Vatican City and Wine Tasting

Study the icons of the Vatican, from the Sistine Chapel to Michelangelo’s Pietà, then linger over lunch and a wine tasting at a celebrated restaurant in the heart of Rome. You’ll visit the spectacular Vatican Museums, beginning in the magical Pine Cone Courtyard. Walk through the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries and Gallery of Geographical Maps, arriving at the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Here, you’ll behold the brilliantly restored Michelangelo frescoes of the Genesis and Last Judgment, as well as the other priceless masterpieces adorning the hallowed walls. Enter Christendom’s largest sanctuary, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and admire the high altar where the pope celebrates mass, the splendid gilt and bronze throne in the apse and the intensely stirring Pietà, one of Michelangelo’s most revered works. Following this wonderful immersion into the unforgettable Vatican, you’ll enjoy a light lunch and wine tasting at the sophisticated Casa Bleve restaurant, Il Simposio restaurant with a knowledgeable sommelier explaining the attributes and origins of the various vintages you’ll sample. After your tasting, wander to the cellars and see an ancient Roman wall from the Augustan age, a compelling example of how gastronomy and history seamlessly intertwine in timeless Rome.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.