Tour Overview

Our Rome in a Day Tour is excellent for Presto guests looking for an intensive one-day visit in the eternal city. A Presto Guide meets you either in your hotel lobby, at the train station, or directly at your site of interest and accompanies you throughout the whole day visiting the Vatican, Colosseum, and Rome historical center for a total of 8-10 hours.  Don’t worry, you’ll get a little lunch break and time to rest throughout the day!

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Rome in a Day Tour

This Rome in a Day Tour makes meeting the ancient city a cinch! We meet you in your hotel lobby (or outside your private residence) and accompany you throughout the day to visit the highlights of Rome. We visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Gardens and the historic center of Rome.

We’ll delve into Rome’s ancient history at the Colosseum Archaeological Area. The Colosseum, first known as the “Flavian Amphitheater,” is surrounded by temples and arches from approximately 2000 years ago in the Roman Forum. We’ll share some stories of ancient rituals and traditions surrounding daily life, gladiatorial games, the roots of modern Roman culture, family structure, and the Roman Empire’s government. We’ll learn about the beginnings of the city, Rome’s geographical layout and its seven hills, and walk up to the Palatine Hill which was much like Ancient Rome’s Beverly Hills. We’ll take a peek at the area where an underground grotto believed to have been worshipped by ancient Romans as the place where a wolf nursed the city’s legendary founder Romulus and his twin brother Remus was unearthed just a few years ago in 2007.

We visit the Vatican City and explore the Catholic epicenter of the world. Inside the Vatican Museums you’ll be surrounded by both ancient masterpieces such as the Belvedere Apollo, a Roman second century copy from a Greek bronze original possibly by Leochares (330-320 B.C.) and Renaissance masterpieces, such as the Mass of Bolsena by Raphael. Before silently reveling your senses inside the Sistine Chapel (there is no talking allowed inside this holy sight), your Presto guide will recap the Biblical Story of Creation, the Downfall of Humanity and the Story of Noah which Michelangelo depicted in his world renowned frescos. Whilst exploring the making of the Sistine Chapel, we will take a peek into the politics of the Vatican City’s art commissions and get to know the artists’ with the help of your guide’s favorite anecdotes.

We will also visit St. Peter’s Basilica, named after St. Peter, the first Pope and the modern day patron saint of Rome. Inside the Basilica we will find another of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, his sculpture, the Pieta’ and more.

Strolling through the cobblestone streets of the historical center of Rome, we’ll make leisurely stops at the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Campo de’ Fiori. As we fall into the evening hours, we’ll see the city transform herself into her infamously romantic character when artists take the streets in Piazza Navona and the locals go out for an aperitif at their favorite venue.

Rest assured, we know that you’ll want to treat your taste buds to some Roman delights along the way. We are glad to have a short lunch break where you can grab a panini or slice of pizza or we can have a more leisurely lunch if you prefer. You can even grab a gelato if you’d like to go straight to dessert. Presto Guides are always happy to recommend restaurants if you’d like him or her to end the tour at your dinner destination.

We welcome your special requests and are happy to customize this Rome in a Day Tour to your liking if you would like to substitute other sites for the sites listed above. Please note that the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are closed on Sundays. In this case, we usually visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the nearby St. Angel’s Castle.

Make sure to check out our very special offers for booking multiple Presto “In a Day” Tours here.