TRAVEL
THE TOUR GUY , ROME
IT ’ S TRUE THAT ROME WASN ’ T BUILT IN A DAY , BUT THERE IS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN ONE … BY SAMANTHA READY
Rome is laying claim to be the city to visit this year , and by default it means that tickets to many of the ancient attractions are either sold out months in advance or have very long queues snaking around their historic blocks to secure them .
So , what ’ s the best way to explore when your sightseeing wishlist includes marvels like the Sistine Chapel , the iconic coin toss at the Trevi Fountain and an exploration of the staggeringly atmospheric Colosseum ? The Tour Guy has you covered !
Having spent years exploring the best of the city and with friends in all the right ( tourist ) places , The Tour Guy has perfected a range of half-day , full-day and multi-day tours and experiences that not only bring you right to the heart of Rome ’ s most iconic and frankly incredible attractions , but also add in the extra perks of skip-the-line entry and some of the most knowledgeable , passionate and charismatic guides around .
We opted for the aptly named Rome in a Day Tour including the Colosseum and Vatican Museums which costs around £ 139.50 . It took less than 15 minutes in the company of our tour guide , the affable Daniel hailing from Richmond who fell in love first with his Roman wife and latterly with her home city and has been a happy dual language native here for decades , to see why The Tour Guy tours rank near perfect Trip Advisor and Google scores .
In groups of no more than 18 , we met at the beautiful Church Sant ’ Agnese in Agone on Piazza Navona , and having been given our own earpiece to follow the day ’ s commentary , began first with a walking tour . We gazed in wonder at the Pantheon ( there is time to return later in the day if you wish to go back and purchase tickets to explore inside ) and the cascading Trevi Fountain , explored the Roman Forum and skipped the line at the Colosseum , rising to the upper levels to take in its history from the best birdseye view - and all before lunch ! Yet the tour was never rushed . Stories were told ,
questions were answered and pacing was perfect .
After lunch ( not included but plentiful choices ) in one of the many trattorias overlooking the Colosseum , we were collected in air-conditioned mini buses and transported to the world ’ s smallest country , Vatican City .
Now , whether religious or not , it is an absolute delight .
Having again skipped the line , we were first toured through the Vatican Museums and grounds before staring upwards in wonder in the Sistine Chapel . Finally the tour is left at the incredible St . Peter ’ s Basilica to explore at leisure before making your own way back to the city with both hearts and camera rolls bursting with memories .
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