Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Port: Civitavecchia (Rome)

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

• Tour Provider: Private Tour Italy
• Travel Type: Private
• Transportation: Sedan
• Cost: approx. $500; expensive but money very well spent
• Kid friendly 15+
• Tips: Ask for Cristiano; let tour guide get tickets and make reservations for you (see last paragraph for more detail)
• Highlights: Pantheon, Sistine Chapel, Roman Colosseum, Forum, & Trevi Fountain

Good to know:

• Let the tour company make reservations/purchase tickets for you to optimize your time. The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are free of charge.
• Plan for the weather-we traveled in late May/early June and days were hot with little relief from the sun.  Some destinations require that shoulders and knees be covered.  Plan accordingly.
• If it’s of interest, see the calendar for dates when the Pope will hold audience.
• Wednesday, we arrived in the port of Civitavecchia which is about an hour’s drive from Rome.  Interestingly, the only other time I’d been to Rome was when I was pregnant with Leah 17 years prior.  History came to life for me during that trip, and I had anxiously awaited my return!  Of course, there were things that I wanted Leah to see, so again, we reserved a private tour from the port.  Our guide, Cristiano, from “Private Tour Italy“, was waiting at the port for us and whisked us away in another Mercedes sedan.  I’d done some legwork myself and reserved tickets for tours of the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum in advance.  It turned out my attempt at efficiency had made things more complicated.  Navigating the city wasn’t easy and trying to do all that I wanted became somewhat constrained by the entrance times for the sites.   I also wanted to attend an audience with Pope Francis.  In addition, I’d told Cristiano to try to incorporate the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Forum.  He said it wouldn’t be possible but couldn’t resist the challenge!  Keep in mind, I started the day with “I know there’s a lot to see and we don’t care about food.”

Pantheon

One of the best preserved monuments from Ancient Rome, Cristiano couldn’t let us miss the Pantheon on our way to hear Pope Francis speak.  He dropped us off close to the entrance and stayed with the car.  The Pantheon is a church and former Roman temple. A huge oculus (circle) in the center of the dome shaped ceiling provides the only light and must be beautiful on a starry night. I was told on a tour years earlier that it serves as a view of heaven. With a circular interior and floor slanted to allow for rain to run off, the building is an architectural marvel. Sadly, we were unable to stay long here.

St. Peter’s Square, Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel

On our way to the audience, we passed the Circus Maximus, where the chariot races had taken place.  Mind boggling that this is thought to have been built in the late 7th or early 6th century B.C.. I hadn’t seen this during my last trip so it was an amazing site.  He quickly drove us to the audience where we listened to Pope Francis speaking in St. Peter’s Square.  Again, Cristiano waited with the car in an opportune location so that we could get to the Sistine Chapel for our entrance time.

I mistakenly assumed that St. Peter’s square would adjoin the entrance to the Vatican Museums; Cristiano quickly drove us to the entrance.  Leah and I made our way as quickly as possible through the Vatican Museums in an attempt to maximize the sites and see the Sistine Chapel.  The Vatican Museums are incredible and there is so much to see even as you quickly pass through.  After a few wrong turns, we arrived at the Sistine Chapel. I’m hardly an art aficionado, but you cannot help but be in awe of the incredible work contained here!  Even after so many years, it is breathtaking.  After racing through so much of our morning, I was grateful for the chance to stand still and appreciate what was around me.  I was equally grateful that the employees gently reminded people to speak in a whisper with their frequent requests for softer conversation.  We were somewhat saddened by the fact that we were rushed through the museums, but given one day in Rome, it was simply logistics.

Colosseum

The Roman Colosseum, home to the famous gladiatorial fights, was next on our agenda, and Cristiano was waiting again with the car for us.  He was very concerned about lines, but we got lucky.  It was hot at this point, so we made quick work of our tour.  We did the audio tour but really spent our time taking in the arena.  The remains are amazing and the history itself is mind boggling.  Construction began in 72 AD and concluded in 80 AD, and it is the largest amphitheater ever built, holding an estimated 50,000 spectators. It has been significantly damaged by earthquakes, weather, and vandalism but will still take your breath away.

Forum

Quite simply, the Forum was the center for daily life in any city housing government building, shops, markets, banks, etc. Cristiano said the best view of the Forum could be seen by following a path at the base of Palatine Hill.  It did not disappoint.  While we were unable to walk through the Forum, we were able to see the remains as well as other parts of Rome from this lookout point.  Having seen a much smaller version in Pompeii the day before, this was a nice contrast, and you can get a sense of how powerful Rome was. Even as ruins, the Forum is spectacular.

Trevi Fountain

As with any city, you need to plan your travel times, and we were now approaching rush hour.  Cristiano decided to squeeze Trevi Fountain in as our last stop.  He dropped us at the top of a street leading to Trevi Fountain and suggested we grab a bite to eat on our way there, and of course, a gelato on our way back.  We did just as he said.  Trevi Fountain was mobbed but we both managed to throw a coin in and make a wish to return to Rome.  Time to get back to the ship!

If you have read this lengthy description of our day, you know there is so much to see in Rome.  One day isn’t enough, but it’s what we had.  I am so glad that we had a private tour and truly couldn’t have hoped for more.  I would strongly encourage anyone to let the tour company make reservations on your behalf because they know the city, traffic patterns, and when the best times are to go.  Again, we knew that a cruise would only allow us to sample the cities we visited.  Where Rome is concerned, it was truly just a taste.  Keeping my fingers crossed that my coin in Trevi Fountain is working on my behalf!