Roman Vacations

07/02/2025

Finding yourself a week away from planning a Valentine’s Day in Rome or just looking for the most romantic spots to take your breath away on your next trip? Here are our top picks:

🌳 Villa Borghese – Stroll through this beautiful park, go for a bike ride, have a picnic, or rent a boat on the lake, or enjoy a scenic overlook at Pincio Terrace for a dreamy sunset.

⛲ Trevi Fountain (at Night)– Visit after dark when the crowds thin out, and the fountain’s glow creates a magical and intimate setting.

🍊 Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) – A peaceful retreat on Aventine Hill with stunning views over Rome, perfect for a quiet, romantic escape and most beautiful at the golden hour.

🌉 Ponte Sant’Angelo (Bridge of Angels) – Walk hand in hand across this historic bridge lined with gorgeous angel statues. You’ll have a perfect view of St. Peter’s Basilica in one direction, or Castel Sant’Angelo in the other.

🏛️ Farnese Gardens Terrace on Palatine Hill – Overlooking the Roman Forum, this hidden gem combines history, beauty, and one of the best views in the city 🥰.

Which of these would be your dream spot to visit for a romantic vibe? 💭 Follow us for more tips and hidden gems in Rome!

29/01/2025

“I’ve been waiting and hoping for this opportunity to visit the Passetto di Borgo for more than a decade…”

-Angela Culotti
(co-founder of Roman Vacations & one of our expert tour guides)

Angela writes, “I am so happy and fortunate that I was able to finally walk in the footsteps of popes. This passage for the popes to escape from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo has been used throughout history when the Vatican has been threatened, and especially in 1527 during the sack of Rome.

A secret passageway within and on top of the walls that protected the Vatican and the Borgo since the 9th century, the walls and passetto have undergone additions and changes in the centuries to follow, and are finally open again to the public. The section in the state of The Vatican City leading to the papal apartments is blocked off by a gate, but we get access from the Rome side and the extraordinary experience of walking along the entire route into the castle. At the end, we get to see the freshly cleaned Bernini* angels on the bridge.”

Rome is full of opportunities of a lifetime to connect to history. If you’re visiting Rome this year you won’t want to miss this newly opened gem. To schedule a custom designed tour or experience such as this for your visit don’t hesitate to reach out to us ! 🤍

21/01/2025

A look at the newly restored fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona 😍

Arguably one of Bernini’s greatest works, the fountain has been carefully restored to reveal its original beauty. Using advanced cleaning techniques, conservators have removed centuries of grime while preserving the delicate stonework, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the details of this Baroque masterpiece. 🤩

Commissioned in 1651 by Pope Innocent X, the fountain symbolizes the Church’s global influence, with representations of the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Each river is depicted through dynamic, lifelike figures surrounded by a towering ancient obelisk, making it a powerful statement of artistic and religious significance. ✨

Catch this fountain on our infamous Baroque tour along with more of Bernini’s work! This fountain is not to be missed on your trip to Rome 😍

02/01/2025

Happy new year from all of us here at Roman Vacations ✨🥂🥳
buon anno nuovo a tutti da noi 😘❤️

Every January 1 in Rome you can find the New Year’s Day parade- a vibrant event featuring some of the best marching bands, cheerleading squads, and folk groups. The parade winds through the city’s historic center, from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza di Spagna, showcasing musical and artistic talent from the United States and across Italy. It’s a great way to bring in the new year ☺️✨

25/10/2024

Join us for one of our favorite specialty tours- a day trip to Ostia Antica, one of Rome’s best kept secrets ✨☺️

Just a short journey from Rome, Ostia Antica is a beautifully preserved ancient port city that lets you wander through history without the crowds. Known as Rome’s primary port during the height of the Empire, this archaeological site offers an authentic glimpse into everyday Roman life, with intact temples, forums, bathhouses, and even ancient restaurants. 😮

Our tour is now more accessible and adaptable to you. Whether you prefer a private tour with a dedicated car service or a small-group adventure by train, we’ve got you covered.😁 Reach out to learn more or set up a tour today!

https://roman-vacations.com/ostia-antica-port-of-ancient-rome/

18/09/2024

Rome is gearing up for a historic year in 2025 as it prepares to host the Catholic Jubilee. This event, steeped in history and spiritual significance, promises to transform the Eternal City into a hub of faith, culture, and celebration. 🙏

A Catholic Jubilee is a special holy year celebrated every 25 years, offering opportunities for spiritual renewal, pilgrimages, and indulgences. The tradition has biblical roots and has evolved since its inception in 1300. To read more on the history, significance, and practical insights for the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, check out our latest travel blog ✍️

