ROME AT TWILIGHT: AMONG THE PIAZZAS AND FOUNTAINS: SEMI-PRIVATE EVENING WALKING TOUR

Duration
2hours 30minutes
Inclusions
Small Group
Tour Guide
Entrance Fees
Headsets
Expert, English-Speaking Guide
Language
English
Max Group Size
10 people
Transportation
Transportation from your hotel or lodging to the activity check in.
No
$
62
94
/ Adult
Available:
Thu, Apr 18 2024
Time:
5:30 PM
Through E
Response rate: 
86%
Response time:
several hours
Highlights
  • The Trevi Fountain
  • Piazza della Rotonda
  • The interior of the Pantheon
  • Hadrian's Temple
  • Piazza Navona
  • The Spanish Steps
Preview Description
Enjoy a perfect introduction to the Eternal City on our evening Rome tour through beautiful streets, fountains and piazzas.
 
Description
Renaissance and Baroque Rome: the most beautiful fountains and piazzas of Rome 
Join us on an evening stroll to appreciate the splendors of Rome; wander past its imposing palaces and through its grand piazzas, where water dances in the extraordinary fountains that occupy pride of place in Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps and, most impressive of all, in the Trevi fountain. This special Rome evening walking tour is an ideal introduction to the magic of one of the world's most enchanting cities.  Discover the enchanted streets of Rome where time has stopped, and learn about history and art in a new way. We'll encounter popes and emperors, artists and ordinary people in the places where their lives took shape, and where the ancient and the modern worlds mingled to create the political and religious institutions on which Italian society still rests today.

Piazza Navona
We will begin our journey into the atmospheric heart of the Eternal City in one of Rome's most iconic public spaces: Piazza Navona. Its long and distinctive shape has been part of the city's urban fabric for nearly 2,000 years, beginning life as the ancient Stadium of Domitian whose shape is still obvious today. And yet at the same time we are in the heart of the Roman Baroque: all around are spectacular optical illusions and theatrical buildings, signs of a revolutionary new approach to architectural space. Here we'll confront the geniuses of Bernini and Borromini, the two greatest rivals of their age and opposites in every respect. Bernini's marvelous Fountain of the Four Rivers is the piazza's centrepiece, a pyramidal structure that incorporates an obelisk and culminates in the flight of a dove. Dominating the skyline above is Borromini's curving facade and bell tower of the church of Sant'Agnese, where stone takes on the malleability of softest clay. 

The Pantheon
Entering the magnificent Pantheon will transport us to another era, and this portion of our walking group tour is all about the grandeur of Imperial Rome. Innovative ideas, technologies and various cultures blend to make an artwork of extreme power and poetry, a design so perfect that Michelangelo considered it to be the work of angels. The history of the area is no less fascinating: it was originally a marshland subject to the floods of the Tiber, then a military training ground devoted to Mars, the god of war. The temple that dominates the piazza was first built by Agrippa for his son-in-law Augustus, before a restoration by Hadrian in 126 AD created the magnificent building we know today. According to medieval legend the central oculus in the huge dome was created by the explosive crash of pagan demons fleeing the building at the moment of its conversion into a church in 609 AD. The Pantheon also houses the tombs of Raphael who died prematurely in 1520, and the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele, who died in 1878. Please note that we do not enter the Pantheon on our Sunday evening tour, as the site is closed. We will of course still visit the piazza and admire the great edifice from the outside.

Trevi Fountain
Here we will let ourselves be lulled into tranquility by the magical song of the waters, immersing ourselves in this wonderful piece of theatrical architecture that recalls the great buildings of Ancient Rome. The main structure of the Trevi Fountain is a triumphal arch, taking its inspiration from classical examples such as the Arch of Constantine. With the help of your guide you'll decipher the legends depicted in the sculptures of the arch, from where the god Ocean advances with his Tritons and winged horses to celebrate an ancient festival of water with us. You will also learn about the origins of the fountain in an ancient Roman acqueduct, as well as its history through the centuries.

Spanish Steps
Our tour finishes in the magnificent Piazza di Spagna, home to the iconic Spanish Steps. With our expert guides we will learn the history of the church of the Trinita' dei Monti that towers above, as well as why the young Gianlorenzo Bernini and his father (also a sculptor) adopted the unusual subject of a boat for the fountain of the Barcaccia. We'll also uncover the social significance of the majestic stairway that came to unite these two areas, which for centuries had been separated by a cliff face.
 
