Rome: The Eternal City, Made Yours
We don’t offer pre-packaged itineraries. Instead, we craft bespoke Rome journeys that align with your interests, whether it’s an exclusive after-hours tour of the Vatican, a private walk through the Forum with a historian, or a behind-the-scenes look at Rome’s vibrant food markets. Every experience is hand-selected to bring you closer to the heart of Rome’s history, culture, and daily life.
With our tailor-made itineraries, Rome is not a museum—it’s a living, breathing stage where history and modernity collide. One morning, you might slip past the crowds at the Vatican for a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, standing alone beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece before the city wakes. Another, you might find yourself in the Testaccio Market, learning the secrets of cacio e pepe from a chef whose family has been making it for generations.
Some travelers come for the classics: the Colosseum at sunrise, the Roman Forum in the golden afternoon light, the Pantheon standing timeless under its oculus. Others want the Rome of hidden courtyards, quiet churches where Caravaggio’s paintings glow in the dim light, secret gardens where aristocratic families still tend their roses. One traveler’s perfect day might mean a Vespa ride through Trastevere, winding through cobbled streets where laundry flutters between ochre-colored buildings. Another might prefer a rooftop aperitivo, watching the sky turn pink over St. Peter’s Basilica.
For art lovers, there’s the Galleria Borghese, where Bernini’s sculptures still pulse with life. For history lovers, the underground layers of the city—the pagan temples beneath churches, the catacombs where early Christians sought refuge—offer a Rome few ever see. And for those who simply want to savor la dolce vita, there is no greater luxury than an unhurried lunch in the Jewish Ghetto, where a plate of carciofi alla giudia (perfectly crisp artichokes) is worth the journey alone.
Rome is different for everyone, and that’s the beauty of a custom tour. Whether you want a deep dive into history, a celebration with a private dinner in a Renaissance palazzo, or just the joy of walking the city with no plan at all, the Eternal City will shape itself around you.
Because Rome isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place you return to, again and again, in memory, in dreams, and—if you’re lucky—in person.
Rome Private Touring: Your Favorite Spots
These places are some of our traveler’s favorites. If you have other places you would like to visit on a Rome trip, just say so and we will make it happen!
On this page: Ancient Rome: The Heart of Civilization | Aventine Hill: Rome’s Quiet Escape | Baroque Churches of Bernini and Borromini: Divine Rivalry | Borghese Gallery: A Treasure Trove of Art and Scandal | Campidoglio: Rome’s Political Heart | Campo de’ Fiori: Rome’s Market of Secrets | Church of San Clemente: Layers of Time Beneath Your Feet | Janiculum Hill: The View That Reminds You You’re Alive | Pantheon: Rome’s Eternal Witness | Piazza Navona: The Stage of Roman Baroque | Spanish Steps: Rome’s Stairs to Fame | Trevi Fountain: A Legend in Stone | Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica: The World’s Smallest Country, Its Grandest Church | Via Appia: Rome’s Ancient Road to the Past
Aventine Hill: Rome’s Quiet Escape
The Aventine Hill is not for those in a rush. Here, in the silence of olive groves and terracotta rooftops, the city’s frantic pulse seems far away. The orange trees in the garden of the Santa Sabina basilica release their fragrance in the late afternoon heat, and for a brief, enchanted moment, the weight of history lifts.
This is where, centuries ago, the plebeians carved out a refuge from the aristocrats in the valleys below. Today, it’s a neighborhood of quiet charm, with a view from the famous keyhole of the Knights of Malta—look through, and you’ll find the dome of St. Peter’s framed perfectly, a serendipitous optical illusion as if the Vatican itself is watching over you. This is Rome at its most intimate: a city that, at its core, has always been about layered secrets, peeking through, waiting to be uncovered.
Baroque Churches of Bernini and Borromini: Divine Rivalry
In Rome, even the churches are theatrical. Walk into one of Bernini’s or Borromini’s masterpieces, and you enter a world where stone seems to bend, light turns into gold, and marble swells with divine energy. Their rivalry—an intellectual sparring between the two greatest sculptors and architects of the Baroque—is still palpable in the city’s sacred spaces.
