Your full-day tour starts at the Colosseum, where you’ll bypass the long lines of tourists and enter the ancient world’s greatest sports arena without the wait. Hear harrowing tails of gladiators and martyrs that made the Coliseum famous and also about the political and social importance to ancient Romans.  Next you’ll head over to the Roman Forum to learn how it functioned as the beating heart of Rome’s all-encompassing empire. Instead of slogging through the crowds inside the Forum your guide will lead you directly to a stunning overlook. From there you can take in the entire Forum complex including the Senate House and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. It will be easy to imagine how the Forum must have appeared 2,000 years ago as you hear stories of war, politics, economics, and religion that shaped the ancient city. No walk through ancient Rome would be complete without a visit to the Pantheon. This nearly 2,000-year-old building has the largest un-reinforced concrete dome in the world. As you view if from inside, you’ll hear the story of how it was built and why it has inspired so many other buildings, from St. Peter’s Basilica to the U.S. Capitol Building.  Jumping ahead in history, you’ll be treated to a delicious gelato as you stroll through streets made famous by films including Roman Holiday, stopping at the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona for a few photo ops. After a break for lunch your local expert will accompany you in a taxi or bus to the Vatican, where you’ll also skip the long lines of people waiting to enter. Meet your Vatican expert here and delve into one of the world’s greatest collections of art.  This specially-curated Vatican tour highlights the best works in the vast collections to give you a broad understanding and appreciation of what you’re seeing. You’ll take in the sculpture galleries and the world-famous Laocoön Group as well. The tour ends as you’re left contemplating Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. From here you can choose between extending your stay in the Chapel and the Vatican Museums, or skip the lines once again and enter St. Peter’s Basilica directly from the Sistine Chapel.