Stay tuned for more information and upcoming specialty tours to accomodate the jubilee year!

https://roman-vacations.com/the-catholic-jubilee/

15/08/2024

Buon Ferragosto! Happy August holiday 🌿🌞. For anyone who’s visited Italy in August it’s hard to ignore the restaurant closures and emptiness of some cities during this period! Many Italians go on holiday for some period of time in August surrounding August 15 (and sometimes the entire month!) Here’s what you should know:

1. Prepare for closures of local restaurants in cities (the touristy places will stay open)
2. The cities will be more empty than usual which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you are looking for!
3. Holiday destinations like the seaside, mountain, or countryside will increase in prices during this period !! Sometimes only offering weekly rates for stays.
4. It will be hot ! This is the hottest time of the year in Italy so prepare accordingly!
5. Book your tours and stays in advance to avoid missing out, overpaying, or waiting in line!

08/08/2024

Summer in Rome 🌞🌴🇮🇹

Tips for visiting during the high season:

1. Book your tours in advance to avoid long lines and waiting in the heat! 🧑‍💻
2. Stay hydrated! Bring a refillable water bottle you can carry all around Rome and refill at the various water fountains. 💧
3. Wear a hat and sunscreen. The sun here is no joke and can be dangerous! 🌞
4. Consider night tours as an alternative to avoid the heat! The city is alive at night and the monuments are just as beautiful. 🌙
5. Wear light colored cloth in and materials- linen and cotton and great to keep cool! 👚
6. Plan a day tour outside the city to the beach or countryside to get some fresh air and cool off!
7. Gelato, granita, crema caffe- all these are your friend to cool off with a sweet treat 😁
8. Bring a shawl or light cloth to cover to visit churches to escape the heat. 🙏
9. consider a tour of crypts or various attractions underground 💀
10. confirm with your hotel or airbnb that they have air conditioning! ❄️

10/07/2024

A huge thanks to all of you who made this possible 😍. We are honored to be recognized in the top 10% of things to do worldwide on TripAdvisor thanks to your reviews and comments!! We absolutely love what we do here at Roman vacations and it wouldn’t be possible without all of you! 🧡

02/07/2024

FYI- for anyone traveling to Rome! There is a lot of construction happening in preparing for Jubilee 2025 😅 some things may be closed including some busy metro stations.

Rome is to close two of the capital's busiest subway stations on the Metro A line - Spagna and Ottaviano - for renovation works ahead of Jubilee Year 2025.

25/06/2024

From the streets of Rome lately 🌞

What’s your favorite part of walking down the streets of Rome? Ours is people watching, street musicians, street markets, finding the original fiat 500’s and a nice view of a sunset 😍

01/06/2024

One of our favorite places to visit just one hour away from Rome is Hadrian’s Villa 🌿☺️

Hadrian was a Roman emperor from 117 to 138 AD during the height of the Roman Empire. He focused on governing and expanding the empire. He promoted Greek culture and undertook extensive building projects across the empire including the Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo among others. His reign marked a period of peace and stability. 🙏

Hadrian’s Villa served as his retreat and administrative center while featuring palaces, theaters, temples, baths, and gardens. After his death, it was used by successors but later fell into ruin. It was then rediscovered during the Renaissance and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hadrian’s Villa is one of many locations you can visit for free on ‘Domenica al museo,’ the first Sunday of the month where admission is free to many cultural sights and museums! ✨

25/04/2024

Today Italy celebrates Liberation Day. It is known in Italian as “Festa della Liberazione,” and is a national public holiday that takes place each year on the 25th of April. 🇮🇹

This day commemorates the end of the Fascist regime and of the N**i occupation during World War 2, as well as the victory of Italy’s Resistance movement. 💪

The annual event marks the day in 1945 when a nationwide radio broadcast called for a popular uprise and general strike against the N**i occupation and Fascist regime, and resulted in the capture and death of Fascist leader Benito Mussolini 3 days later. This paved the way for Italy to unite in favor of a republic. 🇮🇹

02/04/2024

Hoping everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday 😊🌷🕊️

Here in Italy Easter is traditionally celebrated with the Colomba- a sweet bread cake shaped like a dove 🕊️

The Easter Colomba cake dates all the way back to the 1930s. It’s shaped like a dove (colomba in Italian), symbolizing peace and resurrection. Created by Angelo Motta, a famous baker in Milan, it was inspired by the Christmas Panettone. The cake is made with flour, eggs, butter, and candied fruit, then topped with almonds and sugar. It’s a symbol of renewal and rebirth for the spring season 😍.

Have you ever tried a colomba cake before?