Gladiator’s Italy

Upon arrival at Rome’s airport, you’ll be met by our driver who will welcome you and provide a private transfer to your hotel. After getting settled into your room you can enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. You might want to find an enticing café or wine bar to sit down and unwind with a glass while people-watching and getting a feel for the city. There are many that can be found throughout the winding streets and alleyways, including Piazza di Spagna at the base of the famous Spanish steps. From here to Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top, there are also restaurants for all budgets and tastes.

Step into the world of ancient gladiators with a tour of the iconic Roman Colosseum and Roman Forum. You’ll start by meeting your local guide at the 1st-century AD amphitheater, which saw some four centuries of active use, drawing over 50,000 spectators to witness the almost daily theatrical demonstrations and gladiatorial competitions. The Roman Forum is next door with its roots that date back to 500 BC. It was used as a site for law courts, public meetings, and gladiator combat, as well as featuring a number of open-air markets and shops. Today it holds the ancient city’s oldest structures.

This morning our driver/guide will bring you on a half-day tour of Vatican City, including the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Square, and spectacular St. Peter’s Basilica, completed in 1626 following 120 years of construction. The museum is a massive complex with multiple institutions that feature frescoes, paintings, sculptures, classical antiquities, tapestries, and the Sistine Chapel. The chapel is best known for its gorgeous frescoes that include works by Botticelli and Perugino, and of course, the ceiling and Last Judgment by Michelangelo. You’ll explore the Gallery of Tapestries and Gallery of Geographical Maps too, all while getting interesting insight throughout.

One of the most fascinating tours you can take in Italy is a visit to the ruins of Pompeii. Your private guide will meet you at Pompeii for your private guided tour of this ancient city left covered in ash nearly 2,000 years ago during the massive 79 AD Mount Vesuvius eruption. It was forgotten to time until the 18th century when it was accidentally discovered. Today, visitors can get a good glimpse of what life was like so many centuries ago, complete with well-preserved chariot tracks that can still be seen in the streets, baths, bakeries, a forum, amphitheater, and brothels. An especially captivating stop is the gladiator barracks, where you can walk in the footsteps of the fierce warriors who trained and lived here, adding a powerful new dimension to your visit. Upon arrival, you’ll meet a local guide for a private tour who will provide insight about it all for a deep moving experience. As you explore the site, you’ll be under the shadow of towering Mount Vesuvius, providing a reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be.

Before making your way to Sorrento your driver will stop in the heart of Naples, otherwise known as the birthplace of Pizza, so you can have some time to stop for lunch at one of the best pizzerias in Naples.

Explore the Amalfi Coast on this full-day tour with your own private guide and driver. You’ll discover Positano and its many colors. When approaching from above, you’re greeted with a stunning vista of lush gardens, olive, lemon, and orange groves, trees, and flowers. Highly walkable as a pedestrian-only destination, enjoy a stroll through its magnificent beauty with time to grab a coffee or lunch on your own. Much of it still looks like it did a century ago with strict building codes preventing modern construction. Ravello is home to several must-visit places like 13th-century Villa Rufolo which overlooks Piazza Vescovado, the cultural and historical center of town. From Villa Cimbrone, one can take in one of the most famous panoramas in Italy over both the Amalfi and Cilento coasts. In Amalfi you’ll visit the iconic Cathedral of St. Andrew, the symbol of the city, along with the series of white homes built on terraces among a maze of stairways and alleys.

A popular getaway since Roman times, Capri offers irresistible Mediterranean charms lying opposite of the Sorrento peninsula. A glamourous retreat, it attracts many wealthy jetsetters and celebrities who come to stroll its delightful labyrinth of narrow streets lined with tasty local restaurants and fashion boutiques selling all the big designer names. In the harbor you’ll see plenty of superyachts that bob up and down on the glistening turquoise waters, while Villa Jovis houses the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s palace.

Step back in time with a visit to the ancient amphitheater on the outskirts of Naples, where you’ll dive deep into the thrilling world of gladiators—explore the very cells where these warriors awaited their fates. Afterward, treat your taste buds to an unforgettable guided street food tour through Naples, savoring the vibrant flavors and culinary treasures of this historic city.

With the arrival of the eighth day, it’s time for this enchanting adventure to end. You’ll be met by our driver for a private transfer to Naples Airport where you can catch your return flight home. If you’d like to combine this itinerary with one that explores other regions of Italy or another country, contact our travel experts who will be happy to create a bespoke addition. Otherwise, with so many alluring destinations to visit across the globe, we hope to see you again in the future on another Unforgettable trip.