Rome Pilgrimage Tour
The City of the Popes offers a fascinating tour for your students where you can visit the Papal Basilicas, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. You can also learn about the Jewish history of the city, as well as the Roman period and early Christianity.
Here are more details of a sample tour as a starting point, but at Kipling Tours, we can customize any program just for you.
Call or email us to start planning your trip
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Day 1
Depart from home
Today you depart on your flight to Rome. Flights can be arranged from your chosen departure airport
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Day 2
Arrive in Rome
You arrive in Rome where on arrival you are met by your guide and transfer to your city center hotel. Depending on the arrival time, you may have an opportunity to visit the Castle St. Angelo which was built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian, and later used by the Pope as a fortress in times of difficulty. Alternatively, you can have an evening guided tour of the historic center including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
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Day 3
St. Peters and the Vatican
This morning you visit the Vatican where you can discover the incredible art works in its museums and see Michelangelo's ornate ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. You then make your way into St. Peter's Basilica where you can see the famous sculptures by Bernini, as well as the crypt of the Popes. You may also be able to ascend to the cupola for an impressive view across the city. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore Rome on your own, We recommend taking a stroll along Rome's main shopping street, the Via Cola di Rienzo, as far as the Piazza del Popolo to see the historic church of Santa Maria del Popolo.
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Day 4
The Papal Basilicas and the Capuccine Church
Today you visit the two major Papal Basilicas of San Giovanni in Lateran and Santa Maria di Maggiore. Although St. Peters Basilica is the best known, San Giovanni is historically the Cathedral Church of Rome. Here you can see the famous statues of the Apostles. At Santa Maria di Maggiore you can visit the Bell Tower for a superb view of Rome, as well as the burial place of the Renaissance sculpture Bernini and six of the early Popes.
After lunch you visit the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, an old Monastery which belonged to the Capuchin Monks and which houses a remarkable crypt containing the bones of 3700 of their order. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for you to explore Rome on your own, or alternatively you can visit the National Gallery of Art at the Palazzo Barberini which houses a number of important pieces by Raphael and Caravaggio. -
Day 5
Jewish Quarter
This morning you visit the Jewish Quarter, a vibrant and lively area with many kosher cafes and restaurants. You first visit the Great Synagogue of Rome with its spectacular vaulted ceiling, and the Jewish Museum. The Museum is fascinating and shows the history of the Jews in Rome. After the Museum visit a guide from the Jewish Museum will escort you on a short tour of the neighborhood, pointing out the history of this area which goes back to the 1500’s when a Papal order, hostile to the small Jewish community, required all Jews to relocate to a small area which was walled in and locked at night. This Jewish Ghetto continued until relatively late in the nineteenth century and was the last in Europe until the rise of the Nazi’s.
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Day 6
Colosseum and Roman Forum
Today you visit the Colosseum before making your way past the Arch of Constantine and into the Roman Forum. You can see Trajan's Column and may be able to ascend the famous Vittorio Emmanuel monument for a birds-eye view of the city
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Day 7
Catacombs and Via Appia
Today you travel to the Via Appia where you can visit the early Christian catacombs. There will also be an opportunity to see the famous which Mouth of Truth. The afternoon will be free for you to explore Rome on your own.
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Day 8
Fly Home
You depart from Rome today for your flight home, or alternatively extend your tour in Italy.
includes flights
