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Day 1
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After
getting settled in the hotel and being welcomed by our
staff, we will leave for Vei, where we will immediately
begin showing you some of the most important ancient
cities near Rome. Vei was for many years a thorn in
the side of the fast growing city of Rome. Vei was also
known as the Roman Troy, since it took the Romans 10
years to conquer it, from 406 to 396 BC. After this
outing, we’ll have dinner at the hotel followed by a
presentation of the entire tour. |
Day
2
We’re
off to an area north of Rome close to Viterbo we’ll
hike through lovely landscape to find Etruscan altars
where this civilization used to pray to their gods Tinia,
Uni and Menarva. Then we will pass by Etruscan and Roman
tombs, ruins of medieval churches, monasteries and castles.
In the evening we’ll dine in Rome and then take a stroll
by night. |
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Day
3
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As
on all of our tours, an invitation to Rome always includes
showing you a small but important part of its art treasures.
Therefore, we will visit the Vatican Museums with all
the amazing art which Pope Julius the Second started
to collect here in 1503, followed by visits to the Sistine
Chapel , the Basilica of St. Peter, and the picturesque
town of Castel Gandolfo which is the Pope’s summer residence.
We will stay for dinner in one of the small towns in
the Roman Hills or Castelli Romani as they are called. |
Day
4
The
city of Cerveteri or Caere as it was called by the Etruscans
is famous for its many tombs, we’ll make our approach
to this important site from the east. We will hike alongside
a small mountain river with some nice waterfalls and
small lakes. Here local fishermen swear to have seen
anaconda-like snakes in the 1930’s. In the evening we’ll
have dinner in Rome followed by another stroll at night. |
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Day
5
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A
day in Rome! We will visit Piazza Navona, the Pantheon,
the famous Trevi fountain, the Roman Forum, the coliseum,
followed by a visit to one of the many catacombs. Even
if you have seen these beautiful spots before, you’ll
enjoy seeing them because we’ll explain the history
and mythology which surround them. Of course, another
outstanding dinner in Rome. |
Day
6
Making
good roads is an art, and the Romans made theirs to
last. This morning we will hike along what is probably
the best preserved Roman road in Europe. Road construction
and maintenance were done by the Roman legionnaires.
Later when we visit the Appia Antica, we will also see
parts of the worst preserved Roman road. It actually
has nothing do with preservation, and everything to
do with more than 1,500 years of usage after the Roman
empire collapsed and no maintenance. We will stay near
the Appia for Dinner. |
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Day
7
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In
the morning we will take you to explore the inside of
two of the Roman aqueducts. These marvels of engineering
carried water as far as 56,8 miles (91,4 km) to Rome
all the way from the Appenine Mountains to the east.
90% of the aquaduct was cut in the tuffo stone underground.
In the afternoon we will visit Hadrian’s Villa. This
huge estate was planned and designed in large part by
the emperor Hadrian himself. Critics of the emperors
architectural skills lived dangerously in those times
– the Greek architect Apollodoros spoke once too often
for the emperor had him killed. Later in the afternoon,
we will leave for Tuscany and the town of San Gimignano! |
Day
8
This
morning we will take an interesting hike which starts
from and then returns to San Gimignano. Along the way
we will take a detour to visit the ruins of a medieval
village which was abandoned in the 14th century. After
we return to the hotel to relax a while, we we’ll drive
to Siena where we’ll have dinner. |
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Day
9
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This
morning we are going to Montalcino, famous for its Brunello
wine. On the way just south of San Gimignano, we’ll
pass by the medieval hilltown of Monteriggione which
we will visit on our way back. From Montalcino we will
hike to the beautiful church of St. Antimo which was
founded, according to legend, by Charlemagne in 871AD.
Since this evening will be our last together, we will
have a special farewell dinner in San Gimignano. |
Day
10
Alas!
all good things come to an end. Today we have to say
farewell but, transportation will be available to take
you anywhere in Rome or anywhere along the way from
San Gimignano to Rome. |
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