Rome, Italy

Current Packages

Rome Special   September 1-October 31, 2004 - from $879
Rome Special   November 1 - December 15, 2004 - from $529
Rome Thanksgiving Getaway   November 24 , 2004 - from $489
Rome Christmas Special   December 22, 2004 - from $739
Rome New Years Special   December 26, 2004 - from $909
Rome Special   January 6 - March 20, 2005 - from $529
Taste of Italy Special   September 1-October 31, 2004 - from $1449
Business Class Special   Year Round - from $3999

Ah, the Eternal City. In the nearly 3,000 years of its life, Rome has known it all - victory and defeat, joy and tragedy, glory and misery. A playground for gods and emperors, its power once stretched from Syria to Scotland and even today, long after the empire crumbled beneath the feet of barbarian hordes, our lives are steeped in its traditions, laws, and language making us all, in some small way, Citizens of Rome. A visit here is something of a homecoming, then, and your longing and excitement builds to a fever pitch as you emerge onto the ancient streets. Church bells wake you as the city comes to life and you are surrounded by an urban symphony of animated Italians, shop grilles opening, scooting Vespas, bustling tourists, and cascading fountains.

Multi-layered as a canoli cake, Rome is made up of ancient buildings, pagan and Christian icons, Renaissance fountains, Medieval streets, Fascist follies, and modern sensibilities. All of it comes together in the vibrant, timeless lifestyle without distinction of era, so you encounter images like a priest in flowing robes consulting over a cell phone in a Medieval plaza or a couple nuzzling and flirting through the house of the Vestal Virgins. Walk around and just experience a "day in the life." Toss a coin into the cool waters of a Bernini fountain, walk barefoot through the grass of the Palatine Hill, or try to decipher the lively gesturing of a Roman along the route that Cleopatra traveled in grand procession to visit Caesar. Better to miss some things in order to calmly and properly experience others. You can always return, for Rome and la dolce vita will still be there waiting for you.

Areas Within the Destination

Ancient Rome: This centro storico (historic district) is where you find all the famous ruins that define Rome. The Coliseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill, the Pantheon and so on form the infrastructure of what was once the capital of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Ancient Romans walked - a lot - and you'll see this reflected in the compact area that was their home, much smaller than today's sprawling city. The streets are narrow and the piazzas are airy; except for the grandeur of the buildings, you could easily believe it had never been more than a small provincial town, rather than the most powerful city on earth.

Vatican City: This independent and tiny city-state - also known as The Holy See - across the Tiber, is the center of Roman Catholicism, with the Pope as its sovereign leader. It is the smallest country in the world and it is alsovery likely the richest, relative to its size. There are no natural resources, but it has an astonishing collection of priceless art collected over the 6 centuries of its existence. Despite its religious foundation, the Vatican has had its fair share of scandal and intrigue, which add an interesting twist to its appeal. St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and many other significant, glorious sites lure history buffs, art lovers, and pilgrims.

Trastevere: One of the last of the old, authentic rioni (neighborhoods) in the city, this neighborhood is populated with genuine Romans, some of whose families have lived in the area for centuries. During the day, it mostly has the busy look of any small Italian town, with people shopping, chatting, drinking their espressos, and boasting about their children. In the evening, it throngs with people "a passeggio" (walking around) and eating in the many excellent restaurants that serve Roman cuisine as genuine as its people. This neighborhood is really a village of its own within the larger metropolis, and the people even speak their own dialect.

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