On the Gladiator's Footsteps

1st day: Arrival in Rome. Meeting with the tour escort and transfer to Villa Domus, a wonderful ex Patrician Roman Villa, built on the basement of a Roman arena, which became a famous monastery in the XIII century. Check-in and special visit of the roman arena ruins inside your Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
2nd day: Breakfast. This wonderful experience will start with a little bit of history… Half day guided sightseeing tour of Ancient Rome, including the Coliseum, the most important monument of ancient Rome, bloody battles between gladiators and against ferocious animals were once held; Forum Romanum, the political, economic, and religious center of ancient Rome and the site of temples, tribunals and other buildings used for public and private business; Fori Imperiali, the Capitol and the Pantheon, one of the most magnificent Roman buildings, which has survived almost intact up to the present day. Dedicated in 609 to St. Mary ad Martyres, it holds the tombs of the painter Raphael and of the Kings of Italy. Lunch on your own. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the shops and monumental sights of Rome, such as Fontana di Trevi, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona. Dinner and overnight.
3rd day: Breakfast. Half day excursion with art historian guide to Ostia Antica excavations. Impressive remains of the Roman settlement which used to be the military garrison for the defense of the river entrance as well as shipyard, gathering place for the Roman fleet, and provisioning center. Lunch on your own. Afternoon at leisure for a walk along the picturesque promenade of Roman coast or return to Rome and time at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
4th day: Breakfast. Gladiator's Day. You have the opportunity to live a piece of life of Roman Gladiators. These Roman warriors fought so many times around 2000 years ago in the arenas of the cities of the Roman Empires. Now, gladiators raise up once again from the past and born in Rome, in the arena of Appia Antica. You will visit the School of Gladiator in Rome that teaches how to fight with the real same weapons handed by gladiators of the ancient Rome, such as Gladius. The program includes theoretical fighting, group training with plastic swords (rudis) and even with wooden swords and wearing the whole protective armors like helmets, iron arms and “schinieri” (iron protection for legs and knees). Lunch in the typical gladiator way. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
5th day: Breakfast. Full day excursion to Pompei excavations with half day guided sightseeing. With its excavated area, extending for approximately 44 ha, and the preservation state of its buildings, due to the particular burial (under a blanket of 6 meter of ash and rock) caused by the eruption of the Vesuvius in 79 AD, Pompei can be considered the only archaeological site which gives the real image of roman city. And the image is similar to cities, not preserved, of the same period. Return to Rome. Dinner and overnight.
6th day: Breakfast. Full day excursion to Tivoli, visiting the enchanting Villa Adriana. The Villa Adriana is an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the 2nd Century A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It combines the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an 'ideal city'. After the visit, wine tasting luncheon in a typical cantina on the Roman Hills (Castelli romani). Return to Rome. Dinner and overnight.
7th day: Breakfast. This wonderful adventure ends with a last half day guided sightseeing to discover other enchanting sites of Ancient Rome: Circus Maximum, famous for the races of gladiator's chariots; Bath of Caracalla, one of the most beautiful and luxurious Baths' complexes in Rome, equipped with sophisticated plumbing systems; and the wonderful sights along Via Appia Antica such as the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintili. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell Dinner in a typical Gladiator style in one of the famous restaurant of Rome. Overnight.
8th day: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for return flight. End of our services.