Architect Richard Meier's Ara Pacis Museum is the only major contemporary structure to have been built in the historic center of Rome since World War II. If you were living in Rome 2,000 years ago, you would now be very, very old. But also importantly: you would've been alive during the time of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor (and grand-nephew of Julius Caesar). His reign ushered in a period known as the *Pax Romana* (The Roman Peace) a two-century long period when the Roman Empire was largely free from large-scale conflict.
The Ara Pacis ('Altar of Peace') was Augustus's way of declaring his commitment to peace. See the 'Altar of Peace', originally inaugurated in 9 BC and then buried for centuries, plus loads more as you walk right into living history.
What Makes This Tour Special
The exhibition 'Impressionism & Beyond' combines classical art with modern interpretations, providing a unique perspective on how ancient themes influenced later artistic movements.
Combines ancient history with contemporary art, offering a diverse cultural experience.
Designed by renowned architect Richard Meier, the museum itself is a work of art.
Interactive exhibits allow visitors to engage with the history and art more intimately.
Located in the heart of Rome, easy access to other historical sites.
Historical Background
The Ara Pacis was commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BC to honor Emperor Augustus and celebrate his return from the provinces. It symbolizes the peace and prosperity of the Roman Empire during Augustus's reign, a time marked by artistic and cultural flourishing.
Start with an overview of ancient Rome from terraces that highlight its political and institutional center. Then,visit the Colosseum with a guide and learn about its history. The tour also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Explore the Forum’s historical structures and see the grand palaces on Palatine Hill where Roman emperors lived. Enjoy a guided tour of the Colosseum, covering gladiator battles and Roman architecture. Afterward, you have 24 hours to explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own.
Uncover the secrets of Italian cuisine as you make **pizza** and **tiramisu** in a **cooking class** led by a **professional chef**. Make your pizza pie from scratch – from rolling to topping – and recreate sweet tiramisu using only quality Italian ingredients while you wait for your pizza to bake. Put your creations to the taste test as you sit down to enjoy the rewards of your labor. *Buon appetito!*
Join a pasta and gelato-making class in Rome and master the art of Italian cooking with professional chefs in a modern cooking school. Learn to craft fresh egg pasta from scratch, shape it into two types, and pair it with seasonal sauces. Watch a live gelato-making demonstration. Understand how to select fresh ingredients and perfect the churning process. Later, enjoy both the dishes you cooked with wine and soft drinks. This class is ideal for food lovers and travelers looking to learn new cooking skills and enjoy authentic flavors in Rome.
Pass the security checks and take your seat in St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Audience, which includes prayers, blessings, and a message from the Pope. At 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM, join a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica to see Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s Baldacchino, and the dome. Your guide will explain the history and features of the church.
Start with an overview of ancient Rome from terraces that highlight its political and institutional center. Then,visit the Colosseum with a guide and learn about its history. The tour also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Explore the Forum’s historical structures and see the grand palaces on Palatine Hill where Roman emperors lived. Enjoy a guided tour of the Colosseum, covering gladiator battles and Roman architecture. Afterward, you have 24 hours to explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own.
Visit the most popular attractions in Rome on a guided walking tour of Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with your guide, and admire the ornate interiors and the famed artworks housed here. Meet your guide close to the entrance to the Vatican Museums and follow them as you set out to explore the most interesting galleries within the museum. See the Rotunda, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps. Take in the ornate ceilings in each room and see the ancient statues, frescoes, and tapestries that adorn the walls. Follow your guide and enter the Sistine Chapel and the Saint Peter's Basilica and listen to your guide for their magnificent history.
This tour provides access to St. Peter's Basilica and the ascent of its well-known dome, accompanied by a handheld audio guide that enables a personalized and informative visit. Starting at the entrance of the basilica in Vatican City, visitors ascend 136 meters to the top of the dome, passing narrow stairways and viewing platforms. The audio guide provides detailed commentary on the architectural features, the mosaics that adorn the interior, and the panoramic views of Rome’s skyline, including St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Gardens. After descending the dome, the tour continues inside the basilica where the audio guide directs you through a series of 27 specific listening points highlighting notable artworks and religious relics. Key sites include Michelangelo's Pietà, a marble masterpiece located near the entrance, and Bernini's Baldacchino, the large bronze canopy over Saint Peter's tomb. The guide also provides historical context about the basilica's construction, its role in Catholicism, and details about the popes buried within. The tour is self-paced and designed for individual or small group visits, allowing flexibility without the constraints of a scheduled group tour. There is no physical guide present; instead, the audio guide and digital map provide clear directions and commentary. Visitors should be prepared for a moderate physical effort, especially climbing the dome stairs. The basilica is accessible via public transport, with the Ottaviano metro station nearby. This tour is suited for those interested in Renaissance architecture, religious art, and panoramic city views. It appeals to travelers comfortable with some physical exertion and who prefer an independent but well-structured visit. It also suits visitors who appreciate detailed historical and artistic information delivered at their own pace.
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without waiting in line by using skip-the-line tickets. Experience a journey through the awe-inspiring museums, discovering a treasure trove of Roman statues, Renaissance paintings, and Italian artworks. Marvel at the Belvedere and Pinecone Courtyards, the Gallery of Maps, and the Pio Clementino Museum's Greek Cross Hall, Gallery of Statues, and Hall of the Muses. Admire the Raphael Rooms with their famous frescoes by Raphael, including "The School of Athens." Finally, witness the beauty of the Sistine Chapel, adorned with frescoes by Botticelli, Rosselli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and of course, Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Secure admission for a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel. Begin at the local partner’s office, where you pick up your vouchers and watch a 25-minute multimedia video on ancient Rome. A knowledgeable guide will explain key aspects of Roman life and history, then lead you along cobblestone streets to the Colosseum, one of the most intact ancient arenas. Hear about the emperors influential in its history and the public events that took place there, including gladiator contests. The tour then continues at the Vatican, where you will visit important landmarks. In the Sistine Chapel, view Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes and learn about their significance and artistry.
