Civitavecchia to Rome and Orvieto: Private day trip

According to Roman mythology, Rome was founded by Romulus in 753 BC after killing his brother Remus over a dispute on which hill their city should be built on. Called the “Eternal City” for its long history, and the “City of Seven Hills”, Rome’s nicknames give a clue what to expect. Now home to nearly 3 million people, the Eternal City’s long history is well-preserved in its many monuments and museums. Head to the UNESCO-listed city center to find most of Rome’s most iconic monuments, like the Colosseum, Foro Romano, and Palatino. Along with its many ancient monuments, Rome was a major Renaissance center and the birthplace of the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. The Trevi Fountain, Sistine Chapel with Michaelangelo's famous ceiling, and Saint Peter's Basilica are all masterpieces. Save time for Rome's museums, like the Vatican Museums, the Musei Capitolini, the Borghese Gallery, and the Palazzo Barberini Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica to see the works of Masters up close.

Starting as a major Etruscan settlement, Orvieto was essentially used as a fortress by whoever ruled Italy up until the 16th century. With its impregnable position atop sheer cliffs it’s easy to see why even Popes would flee here in times of strife. The hilltop city has remained essentially unchanged since the 15th century, making it one of the most picturesque in the country. And the heavy papal presence has blessed it with some of the country’s finest devotional art and architecture. Overshadowing even the multiple papal palaces is the Cathedral, undeniably one of Italy's greatest Gothic churches. The facade not only has all the usual Gothic embellishments, but is covered in vibrant murals. The interior is just as sensational, with frescoes that rival the Sistine Chapel. Just below the city is a vast network of Etruscan-era tunnels, which can be explored on a guided tour to see a unique part of ancient Italian history.