NEW! Aegean & Mediterranean Explorer

Relax and take in the sights of Rome, admiring historic monuments and glorious architecture on a leisurely drive. Travel along some of the city’s most scenic routes. See ancient Roman sites, including the Aurelian Walls, Baths of Caracalla, Pyramid of Cestius, Colosseum and the Circus Maximus. Admire the Arch of Constantine, the best triumphal arch in the city, built in 315 AD to celebrate Constantine’s victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Drive along the elegant Via Veneto, enjoying views of Villa Borghese Park. At Piazza della Repubblica, admire the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and Fountain of the Naiads. Afterward, you will head to central Rome where you will enjoy free time to explore on your own, before returning to your motor coach for the scenic drive back to your ship, with the great facade of iconic St. Peter’s Basilica in view.

Seek a deeper understanding of Italy’s history on this outing, ideal for lovers of archaeology. Journey with a local guide to the ancient city of Tarquinia, founded in 449 BC. This was the principal metropolis of the 12 cities of the Etruscan League that thrived here long before the rise of the Roman Empire. Explore the fascinating Etruscan Necropolises, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 7th to the 2nd centuries BC, the numerous tombs, with their decorative frescoes, chronicle the development of Etruscan culture. Outside the city’s ancient quarters, visit the 15th-century Palazzo Vitelleschi, whose galleries and cloistered courtyard display an extensive collection recovered from the tombs, including fine examples of Etruscan sarcophagi. Its golden terra-cotta horses hint at the high degree of artistry that was prevalent in Etruscan society.

Visit one of Italy’s most stunning Gothic churches in a striking hilltop medieval city. Journey through the Italian countryside to Orvieto, one of Umbria’s most prized destinations. A steep, winding road creates a dramatic entrance to this medieval city, home to world-famous vineyards and the Orvieto Cathedral, one of Italy’s most spectacular Gothic cathedrals featuring an ornate facade of rainbow-colored murals and intricate mosaics. Its interior includes detailed frescoes, including Signorelli’s masterpiece Last Judgement, said to have inspired similar work in the Sistine Chapel. After a lunch of local cuisine in a beautiful 14th-century building, enjoy a guided tour of the Cathedral to take in all its splendor. Then, stroll through the town at your leisure to find boutiques selling artisan handcrafts from the area, including pottery and Pinocchio dolls.

Enter the onetime busiest port of the ancient world for a remarkable look at a city unearthed from time’s ravages. Journey to the coastal town of Ostia with your local guide. These bustling streets were once situated where the Tiber River spilled into the sea, making it the port of Rome. But silting deposited two miles of land between it and the coast. You will explore some of its religious buildings—dedicated to Roman, Oriental and Egyptian gods—and its theater, proof of the city’s cultural diversity. Admire the rich mosaics in the public baths and the grand buildings of the Ostia Forum, remarkably preserved pieces that point to Ostia’s wealth. You will also see fine examples of insulae, apartment buildings in which plebs, or the working class, lived. After your tour, you will have time to explore at your leisure.

Step inside the Roman Forum, once the beating heart of ancient Rome, and take in the city’s highlights. Embark on a panoramic drive past the city’s important ancient sites, including the Aurelian Walls, Pyramid of Cestius and Circus Maximus. Pause to view the magnificent Colosseum, the most important amphitheater in the Roman world, then step inside the Roman Forum to explore its ruins and learn about its ancient history. Continue on foot to see the famed Spanish Steps and the beautiful Trevi Fountain—an 18th-century baroque masterpiece—and view the exterior of the well-preserved Pantheon. Stroll through the picturesque square of Piazza Navona. Then after lunch, reboard your motor coach to drive past Castel Sant’Angelo with the picture-perfect St. Peter’s Basilica as a backdrop, before returning to your ship.

View the transcendent wonders of Vatican City, with a local guide along to provide insight. You will meet your guide upon arrival in Rome and see the important monuments of ancient Rome during a panoramic tour—the Aurelian Walls, the Pyramid of Cestius, the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. In Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world, visit the world-renowned Vatican Museums, home to a diverse collection ranging from Egyptian and Etruscan art to pieces by Raphael and Caravaggio. In the famed Sistine Chapel, marvel at the art-adorned walls and, of course, Michelangelo’s famous ceiling painting in which the hand of God gives life to Adam. Then, you will enjoy free time to explore more of Rome’s sights, either centered around the Vatican or in central Rome. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Discover the historic Orsini-Odescalchi Castle and dine on delicious carbonara, a beloved local dish. Journey through Lazio’s countryside to reach the town of Bracciano. There, perched atop a hill, is the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, one of the largest medieval castles in Italy. Upon arrival, meet your guide and step back in time as you marvel at medieval-renaissance style rooms populated with original furniture, paintings and weapons. Walk the ramparts that run along the defensive walls for a stunning view of the countryside and lake. After your tour, spend free time in the village around the castle before continuing on to Casale delle Ginestre, a beautiful farmhouse. Their carbonara is made the traditional way, with home-made pasta, fatty cured pork, hard cheese and raw eggs, to provide a rich, silky sauce. Enjoy this delectable meal with wine before returning to your ship.

Delve into ancient Rome in depth, including a guided, small group visit inside the famous Colosseum. During a panoramic drive, admire the Aurelian Walls, Pyramid of Cestius, Baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus. Walk to the Colosseum, the most important amphitheater in the Roman world, for a guided tour of its storied interior. Continue to the Arch of Constantine, the biggest and best-preserved ancient arch. See the Roman Forum, walk amid the ruins of the Forums of Nerva, Caesar and Trajan and admire the imposing Palatine Hill. Visit the National Roman Museum, housing one of the world’s most important collections of classical art in a beautiful 19th-century neo-Renaissance palace filled with sculptures, frescoes and mosaics, coins and jewels. Visit the grandest of the Roman public baths. Enjoy free time to explore on your own before returning to your ship.