With so much to see in Rome, why would you want to go underground on the metro? With hop-on hop-off bus tickets for Rome and the Vatican, you can take a whistle stop tour of the city with 16 stops. See Rome's famous ancient architecture and get off at convenient spots located throughout the city, including the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo, San Giovanni in Laterano, the Circus Maximus, and plenty of others throughout the city. During the tour, learn a thing or two about the city with the on-board audioguide – it's available in eight languages.
Begin your tour with a visit to the Colosseum through a special group entrance. Walk the path of ancient gladiators and enjoy a unique 360° view of the monument. Feel the atmosphere of ancient Rome as the guide describes the past events that were witnessed by over 50,000 spectators. Visit the Roman Forum, where old governmental buildings stand as silent witnesses to history. Explore the Forum Magnum, once a lively marketplace, and discover the everyday life of ancient Romans. End your tour at Palatine Hill and look at panoramic views of the Circus Maximus, where chariots once raced.
Start with an overview of ancient Rome from terraces that highlight its political and institutional center. Then,visit the Colosseum with a guide and learn about its history. The tour also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Explore the Forum’s historical structures and see the grand palaces on Palatine Hill where Roman emperors lived. Enjoy a guided tour of the Colosseum, covering gladiator battles and Roman architecture. Afterward, you have 24 hours to explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own.
Visit the most popular attractions in Rome on a guided walking tour of Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with your guide, and admire the ornate interiors and the famed artworks housed here. Meet your guide close to the entrance to the Vatican Museums and follow them as you set out to explore the most interesting galleries within the museum. See the Rotunda, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps. Take in the ornate ceilings in each room and see the ancient statues, frescoes, and tapestries that adorn the walls. Follow your guide and enter the Sistine Chapel and the Saint Peter's Basilica and listen to your guide for their magnificent history.
This tour provides access to St. Peter's Basilica and the ascent of its well-known dome, accompanied by a handheld audio guide that enables a personalized and informative visit. Starting at the entrance of the basilica in Vatican City, visitors ascend 136 meters to the top of the dome, passing narrow stairways and viewing platforms. The audio guide provides detailed commentary on the architectural features, the mosaics that adorn the interior, and the panoramic views of Rome’s skyline, including St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Gardens. After descending the dome, the tour continues inside the basilica where the audio guide directs you through a series of 27 specific listening points highlighting notable artworks and religious relics. Key sites include Michelangelo's Pietà, a marble masterpiece located near the entrance, and Bernini's Baldacchino, the large bronze canopy over Saint Peter's tomb. The guide also provides historical context about the basilica's construction, its role in Catholicism, and details about the popes buried within. The tour is self-paced and designed for individual or small group visits, allowing flexibility without the constraints of a scheduled group tour. There is no physical guide present; instead, the audio guide and digital map provide clear directions and commentary. Visitors should be prepared for a moderate physical effort, especially climbing the dome stairs. The basilica is accessible via public transport, with the Ottaviano metro station nearby. This tour is suited for those interested in Renaissance architecture, religious art, and panoramic city views. It appeals to travelers comfortable with some physical exertion and who prefer an independent but well-structured visit. It also suits visitors who appreciate detailed historical and artistic information delivered at their own pace.
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without waiting in line by using skip-the-line tickets. Experience a journey through the awe-inspiring museums, discovering a treasure trove of Roman statues, Renaissance paintings, and Italian artworks. Marvel at the Belvedere and Pinecone Courtyards, the Gallery of Maps, and the Pio Clementino Museum's Greek Cross Hall, Gallery of Statues, and Hall of the Muses. Admire the Raphael Rooms with their famous frescoes by Raphael, including "The School of Athens." Finally, witness the beauty of the Sistine Chapel, adorned with frescoes by Botticelli, Rosselli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and of course, Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Secure admission for a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel. Begin at the local partner’s office, where you pick up your vouchers and watch a 25-minute multimedia video on ancient Rome. A knowledgeable guide will explain key aspects of Roman life and history, then lead you along cobblestone streets to the Colosseum, one of the most intact ancient arenas. Hear about the emperors influential in its history and the public events that took place there, including gladiator contests. The tour then continues at the Vatican, where you will visit important landmarks. In the Sistine Chapel, view Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes and learn about their significance and artistry.
With so much to see in Rome, why would you want to go underground on the metro? With hop-on hop-off bus tickets for Rome and the Vatican, you can take a whistle stop tour of the city with 16 stops. See Rome's famous ancient architecture and get off at convenient spots located throughout the city, including the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo, San Giovanni in Laterano, the Circus Maximus, and plenty of others throughout the city. During the tour, learn a thing or two about the city with the on-board audioguide – it's available in eight languages.
Begin your tour with a visit to the Colosseum through a special group entrance. Walk the path of ancient gladiators and enjoy a unique 360° view of the monument. Feel the atmosphere of ancient Rome as the guide describes the past events that were witnessed by over 50,000 spectators. Visit the Roman Forum, where old governmental buildings stand as silent witnesses to history. Explore the Forum Magnum, once a lively marketplace, and discover the everyday life of ancient Romans. End your tour at Palatine Hill and look at panoramic views of the Circus Maximus, where chariots once raced.
