Highlights of Rome

Located in Rome, the very contemporary Hotel Twenty One features an elegant, upscale setting with fantastic views of the Pincian Hill and of Saint Peter's Cupola. Staying here will surely be an unforgettable experience. The most famous touring itineraries of art, culture, history and tradition can be easily reached from this exclusive boutique hotel, located in the city center of Rome, half way between the Vatican Museums and the Spanish Steps. This hotel is unique for its modern, sophisticated style and for its attention to detail, is the ideal destination for those seeking a pleasant vacation and for those traveling on business.

Enjoy a small group morning walking tour among two of the most iconic districts of Rome: Trastevere, whose name means on the other side of the river "Tevere", and the old Jewish ghetto. The tour starts from "Piazza Trilussa" in Trastevere and continues with the visit of St. Mary Basilica, one of the few remaining Byzantine churches in the city. Passing through the narrow alleys of the area, you will arrive to the Tiberine island, "Isola Tiberina", with its two important and well known hospitals and basilicas. Crossing the river you will see a huge complex called "Portico d'Ottavia", located in the old Jewish ghetto. During the Imperial age, the old market was housed in the Jewish district.
Walking through the small streets of the ghetto, you will discover the beauty of the Turtle Fountain, built by Gianlorenzo Bernini, maximum exponent of the baroque period, and the "S. Carlo ai Catinari" church in the real heart of the district. The tour ends at Giordano Bruno's square, the renown "Campo dei Fiori", where today one of the most important and crowded modern open-air market is located.

Take a tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel with privileged entrance. On this exclusive small group tour, get an early start to discover the very best of Vatican City by entering the Vatican Museums one entire hour before the general public. Take in the majesty of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in total peace before the crowds start pouring in and admire the Vatican's many treasures with your local guide as you walk through this 9-mile long museum so you get to see the highlights and recommend rooms and collections. Your tour begins at 7:30AM near the Vatican Museums entrance where you will meet your expert tour guide who will let you into the museums one hour before they officially open and you will be immediately guided through the empty Vatican Museum hallways straight to the first stop -- Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Since this chapel is the number one attraction in the Vatican, you'll get a rare opportunity to admire Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and Last Judgment without having to deal with crowds of tourists. You will then walk up the stairs to the amazing galleries, from the Candelabra, to the Tapestries up to the world-known Gallery of Maps, the Renaissance version of Google Maps. A Vatican Tour cannot be complete without the Raphael Rooms of the apartments of Pope Julius II. Once you're done in the Raphael Rooms, your guide will take you through the Sistine Chapel one more time before heading into Saint Peter's Basilica. Admire the spaciousness of this basilica, which is the largest Catholic church in the entire world. A few of the glorious works of art you will get to see up close include Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Baldacchino Altar. Before you leave St. Peter's Basilica, your guide will tell you about the Papal Tombs, the Memorial of Pope Alexander VII, and tell you how to climb up to the top of the Dome. Conclude your Vatican tour by walking around Bernini's celebrated Piazza San Pietro Square.

On this small group VIP tour, you will access two restricted areas of the Colosseum which include the Colosseum underground and Colosseum arena floor. These exclusive areas are rarely visited due to ticket availablity. Vistors will see a 360-degree overview of the Amphitheater Flavius, with privileged access into the areas where fighters and beasts awaited their fate and the ability of walking where the infamous games were held, and a final climb to the nose-bleeding seats. Once inside the Colosseum, you will first be directed to the entrance of the Colosseum arena with your tour guide immediately introducing you to the wonders of the Ancient Roman games. Then, walk through the archway and walk onto the light yellow colored arena, where you will get a feel for what it was like to hear the roar of 70,000 spectators chanting your name. You will descend into the Colosseum dungeons, learn about the complex labyrinth that lived under the arena floor, filled with cages, mechanical elevators, rooms and prisons. Here is where the gory tales you only read about come to life. Once you have finished your tour inside the Colosseum, your guide will lead you to another Roman icon -- the Palatine Hill. This was once an exclusive neighborhood which was home to political figures who were the backbone of the Roman Empire. This hilltop neighborhood embodied the top of Rome's social order at a time when Rome ruled the world. You will see it all come full-circle once you descend into the grand Roman Forum, the public center of Roman political life. Just a few of the inspiring structures your tour guide will take you to, include Julius Caesar's Temple, the Temple of Antonio & Faustina, and the Basilica of Maxentius and many more.