Top Rome Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises - page 224

A great way to get an overview of some of the major tourist attractions. We did this tour on family recommendations. The tour lasted almost 3 hours so you don’t get to stay for a long time at each one but then you can decide which ones to return to. The guide was very informative on each location and Roman history. Golf carts can go where buses can’t!

Arvin was a charming and enjoyable tour guide. I learned things I never knew about Rome, spas, and Italian history. The tour of the catacombs was exceptional and my family enjoyed how much we were able to see in an afternoon. We all felt like these were things many people never know about in Rome and that made it cool.

Very in depth tour of the Coloseum. Our guide, Gabrielle, was the most knowledgeable docent of our trip. She wove fragments of history together to tell a complete story of the construction, social and political importance of the Coloseum, the scope of the spectacles enacted there, dispelled commonly assumed myths, and identified the reinforcement of the stratified social classes that the seating emphasized . Gabrielle brought the Coloseum to life - the walls came alive with the people of a long ago time.

It was a totally fascinating, "other-worldly" - and a little frightening - experience on every level. Truly unforgettable. Here is what I wrote on Facebook: REMARKABLE REMAINS: ‘That which you are, we once were; that which we are you shall be.’ – Quote displayed at the entrance to the Capuchin Crypt The Capuchin Crypt beneath Rome’s church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is not for the faint of heart. It’s quite shocking at first and I’ll admit that I was very uncomfortable as I entered. But my perspective changed (just a little) when I realized it is a sincere, albeit disturbing, symbol of the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the need to prepare our souls for the hereafter. “Macabre.” “Horrifying.” “Striking.” “Grotesque.” “Fascinating.” These adjectives and more have been used by such literary luminaries as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Mark Twain when describing this place. The Capuchins themselves regard it as a source of peace and joy, a reminder to focus on eternity, not earthly life. All seem accurate. The church where the crypt is located was built in the early 1600s. It is the headquarters of the Capuchin Order of Friars, an offshoot of the Franciscans. When they first moved into the church in the 1630s, they brought the remains of hundreds of their fellow friars and buried them under the church. From there, until 1870, nearly 4,000 friars and destitute Romans who had nowhere to be buried, were laid to rest in the crypt. It has six small chapels with skeletal decorations that represent the transient nature of human life: Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Tibias and Femurs, Crypt of the Pelvis, Crypt of the Skeletons of Children, Chapel of the Mass, and Crypt of the Resurrection. It was a chilling, fascinating and sobering experience. As we walked past and peered into the dimly lit spaces casting shadows here and there and containing grinning skulls and bones arranged into all kinds of artistic configurations, you could have heard a pin drop. Our small tour group of 18 seemed to collectively hold its breath. I was relieved when we exited into a brightly-lit gift shop on our way out. Signing the guest book, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from a famous song by The Eagles: “You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave.” It was bizarre that it popped into my head, but I guess it was my brain’s way of lightening the mood just a bit.

Our tour guide was very nice and she had a lot of fun facts to give us throughout the tour. They had all the tickets and everything ready to go when we got there. I believe our guides name was Andri/Andrea. I liked that the earbuds to listen only had one bud, and we had no issues with the listening boxes. I went with my friend, but definitely want to bring my family back for this.

Must do experience. They give you all you need. Sistine Chapel access was quick, easy, and a great tour guide. Then, St. Peter’s was amazing but that’s a visit you do on your own, which was fine. We were even a few minutes late but they waited for us, which we were grateful for.

“Jack” (Giancomo?) was a fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and seamlessly wove history into each site. The current view overlaid with the transparencies that depicted the location in its glory were an ideal tool to “see” Rome as it was. We really appreciate seeing and learning about The Forum, Palantine Hill and the Colosseum.

Donatella was a great tour guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. She didn’t take a pause trying to share as much information as possible. Seeing the Pantheon is a must see in Rome mainly because it is one of the oldest buildings to survive in Rome.