, dragons, mythological subjects and exotic animals.

Start your Roman adventure at 9:00 AM as you exit from your cruise ship. At the ship's Pier, you will be greeted by your friendly and professional driver/guide. Once you hop in your comfortable, air-conditioned minivan you will set off on your adventure.  Your driver will take you to all the most historical and socially significant landmarks in Rome. For those pressed for the time, this is the greatest way to ensure you see the main attractions of the city, all in 7-hours. During each stop you can hop-off the van and walk around, taking beautiful holiday snaps as you do. In the vehicle, you will enjoy the benefit of an audioguide in English. At each stop, you will be able to learn the basic history of each fascinating location.  During your tour, you will visit: Vatican City and St. Peter's Cathedral (1-hour), Colosseum (40-minutes), Piazza Venezia (15-minutes), Trevi Fountain (20-minutes), Spanish Steps (30-minutes), Pantheon (30-minutes), Piazza Novona (20-minutes) and the Panoramic View (15-minutes). Once you have visited all these major landmarks, you will be taken back to your cruise terminal, 1-hour before your ship departs and no later than 5:00 PM, ensuring a relaxing end to an exciting day.

Stroll through scenic vineyards and sample local wines at 2 wineries in Maremma, a hidden gem of Tuscany. The day begins in Civitavecchia with pickup from your hotel or a designated meeting point. From here, travel approximately 40 miles to Southern Tuscany, an area rich in history and tradition that will impress you with its natural beauty. The first stop of the day is at Montauto farm. Surrounded by typical Tuscan Maremma landscapes, this is the perfect place to learn about and sample Morellino di Scansano and other wines produced in this region. The winery offers a wide range of products, suitable for every palate and occasion. Between wineries, stop to take a dip in Saturnia, Cascate del Mulino – one of Italy's most popular hot spring destinations. Take a relaxing soak in pools that are naturally 37°C (98°F) all year round and enjoy the unique landscape. Next, head to Cantine Vignaioli, a winery founded in 1972 when a small group of producers from Scansano decided to combine their efforts in wine production. Whether you are a beginner or a wine connoisseur, you will surely enjoy the guided tour through the cellar and its surroundings. While you walk, learn the history of Morellino and its journey from the fields to the cellars. Following the tour, taste five wines paired with local products. At the end of the day, your English-speaking driver will bring the group back to the hotels and meeting points.

Visit the unique Park of the Monsters, also known as the Garden of Bomarzo. Explore the gardens and their wide terraces, fountains with water games and mannerist sculptures. Discover figures of monsters, dragons, mythological characters and exotic animals. See the blocks of peperino, a crooked house, a funerary temple and obelisk monuments with carved mottos. After the visit, indulge in a traditional Italian lunch at a restaurant in Viterbo city center. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit of the old town. Known as the City of the Popes, Viterbo’s spectacular medieval center is worth seeing. Learn about the time of the Holy See and the fighting between the Guelph and Ghibelline families.    

You will be picked up from Civitavecchia harbor in an air-conditioned van, before being taken to the Vatican Museums. Don't worry about the crowds, as this tour includes exclusive skip-the-line access into the museums. The Vatican Museums are one of the world’s most visited museum complexes and are overflowing with masterpieces by many of the world’s most important Renaissance and Baroque artists. Your guide will lead you through all of the most important galleries providing a fascinating overview of the history and cultural significance. The tour includes visits to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and other key museum highlights. After this, you will stop for a light lunch and enjoy some authentic Roman cuisine. You will then head to the Colosseum and once again, will skip the long queues outside. Here, your guide will make the world’s most famous amphitheater come to life, explaining its awe-inspiring structure, and recreating the days when it was filled with the sounds of roaring animals and crowds and the clashing swords of gladiators. After that, you will visit the Roman Forum which was once the ancient city’s social, governmental, economic and religious center. At the end of the day, you will be taken back to Civitavecchia port.

The Farnese Palace is situated directly above the town of Caprarola, dominating its surroundings. Caprarola has always been an expression of Farnese’s power and the palace is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture. You will be able to walk the spiral staircase called Scala Regia or the "Royal Stairs" and see the Piano dei Prelati floor, which leads to the broad terrace. You can witness the amazing frescoes of the winter suite, the famous "Room of the World Map" or “Sala del Mappamondo”, displaying the world as it was in 1574 when the frescoes were completed. Gaze at the depiction of the continents on one side of the wall while the wall opposite the planisphere is devoted to the lands where Christianity and the church originated, Judea and Italy. The Royal Staircase is next and is already being hailed as a masterpiece of Vignola's, having been imitated several times throughout history. The most original aspect of the structure is its helicoidal structure inspired by Bramante's great "snail" in the Vatican. The gardens of the villa are as impressive as the building itself, a significant example of a Renaissance Italian garden. They sit behind the palace and are divided into a winter garden and a summer garden. A walk through the chestnut woods leads to the "giardino segreto", or secret garden, with its 28 statues. At the end of your tour, it will be possible to have lunch in the Caprarola city center, where you can taste authentic, local food. Upgrade your tour to include a visit to the Monster Park in Bomarzo and the beautiful renaissance garden of Villa Lante, Viterbo, by selecting the option when booking.

