Villa D’Este (Tivoli) and Roman Basilicas Private Tour

Tivoli is a small town, located approximately 30 minutes drive from Rome and is the home of Villa d’Este, the masterpiece of the Italian Gardens, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its impressive concentration of fountains, nymphs, grottoes, plays of water, and music, it constitutes a replica model for European gardens in the mannerism and baroque styles. The garden is generally considered within the larger and altogether extraordinary context of Tivoli itself: its landscape, art and history, which includes the important ruins of ancient villas such as the Villa Adriana, as well as a zone wealthy in caves and waterfalls, displaying the unending battle between water and stone. The grandiose constructions and the series of terraces above terraces, bring to mind the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world. The addition of water, including an aqueduct tunneling beneath the city, evoking the engineering skill which the Romans themselves had.

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is an ancient Catholic basilica that is considered to be the largest of the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. It is one of the city’s four major basilicas. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore was built on a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Cybele, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was built in the mid-fourth century under the orders of Pope Liberius. According to legend, the Virgin appeared before the Pope with the instructions for building the church, and the shape of the floor was designed based on a miraculous snowfall. Over the years, the basilica has had many different names, such as Saint Mary of the Snow (due to snow that led to the church’s shape), Santa Maria Liberiana (for Pope Liberius), St. Mary of the Nativity (because it received a relic of the Holy Nativity), and it was finally called Santa Maria Maggiore, as it is the largest of the 26 churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Lateran Palace was handed over by Constantine I to the Bishop of Rome, who converted the building into a temple during the fourth century. The Basilica is the oldest church in the world.Founded during the fourth century in honour of St. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, St John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of Rome and the most important of the four major basilicas. It is known as St John Lateran Archbasilica, as is it considered the mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful.In the early part of the fourth century, the Laterani family were stripped of their land as one of their members was accused of conspiring against the Emperor. Nowadays, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterno is where the Pope, as Bishop of Rome, celebrates Holy Thursday Mass.

Erected during the fourth century AD, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and the second largest after St. Peter’s Basilica. It was founded on the burial ground of St. Paul. When Paul the Apostle was executed in the first century AD in Rome, his followers built a shrine over his grave. In 324 a small church was consecrated on the same grounds, which was later demolished in 386 to make space for the construction of a larger and more beautiful basilica, completed in 395. After the fire, many countries made donations for the restoration of the church, which was reopened in 1840. The temple was later declared a national monument. Although the Basilica isn’t in the heart of the city, we recommend visiting this unique and astonishing church in order to see its impressive mosaics, atrium and interior. It is one of the most worthwhile of Rome.

The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem or Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and titular church in rione Esquilino. It is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. According to tradition, the basilica was consecrated circa 325 to house the relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ brought to Rome from the Holy Land by Empress St. Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I. At that time, the Basilica’s floor was covered with soil from Jerusalem, thus acquiring the title in Hierusalem; it is not dedicated to the Holy Cross which is in Jerusalem, but the Basilica itself is “in Jerusalem” in the sense that a “piece” of Jerusalem was moved to Rome for its foundation. Several famous relics of disputed authenticity are housed in the Cappella delle Reliquie, including part of the Elogium or Titulus Crucis, i.e. the panel which was hung on Christ’s Cross, two thorns of the Crown of Thorns, part of a nail, the index finger of St. Thomas and three small wooden pieces of the True Cross.

Tucked away in the beautiful Rione Monti, in Rome, in the quaint church of San Pietro in Vincoli, there is one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art, Michelangelo’s Moses, an example of superb craftsmanship and incomparable beauty. San Pietro in Vincoli was founded in the fifth century by the Empress Eudoxia in order to guard a precious relic: the chain with which St. Peter was bound as a prisoner in Jerusalem which is now preserved under the high altar.

PRIVATE TOUR MINIMUM 2 PEOPLE

EXTRA PERSON €400,00

Includes:

Not Included:

• 22% vat tax
• Food and beverages
• Gratuities. If you are satisfied with the service, a gratuity is customary