Activity Level
As this is a walking tour through various areas of the city centre, with steps and uneven walkways, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are recommended.

Wheelchairs and motorised scooters are not permitted on this tour.

If reservations at the Pantheon are not possible for weekends or if the lines are too long, the guide will give you the explanation from the outside to ensure all other stops on the tour are not missed
 
Places Visited
  • Trevi Fountain is the biggest Baroque fountain in Rome, Italy. It is also among the most beautiful fountains in the whole world. The fountain was constructed between 1732 and 1762
Trevi Fountain in Rome Trevi Fountain is the biggest Baroque fountain in Rome, Italy. It is also among the most beautiful fountains in the whole world. The fountain was constructed ... morebetween 1732 and 1762. The fountain is located at the end of the Aqua Virgo, which brings water from the Salone Springs which are located approximately 20 km from Rome. Trevi fountain symbolizes Rome’s rich history and architecture.

The first design of Trevi Fountain was made by the artist Bernini in 1640 but his plan was not implemented. During the mid 18th century, Nicola Salvi won the papal competition to adapt Bernini’s previous design of the fountain.Unfortunately, Nicola died before the completion of the construction. Eleven years later the project was taken over by Giuseppe Panini who then completed it.

The Trevi Fountain is 85 feet high and 65 feet wide, making it the largest fountain in Rome. There is a large structure depicting Neptune (god of the sea) at the centre of the fountain. The god is riding a chariot which is being pulled buy two seahorses. One of the horses is obedient and calm while the other one is edgy. The two horses symbolize the changing moods of the sea. The fountain contains some more statues including one on the left hand side of Neptune which represents Abundance and another on the right representing Salubrity.

Trevi fountain is an iconic monument and no tourist who visits Rome goes back home without visiting it. The fountain has a great history and the water at the bottom of it is said to represent the sea. According to the famous legend if you throw a coin into the water then you will then return again to Rome one day. The coin is tossed over thy shoulder with the back to the fountain. This is a great experience and nearly all the tourists who visit the fountain try it and throw a coin into it. Incredibly enough it is estimated that an average of 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain everyday! This money is used to fund a city food bank.

The Trevi Fountain has also been featured as an iconic part of Rome's imagery in several movies including the 1954 Hollywood movie “Three Coins in a Fountain”. The fountain’s presence can be noticed from the nearby streets. You will start hearing the sound of gushing waters growing more intense as you come closer.The gushing sound makes the visiting tourists eager to see this spectacular monument that is full of history, art, architecture and tradition. This is why the fountain attracts millions of tourists every year.

The Trevi Fountain is truly extraordinary: it combines an internal cool environment with a vibrant sound of gushing water from the fountain and wonderfully detailed life like statues.There are plans to restore the fountain which will involve a complete overhaul including an overall cleaning of the statues, replacing the gilded Latin inscriptions and also re-waterproofing the main basin. During the process, the fountain will not be closed to tourists and it is expected to becompleted by 2015.
Type:
Attraction, Cultural, Historic
  • The Pantheon is a spectacular building located in Rome, Italy. The Pantheon is located at Regione IX Circus Flaminius.
The Pantheon The Pantheon is a spectacular building located in Rome, Italy. The Pantheon is located at Regione IX Circus Flaminius. Originally its construction was commissioned by ... moreMarcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. The Pantheon was built in 27-25 BC by the magistrate Marcus Agrippa in order to commemorate the victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium. Later this original temple was burned down in 80 AD. It was then completely reconstructed by the Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD.

The Pantheon is a circular structure with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment. There is a rectangular vestibule which links the porch to the rotunda, which is underneath a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Until today, this dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The diameter of the interior circle and the height to the oculus are the same, 43.4 meters. The oculus was the only source of light to the building at the time when it was constructed.

The Pantheon was later turned into a church. Today the Pantheon contains tombs of several famous artists and various Italian kings. The tombs in the Pantheon include among others those of the painters Raphael Sanzio da Urbino, Carracci Annibale, the architect Baldassare Peruzzi, and Arcangelo Corelli. In Adittion to the kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I as well as Umberto's Queen, Margherita.