Start the tour at Civitavecchia Harbor where you will be picked up. Embark on a small group tour in an intimate group of a maximum of 10 people. Arrive at the Vatican Museums and meet your tour guide. Take advantage of your exclusive skip-the-line access tickets, entering the museums through a panoramic terrace where you can admire the stunning view of Saint Peter's dome overlooking the Vatican gardens.  Begin your tour of the collections which include a seemingly infinite number of masterpieces by Bernini, Raphael, Botticelli, Perugino, and other treasures - all incredibly united under one roof. Learn about how the numerous popes that have lived in the Vatican continuously enriched it with different artworks. Admire the most beautiful Roman ancient statues and gaze in awe at the length of the enormous Tapestry Hall, before continuing on through the Hall of the Painted Maps. Finally, witness the unmissable ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and marvel at the sublime 'Last Judgment' by Michelangelo. To end the tour, pass through a special door to reach the largest Catholic church in the world: Saint Peter's Basilica. Once you enter, the greatness of the structure and attention to architectural details will overwhelm you. Gaze in awe at Michaelangelo's sculpture 'Pieta' and discover the tombs of the popes including St. John Paul II's and St. Peter the Apostle. At the end you have time to explore Piazza San Pietro before returning to Civitavecchia

Enjoy a full-day tour of Rome, including lunch and round-trip transfers from the cruise terminal at Civitavecchia. Transfer to Rome city center by coach, stopping at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square on arrival. Admire the dome of St Peter's Basilica and the colonnades by Bernini on St. Peter’s Square. Then, follow your guide along the cobbled streets of Italy’s ancient capital. Climb the Spanish Steps, linking Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. Enjoy panoramic views from the top of the baroque staircase, before going to another baroque icon of Rome at the Trevi Fountain. Throw a coin into the fountain to ensure you one day return to Rome! Next, admire the domed temple of the Pantheon. See its well-preserved Corinthian columns. Break for lunch, before going to Piazza Venezia and Palatine Hill. Marvel at one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, before exploring the Roman Forum, site of the Roman Republic’s political, administrative, and religious life. Learn the history of the Roman Empire and the ruins that surround you. End at the mighty Colosseum, and see the remains the world's largest amphitheater. Imagine the battle scenes between the gladiators and fearsome beasts, put on for the public and emperors. Walk around the still-imposing exterior, before boarding the coach for the return transfer to Civitavecchia.

Discover the city of Tarquinia and visit the UNESCO world heritage site of the Etruscan necropolis, containing tombs painted more than 3000 years ago, with the help of your local guide. Learn about the extraordinary artwork in the tombs, which predates the Romans and gives unique insight into the ancient culture and daily lives of the Etruscan people.  Leave the necropolis, and follow your guide to one of the most impressive museums on the Etruscans, located in the spectacular Palazzo Vitelleschi. Continue your discovery of Etruscan life and see items of pottery, arts and crafts which have previously been displayed in New York and Paris.  Finish your time in Tarquinia by relaxing and enjoying an authentic Italian lunch, in a traditional local restaurant. Savor the unique and dazzling flavours of the Lazio region, for the perfect end to your day of discovery. Upgrade the default tour option to also explore the underground city of Etruscopolis and see a massive underground quarry from the 4th-century BC featuring recreations of Etruscan homes and see what life was like in a time before the Romans.

Meet your driver and then travel 20 minutes to Tarquinia, the capital of the Etruscans. An ancient civilization with their own culture and language, the Etruscans were an early adversary of Rome and were ultimately assimilated into the kingdom of Rome. Within the underground city of Etruscopolis however, the ways of this ancient people are once again brought back to life. This historic site contains a museum of recreated artifacts, which were lovingly crafted by the artist Omero, who is known as “the last of the Etruscans.” See tombs, homes, objects, and scenes of daily life. Understand Etruscan culture through objects as well as intricate dioramas. Explore an underground Etruscan quarry from the 4th-century BC which spans 15,000 square meters. Journey into the past, and see recreations of Etruscan homes. See what life was like in a time before the Romans had even conquered all of Italy. Afterward, have lunch at a typical trattoria in Tarquinia’s historic center.