NEW! Icons of the Mediterranean

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.

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.

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.

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.

Step inside Rome’s magnificent centerpieces, the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as you explore the city’s highlights. Enjoy a panoramic drive past Rome’s iconic ancient sites, passing the Aurelian Walls, Pyramid of Cestius and Circus Maximus on your way to visit the Colosseum. Wander through this impressive arena that once hosted gladiator contests and imperial ceremonies, before continuing to the Roman Forum. Here, explore the grounds and marvel at the ruins of great structures that once made up the heart of Ancient Rome before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Then, set off on foot with your guide to see the famous site of the Trevi Fountain and the picturesque square of Piazza Navona. Rejoin your motor coach for a scenic drive along the Tiber, admiring the views of Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica, before returning to your ship.

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 during a private, small group experience with a local guide. 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.

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.

Discover two beautiful medieval towns and visit one of the region’s most famous wineries for a tasting. Travel to the charming town of Viterbo, known as the 13th-century residence of popes. Their influence remains in a handful of churches and the grand Gothic Palazzo dei Papi, where they lived from 1257 to 1281. Meet your guide and walk through the historic center, which is surrounded by intact 11th-century walls, while taking in impressive, preserved buildings. Travel further into the verdant countryside to reach the hilltop town of Montefiascone, where you will visit one of the area’s most famous wineries for a tasting of several vintages and a lunch of authentic cuisine. Then, drive along the shores of Lake Bolsena to reach the medieval walled town of Tuscania. Stroll its main street for a glimpse of ancient architecture, stopping at a lookout above the Marta River Valley.

Discover two UNESCO-listed Roman villas, including a spectacular garden that inspired Versailles. Travel to the 13th-century hilltop town of Tivoli, a former summer retreat for ancient Romans, to visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Take a guided stroll through Villa Adriana, the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s country estate built between 118 and 138 AD. One of the largest of its time, it sprawls more than 300 acres, only a third of which are open to the public. See what remains of the gardens, fountains and scenic buildings as you learn about the villa’s rich history. After lunch, walk to the incredible Villa d’Este to see Renaissance gardens adorned with sculptures and lush allées. If the timing is right, the Fountain of the Organ, which uses water to play music through a concealed organ, can be heard. Spend free time in Tivoli city center, then return to your ship.

Walk a Roman Republic-era road to see subterranean tombs and visit ruins of ancient aqueducts in the countryside. Meet your guide and stroll along the Appian Way, ancient Rome’s earliest and most important road that connects Rome to the port of Brindisi, 430 miles to the south. Dating back to 312 BC, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its revolutionary construction that can still be seen today. Running underneath the route are more than 186 miles of catacombs built by early Christians to entomb thousands of poor people, popes and religious martyrs. Descend to explore a few of these tombs before continuing to see the ruins of a well-preserved mausoleum and an ancient stadium called the Circus of Maxentius. Have lunch before driving to Parco degli Acquedotti to see the remains of massive stone aqueducts, which once carried clean drinking water from the mountains in the east.

See formal Renaissance gardens in a stunning town, then learn to cook authentic Italian pasta from scratch. Escape to Castel Gandolfo, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, perched in the Alban Hills with stunning views of Lake Albano. Famed as the former summer residence of the Pope, it is home to the stately Pontifical Villas and their sprawling gardens from the Renaissance period, featuring sculptural and architectural treasures with botanical gems. Explore with a guide, then head to a cooking school where you will be greeted with a glass of prosecco and antipasti before learning traditional methods for making fresh, authentic pasta by hand. You will make your own dessert too, before enjoying it all with local wines. After, explore the town on your own if you wish, taking in the streets, boutique shops and markets before driving back to your waiting 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.