The Pantheon is renowned for its exclusive architectural structures and the use of space. The special designs of the portico, the bronze doors ,the dome, tall walls, oculus, decorations and monumental tombs all contribute to the beauty of the building and turn it into a great tourist's attraction. There is also a lovely fountain nearby topped by an ancient Egyptian obelisk which was erected by Pope Clement XI.

The Pantheon also borders with the Piazza della Rotonda, which is a rectangular square situated in the historic center of Rome. With its long history and the many reconstructions made to it, the Pantheon it is one of the most visited buildings in Rome. The square bordering the Pantheon is always crowded with tourists taking pictures or moving in and out of the building. The Pantheon is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m on Sunday and on holidays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no admission fee needed in order to enter the building; it is open to the public free of charge.

There is no doubt that the Pantheon is a spectacular building that is worth a visit. Both the interior and the exterior of the building are amazing and breathtaking.The large dome, the oculus, the huge columns, and the inscriptions are exemplary. The Pantheon is said to be the Roman monument with the largest number of records and it is the most imitated of all ancient structures.
Type:
Attraction, Historic
  • Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful baroque sites in Rome. It was built at the exact place where the Domiziano Stadium was situated.
Piazza Navona Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful baroque sites in Rome. It was built at the exact place where the Domiziano Stadium was situated. This magnificent square has ... moremore than three magnificent fountains. The Piazza Navona is located in the historic center of Rome, west to the Pantheon. The square is one of the liveliest and most visited squares of Rome, with many outdoor cafes, restaurants and nightclubs in the surrounding areas.

There are several structures that can be found at Piazza Navona namely:

Domitian’s Stadium: this is the stadium that occupied this site before Piazza Navona was built. The stadium was built by Emperor Domitian in 86 AD and although you cannot see it today the Piazza Navona took its oval shape from this structure.

Fountain of the Four Rivers: Its fountains are among the major attractions of Piazza Navona. The central fountain, called Fontana dei Quattro Fium (Fountain of the Four Rivers), is the largest and most attractive. The fountain features four figures, each representing a river from a different continent – rivers Rio de la Plata, Ganges, Nile and Danube. The statues are at the base of a rock supporting an obelisk, originally located at the Massenzio Circus, near the Appian Way.

The Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone: the church was commissioned in 1652 by Pope Innocent X. The facade of the church was designed by Borromini and it was completed in 1670.

Neptune Fountain and Moor Fountain: these are two other outstanding fountains in the Piazza Navona. The first is the Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune Fountain) on the northern side of the piazza and Fontana del Moro (Moor Fountain) on the southern side. The Neptune Fountain was built in 1576 by Giacomo della Porta. During the 19th century, the statues of Neptune surrounded by sea nymphs were added. The Moor Fountain was also built by Giacomo della Porta; and it has a central statue of a Moor holding a dolphin designed by Bernini which was added in the 17thcentury. The Fontana del Moro was vandalized on the 3rd of September 2011. The man who damaged the fountain was captured on the security cameras.

The Piazza Navona has hosted several events and festivals. Between 1650 and late 19th century, The Piazza Navona could be flooded during the summer season and was used for aquatic games and staged marine battles. Piazza Navona is a cool place to hang around and this is true for Rome's local residents as well as tourists. It also features beautiful sculptural and architectural creations. There are many artists who gather in the square to paint and there are also several entertainers and vendors who sell souvenirs. The nightlife at the Piazza Navona is also lively as there are many nightclubs in the surrounding areas of the square. In Christmas the Piazza hosts a charming Christmas market. The Piazza Navona is a square full of life and worth a visit. There are lots of people, artists sharing their talents and lots of places to enjoy meals and have fun.
Type:
Attraction, Historic
Rates
Minimum Guests:
1 person
Per
Type
Price
Info
AdultGroup Tour
$
62
94
Ages 18+
ChildGroup Tour
$
52
27
Ages 6 to 17
InfantGroup Tour
$
0
Ages 5 and under
Schedule
Check In Location
Check In Details
Your guide will meet you in front of the toy store Al Sogno, located at the northern end of Piazza Navona. They will have a Through Eternity sign or flag.
 
Payment & Cancellation
Cancellation Policy
Standard Policy
  • Cancellations made 2 days before will be fully refunded except for a service fee of 3%.
  • Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
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