Welcome to Understanding Rome

The Eternal City is made up of layer upon layer of human endeavour; the city’s history is written in its very fabric.

Let me help you delve beneath the surface, and discover over two millennia of war, struggle, and triumph.

I offer tailor-made guided visits of Rome, and by understanding your requirements, and those of any children in your group, I will be delighted to help you understand Rome.

VATICAN CITY

The world’s smallest country is home to one of its finest collections of art, the largest archeological collection, and to the world’s largest church. Negotiating the labyrinth of the Vatican Museums we will weave a narrative which begins with the martyrdom of St. Peter in the Vatican field, and which takes us through Constantine’s legalization of Christianity, through the violence of the Middle Ages, and into the glorious reign of Julius II, the building of new St Peter’s, and into the theatricality of the Baroque.

ANCIENT ROME

From the legend of the city’s foundation by Romulus, to the expansion of Rome across the Mediterranean and beyond, and ultimately the implosion of Empire, traces of the city’s history lurk around every corner. Explore Rome’s ancient history with these itineraries. Explore sites which are both world famous and those which are less well known, all of which offer a fascinating insight into the thousand years and more which we call “Ancient Rome”.

VATICAN CITY

The world’s smallest country is home to one of its finest collections of art, the largest archeological collection, and to the world’s largest church. Negotiating the labyrinth of the Vatican Museums we will weave a narrative which begins with the martyrdom of St. Peter in the Vatican field, and which takes us through Constantine’s legalization of Christianity, through the violence of the Middle Ages, and into the glorious reign of Julius II, the building of new St Peter’s, and into the theatricality of the Baroque.

ANCIENT ROME

From the legend of the city’s foundation by Romulus, to the expansion of Rome across the Mediterranean and beyond, and ultimately the implosion of Empire, traces of the city’s history lurk around every corner. Explore Rome’s ancient history with these itineraries. Explore sites which are both world famous and those which are less well known, all of which offer a fascinating insight into the thousand years and more which we call “Ancient Rome”.

MEDIEVAL ROME

Unravel the history of Jewish Rome with a visit to the Jewish Ghetto and walk the medieval streets of Trastevere to visit the medieval churches of Santa Cecilia and Santa Maria in Trastevere, and their gleaming mosaics.

RENAISSANCE & BAROQUE ROME

The Galleria Borghese is an elegant jewel box filled to bursting with gems of ancient, Renaissance and Baroque art. Works by Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio exemplify the decadence of Rome's Renaissance and Baroque past.

Tivoli

OUT OF TOWN

From Tivoli to the ancient port of Ostia Antica, voyage outside of Rome to explore all that Lazio has to offer.  Whether a full-day excursion or half-day visit, these tours are perfect for first time and repeat visitors.

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The Glorious Improbability of via Giolitti

The Glorious Improbability of via Giolitti

Jan 15, 2018

Tweet Some weeks ago I stumbled upon a tweet from Paul Cooper whose account is full of intriguing ruminations on the nature of ruins, a subject of which I am very fond. He tweeted an image of this nineteenth century painting of the building usually referred to as the...

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