Bernini’s St. Peter’s Baldachin, towering over the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica, exudes grandeur as though the heavens themselves are reaching out from the gilt and bronze. Meanwhile, Borromini’s complex geometries at San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane challenge the very idea of a “church” by playing with curves and spaces in a way that would make even the most steadfast Cartesian philosopher question reality. These churches are not merely places of worship; they are profound conversations in stone, an eternal tug-of-war for artistic supremacy.
Borghese Gallery: A Treasure Trove of Art and Scandal
The Borghese Gallery is where the Renaissance and Baroque meet in a glorious, glittering mess of scandal, intrigue, and world-class art. Behind the opulent facades of this Villa Borghese museum lies one of the world’s most important collections—Caravaggio’s intense chiaroscuro, Bernini’s feverish sculptures, and Raphael’s serene Madonna. Yet the true wonder of the gallery is its history, one tangled in family feuds, papal favors, and the rise and fall of a single, wildly ambitious family.
As you wander through its rooms, you feel the tension between the art on the walls and the whispers of the patrons who lived here—scandalous, powerful, and driven by a hunger for influence. It’s hard to tell whether the pieces are the prized possessions or if the Borghese family simply collected power and wealth with the same feverish obsession they devoted to art.
Campidoglio: Rome’s Political Heart
The Campidoglio is not just a hill in Rome—it is the beating heart of ancient and modern politics. Carved by Michelangelo’s hand, this square becomes a stage where power and history collide in dramatic form. The stately palaces, now home to Rome’s city hall, stand sentry over a breathtaking view of the Roman Forum below. It’s the very place where Caesar once marched, and centuries later, where the destiny of modern Italy was forged.
Standing here, on the polished cobblestones, you realize that politics never leaves this place. The statues, the architecture, and even the lions guarding the entrance all seem to silently nod to the power they’ve witnessed. It’s a reminder that in Rome, history doesn’t just linger; it hovers above you, ever present, impossible to ignore.
Campo de’ Fiori: Rome’s Market of Secrets
Campo de’ Fiori is where you’re most likely to find the pulse of Rome in its most raw and uninhibited form. During the day, the square hums with vendors hawking fruits, vegetables, and flowers, their stalls spilling color into the cobblestones. Yet, by night, it becomes something altogether different—a carnival of laughter, raucous chatter, and clinking glasses. This is the Rome of stories, of trade not just in goods but in gossip.
At the center, the statue of Giordano Bruno stares solemnly at the crowds. A philosopher burnt at the stake, his fate a harsh reminder of Rome’s tempestuous relationship with free thought. In this square, old tensions still linger in the air, but they’re softened by the smiles of locals and travelers alike, united by a love for good food, good drink, and the endless, irresistible allure of this city.
Church of San Clemente: Layers of Time Beneath Your Feet
San Clemente is a quiet paradox in the heart of Rome, where three different layers of history are buried beneath your feet. Above ground, the 12th-century basilica hums with quiet reverence. But descend beneath the altar, and you’ll find the ruins of a 4th-century church, and further still, a 1st-century Mithraic temple—three distinct layers of civilization, all coexisting in the same space.
It’s a place where history literally digs into you, making you feel the weight of centuries in a way no museum could. Every step down into its depths is a journey through time, revealing how the city once lived and worshipped—first in the shadows of pagan gods, and then under the canopy of Christianity. A haunting yet beautiful reminder that in Rome, the past is never quite as distant as we’d like to think.
Janiculum Hill: The View That Reminds You You’re Alive
The Janiculum Hill, though not one of the Seven Hills of Rome, offers one of the best panoramic views in the city. Stand here at sunset, and you’ll see Rome stretched before you—its domes, bell towers, and ruins silhouetted against a sky that looks like it was painted by Caravaggio himself. It’s a view so stunning, it feels as if you’re watching history unfold in real time, every second a new chapter.
Yet, for all its beauty, Janiculum is a place of subtle nostalgia. It’s here that the famous statue of Garibaldi stands, a memorial to Italy’s unity in the 19th century. The quiet dignity of the place invites reflection: this city, this living museum, has witnessed the rise and fall of so many empires, yet remains as resilient as ever.
