All Itineraries are tailor-made to suit the specific requirements of syllabus, budget and stamina. Please let us know Exam Board, options and modules – we can then discuss how best to incorporate prescribed Literary/Visual/Material Sources.
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Day 1

On arrival in Rome you will meet the coach and transfer to Ostia Antica, Rome’s first colony, to see the various religious buildings within the site, including:

• The Roman religious monuments like the Capitolium and Temple to Augustus and Roma in the Forum, and the Temple of Ceres in the Piazza of the Corporations.
• Incorporated religions, like the 13 Mithraea on site, the temples to Magna Mater and Attis, as well as the Christian Basilica and Jewish Synagogue.

<Figure 1: The Mithraeum under the Baths of Mithras, Ostia Antica

This reinforces the idea of religious syncretism and the movement of religion within the Empire and the importance of port towns on this migration.

Upon finishing at the site you will meet your coach and depart for Rome up Via Ostiense, and a brief stop at the Major Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. One of 4 Major Papal Basilica, and one of the earliest basilicas in the city – the first iteration was built in the 4th Century AD. Despite centuries of damage and restoration works, it survived until the 19th century until a fire caused near total destruction, leading to its total reconstruction. Inside there are displayed portraits of every Pope.

<Figure 2: St. Paul Outside the Walls

After spending time at the basilica, transfer to your hotel and check in before departing for to a local trattoria dinner.

Day 2

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the Roman Forum, the heart of Roman civic life for centuries. Here you will find temples to gods and deified emperors and empresses, abutting shrines and houses for priestesses. If you wish, we can include the SUPER Ticket to allow entrance to the oldest church in the Forum – Santa Maria Antiqua with its wonderful frescoes. You can also visit the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, and if time the Mamertine Prison at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, where Peter and Paul were incarcerated.

<Figure 3: Temple of Antoninus & Faustina, Roman Forum

After lunch, head to San Clemente for multiple layers of history: the current basilica, an earlier Christian one, a Mithraeum and a Roman domus. Visit the second of the Major Papal Basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline Hill. Originally a 5th Century Basilica it is the largest church dedicated to Mary in the city. It has some absolutely wonderful mosaics from the 5th century in the arch and the nave.

<Figure 4: Mosaic Arch, Santa Maria Maggiore

You can quickly pop across the Santa Pudenziana to see one of the earliest mosaic representations of Jesus, before departing for San Giovanni in Laterano, the most important church in Catholicism, the Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica, Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World.

It is the oldest public church in the city, and seat of the bishop of Rome; the Pope. Across the road sits the Santa Scala. The Sacred Stairs are thought to be the steps from the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, brought them to Rome in the 4th Century. Make your way to dinner before returning to the hotel.

<Figure 5: Interior of San Giovanni in Laterano

Day 3

<Figure 6: Temple of Hercules, Forum Boarium

Once you have had breakfast, depart on foot for the Forum Boarium, where you will find one of the oldest temples in Rome – the Temple of Hercules (look at the columns to work out why) as well as the Temple to Portunus, and possibly the Santa Maria in Cosmedin crypt – the Ara Maxima mentioned in Virgil’s Aeneid.

Following the road around you come to the Forum Holitorium with the archaic Sacred Area on Sant’Omobono, and the church of San Nicola in Carcere, one of the traditional ‘fasting’ churches of Lent. You will notice in the church walls the remains of three Republican temples dedicated to Spes, Janus and Juno Sospita. Enter the church and pay €3 in situ to enter the basement (in small groups) to see the bottom of the temple podiums and original Roman street level.

Continue to the Theatre of Marcellus and remains of the Temple to Apollo and Portico d’Octavia, the symbolic and physical gateway to the Jewish Ghetto. Whilst walking the streets of the ghetto, do note the bronze San Pietrini under your feet which memorialise the Jewish victims of the raid on Oct 16th 1943. Visit the Synagogue which was completed in 1904, and the Jewish Museum, before leaving and finding lunch in the area.

<Figure 7: Theatre of Marcellus and path to the Ghetto

After lunch, head north past the 4 Republican Temples of Largo di Torre Argentina and onwards to the Pantheon. Originally built as a temple to all the gods by Agrippa and restored and rebuilt by later emperors, it was converted into a church in the 7th Century and has thus survived incredibly well. Before heading over to Piazza Navona, make sure to check out the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Whilst walking towards the piazza, stop by the church of San Luigi dei Francesi to see 3 of Caravaggio’s masterpieces depicting St. Matthew, or Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio to see his Madonna di Loreto. Once in Piazza Navona you can enter the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, the large 17th Century church that dominates the western side of the Piazza.

<Figure 8: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Piazza Navona

The Agonalis Obelisk sits in the centre of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, which has its own Papal story, but by now you would have seen most of Rome’s Obelisks, the legacies of ancient Egypt. Crossing the piazza, you will find Santa Maria della Pace with the Cloister of Bramante.

Santa Maria is a 15th Century church featuring frescoes by Raphael in the Chigi Chapel depicting the Sibyls, Angels and the four Prophets. The marbles in the Cesi chapel come from the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Bramante’s Cloister is now an art gallery, but from the Hall of the Sibyls, you can get an extraordinary view of Raphael’s Sibyls in Santa Maria della Pace. Depart for dinner and then return to your hotel.

Day 4

Once breakfast is finished, check out, meet your coach and depart for the Vatican Museums. Spend a few hours walking the Museum galleries, spotting the ancient artworks, like the Prima Porta Augustus and the Laocoön and His Sons, as well as the more modern paintings like Raphael’s School of Athens, finishing in the Sistine Chapel, where the Papal Conclave takes place, and home to the wonderful masterpieces of Michelangelo – The Last Judgement and the Chapel ceiling. Leave the Museums, grab some lunch in the Borgo area and then queue for the Basilica of Saint Peter.

<Figure 9: Prima Porta Augustus, Vatican Museums

Described as the greatest of all churches in Christendom, it is one of the greatest works of the Italian Renaissance, designed by Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and featuring works by Bernini. Supposedly built atop the Tomb of Saint Peter, the original basilica was built by Constantine between AD 319 and 333. The new basilica was begun in the 16th Century 120 years and 20 Popes! If time, en route to the airport, you can stop off at one of the catacombs on the Via Appia Antica, for some of the earliest Christian burial places.

The Catacombs of San Callixtus were the official cemetery of the Roman church in the 3rd Century AD, hosting the remains of around half a million Christians including 16 Popes. The Catacombs of San Sebastiano are possibly the most spectacular with three levels of vibrant frescos and high stucco. The Church of Domine Quo Vadis is a 30mins walk away on Via Appia Antica.

<Figure 10: Basilica of Saint Peter, Vatican City

Return to your coach and depart for the airport to fly home.

Feel free to contact us to tailor your own tour. 01342 324727