Pescara to Sulmona and Rome: Private day trip

Settled by the Romans, this ancient town was the birthplace of the poet Ovid, who has a statue in the main square.. Sulmona is set in the 3rd century. While a massive earthquake struck the town in 1706, many historic buildings survived. The town’s main street, is lined with palaces, churches, shops, and cafés. The 11th-century Cathedral, built on the site of a Roman temple, had to be reconstructed after the 1706 earthquake. Now in the Baroque style, elements from its long history have been maintained, such as 15th-century sarcophagi, a Byzantine relief with Virgin and Child, and the original Romanesque crypt. The early Renaissance Palazzo Annunziata survived the earthquake of 1706, and now houses a museum exhibiting the city’s Roman history through a series of artifacts. The candied almonds often given out at weddings are a local specialty known as confetti, and are often transformed into sugary flowers and bouquets.

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.