Pantheon: Rome’s Eternal Witness
The Pantheon is where the ancient and the eternal meet head-on. As you step through its massive bronze doors, you enter not just a building, but a world where time itself seems suspended. This temple to all gods, now a Christian church, has been standing for nearly 2,000 years—and still, it feels brand new.
The oculus at the top is more than just an architectural feat; it’s a portal to something greater—something celestial. When the sunlight pours through, it’s as if the very heavens are opening above you. The floors, the columns, and even the silence all speak to the majesty of this space, which has been continuously used since its construction, a testament to the durability of Roman ingenuity. The Pantheon is not a monument to the past—it is a living, breathing part of the present.
Piazza Navona: The Stage of Roman Baroque
Piazza Navona is Rome’s stage, a place where performance and spectacle collide. Built on the site of an ancient Roman stadium, it has evolved into one of the city’s most iconic squares, filled with fountains that spill water like liquid gold in the sunlight. Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is the star of the show, a monumental masterpiece that brings together the world’s great rivers in an almost theatrical display.
In the evening, when the lights glow off the water, Piazza Navona transforms into something more than just a square—it becomes a living painting, a canvas of light, sound, and movement. Here, you’re no longer a tourist; you’re part of a centuries-old performance, caught in the timeless ebb and flow of Roman life.
Spanish Steps: Rome’s Stairs to Fame
The Spanish Steps are perhaps the world’s most famous staircase—and with good reason. The steps, which once led to the French embassy and now lead to the Trinità dei Monti church, have always been a place of gathering, conversation, and quiet observation. Today, the steps are an open-air lounge for tourists, fashionistas, and the occasional street performer, yet the place still manages to exude old-world glamour.
But in truth, the Spanish Steps are more than just a backdrop for Instagram photos. They’re a bridge between the bustling streets below and the serene view above. From here, the city unfolds before you, and for a moment, you’re caught between Rome’s frenetic energy and its breathtaking beauty.
Trevi Fountain: A Legend in Stone
The Trevi Fountain is so much more than just a monument—it is a symbol, a legend, a part of the very soul of Rome. The sight of its sculptural waves crashing, horses rearing, and Neptune reigning supreme over the marble sea is the stuff of dreams. The legend goes that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you’ll return to Rome. It’s a superstition that has inspired millions, and while no one has proven it true, there’s an undeniable magic to the moment.
By day, the Trevi is a spectacle; by night, it is a glowing oasis of tranquility. Standing there, you feel the weight of history, the pull of centuries of myth and reality, all blending into one beautiful, eternal moment.
Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica: The World’s Smallest Country, Its Grandest Church
Vatican City is not just a place; it is a world unto itself, a microcosm of religious, artistic, and cultural power. And at its heart stands St. Peter’s Basilica, the greatest church on earth, where Michelangelo’s dome rises into the sky like an invitation to the heavens. To stand here is to be dwarfed by the scale of human ambition, and to feel the weight of centuries of faith and history pushing gently against your shoulders.
The Vatican Museums, meanwhile, are a labyrinth of treasures. From the Egyptian mummies to the classical sculptures, the Sistine Chapel to the Raphael Rooms, the art here transcends time. You could wander for days, but the real magic happens when you stand before a masterpiece—perhaps the “School of Athens” or Michelangelo’s frescoes—and understand for a fleeting moment why this place is the epicenter of both spirituality and human achievement.
Via Appia: Rome’s Ancient Road to the Past
The Via Appia is the road that once led to Rome’s future. Built in 312 B.C., it’s the route that saw the Roman Empire’s soldiers, traders, and philosophers march to and from the heart of the empire. Today, it’s an atmospheric escape from the city’s modern clamor, a dusty, sun-soaked path lined with ancient tombs and ruins that evoke a past so distant, it seems almost mythic.
The Via Appia is more than just a road; it is the story of Rome itself—a place where history walks beside you, where every step takes you deeper into the ancient rhythms that built this city.
Want to see what touring with us looks and feels like? We take photos during the trips, and you can see some of them in the galleries dedicated to them:
Rome, Amalfi & Tuscany 10-day Escorted Tour | Rome, Capri, Puglia & Tuscany 14-day Trip | Rome, Tuscany & Positano 12-day Vacation
