Rome, Città Eterna: Upgraded

Baroque-en hearted? Revive your spirits with a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes once favored by visiting Brits and Americans surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini. At the Pantheon you'll see the largest concrete dome ever constructed. An oculus, or hole, in the dome lets sunlight into the beautiful temple, dedicated to all the gods.

The world’s smallest country lies just across the Tiber River from Rome’s historic center. The home of the Pope has its own army, radio station, and postal system and is a repository for some of the world’s greatest works of art and architecture. Your local licensed guide will take you on a tour of the astoundingly complete collection of art at the Vatican Museum (which houses the Sistine Chapel). Wander through grand St. Peter’s Basilica. Gaze at Michelangelo’s Pieta. Make time to send home some letters with papal postmarks. (Please note that the Vatican Museums are closed on most Sundays and religious holidays.)

The ultimate symbol of ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheater with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests that required the flooding of the amphitheater to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Rome’s commercial, religious, and political center, the Forum held markets, temples, and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians -- anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?

Out of the hubbub of the city and into the peaceful splashing of water. You may think Rome has a lot of fountains, but you really haven’t seen anything until you’ve been to Tivoli. See the Villa d’Este, the 16th-century home of Emperor Alexander IV’s nephew, the Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. In the magnificent gardens, five hundred fountains gurgle, burble, and cascade over statues, canals, grottoes, staircases, and reflecting pools.

Stop to see the city where time stood still, literally. Once an important Roman city with 20,000 residents, Pompeii was frozen in time nearly 2000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city under 30 feet of mud and volcanic ash. Forgotten for centuries after the eruption, Pompeii was discovered in the 1600s and is now completely excavated. On your tour you will learn how Romans of all classes lived their lives--not only from large public structures, but from details like political graffiti, bars, and street signs.

Descend into the early Christian catacombs, dating from the first to fourth centuries. Thousands of Christians, including Saints Peter and Paul and several popes, were entombed here at one time. There are still signs of early Christianity, including frescoes of fish and doves and inscriptions on the tombs themselves. Overhead runs the Appian Way, the world’s first real highway, which stretched southeast over 350 miles from Rome. Then experience a day in the life of a gladiator in ancient Rome. Through demonstrations and workshops, you'll see how the gladiators lived, what they did, how they trained, and more.

Renovated in 2003, this ancient theater in the heart of Rome serves up an unforgettable meal with an amazing show. Fresh ingredients, creativity, and the search for real flavors are the foundation of the recipes, which gives the group a chance to discover the traditional tastes of the Italian kitchen with the touch of innovation. During the dinner evening, you’ll be entertained by “Roman Nights,” a variety show that, thanks to the vibrancy of the dancers, the harmony of the singers and the fascination of the folk dances, will take you back in time to relive Italian history through music and dance.