Life, Luxury & Leisure in Ancient Rome

Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Fly to Rome, Italy

Thursday, October 15: Arrive in Rome | Transfer to hotel | At leisure
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (FCO) you are met for a group transfer to our hotel in Rome’s city center. The balance of the day is free to relax and perhaps stroll around the neighborhood. This evening gather for an introductory meeting with your AIA lecturer before enjoying an independent dinner. (Recommendations for dining independently will always be provided.) Five nights at the 4-star UNAHOTELS Trastevere Roma.

Friday, October 16: Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica | Rome: PM at leisure | Welcome dinner
This morning we visit the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica. Located at the mouth of the Tiber River, Ostia Antica was once the seaport of ancient Rome. This well-preserved city is home to a variety of partially intact temples, houses, and baths, and offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the Romans. We then return to our hotel for an independent lunch and afternoon at leisure. Gather this evening for a welcome dinner. (B,D)

Saturday, October 17: Rome: Pantheon, Capitoline Museums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla
This morning we start with a short walk to the awe-inspiring Pantheon, built in the 2nd century A.D. by Emperor Hadrian as a temple to all the gods. It remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built and a testament to ancient Roman engineering. Continue on to the Capitoline Museums, the world’s oldest public museums, and view magnificent and iconic Classical sculptures as well as paintings by Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Van Dyck, and other masters. After lunch we visit the Circus Maximus, the first and largest chariot-racing and mass entertainment stadium in ancient Rome and the Empire. We end our day with a visit to the Baths of Caracalla. Covering nearly 25 acres, the baths were the second largest in ancient Rome and had shops, libraries, gardens, and entertainment. Built by Emperor Antonius Caracalla and inaugurated in A.D. 217, the baths were used until the 6th century. Dinner is at leisure. (B,L)

Sunday, October 18: Rome: Colosseum, Domus Aurea, Palatine Hill, House of Augustus, Roman Forum
Begin the day with a visit to the Colosseum, Rome’s amphitheater, the largest ever built, which accommodated 50,000 spectators. Then, continue with the Domus Aurea (“Golden House”) where, thanks to innovative multimedia and a site-specific immersive reality project, it is possible to relive the splendor of the residence built by Emperor Nero following the fire of A.D. 64. After some time at leisure for lunch, we re-group for a walk to the Palatine Hill, centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome, standing above the Roman Forum on one side and the Circus Maximus on the other. From the time of Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, imperial palaces were built here. Visit the House of Augustus, which reopened in 2008 after extensive restoration; its colorful wall paintings and mosaic floors are stunning. Then, walk through the Roman Forum, the public center of ancient Rome where the popular assembly and senate met. Return to our hotel and gather this evening for dinner. (B,D)

Monday, October 19: Tivoli: Hadrian’s Villa, Villa d’Este | Rome
Enjoy a full-day excursion to Tivoli, a town hosting some of Italy’s top cultural treasures, less than one hour’s drive from Rome. Begin at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana), a 2nd-century A.D. complex of buildings featuring marvelous pools, baths, fountains, gardens, theaters, and the Imperial Palace. After lunch we visit the Villa d’Este, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Renaissance masterpiece with a breathtaking, 16th-century Italian garden. Return to Rome for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Tuesday, October 20: Terracina | Sperlonga | Naples
We depart Rome this morning and drive south to Terracina, where we visit the Temple of Jupiter Anxur, with a breathtaking view of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the top of Mount Jupiter. After an independent lunch, a short drive takes us to the cave of Emperor Tiberius in Sperlonga. Visit the local museum with magnificent sculptures recounting the deeds of Odysseus. We continue driving south to Naples, where we check-in to our lovely seaside hotel and gather for dinner. Two nights at the 4-star Grand Hotel Saint Lucia. (B,D)

Wednesday, October 21: Archaeological Park of the Terme di Baiae | Pausilypon Archaeological Park | Naples
Today we explore two archaeological destinations that are off the regular tourist trail: the Archaeological Park of the Terme (Thermal Baths) di Baiae and its site museum, and Pausilypon Archaeological Park. Baiae, the summer seat of Imperial Rome, benefitted from thermal springs for bathing establishments and was a fashionable coastal resort with many summer villas such as those of Emperors Julius Caesar, Nero, and Hadrian (who died there). After lunch, we continue on to Pausilypon Archaeological Park, preserving a Roman elite villa complex with terraces overlooking the Gulf, integrating luxurious residential spaces, private baths, and elaborate hydraulic systems. Its semi-subterranean odeon (theater) and cliffside tunnels demonstrate advanced engineering and acoustic design. The site includes maritime structures, statuary fragments, mosaics, and inscriptions, reflecting elite leisure and cultural practices. Return to our hotel in Naples for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Thursday, October 22: Naples Archaeological Museum | Villa Poppea | Sorrento
This morning we enjoy an in-depth visit of the Naples Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Greco-Roman artifacts, including celebrated bronze and marble statues as well as ancient paintings and important artifacts from Pompeii, Herculaneum, Cumae, and Baiae. After a break for lunch at leisure we drive toward Sorrento, stopping along the way to visit Villa Poppea (Oplontis), an ancient seaside villa with superb wall paintings, which was probably owned by Emperor Nero. Upon arriving in Sorrento we check-in to our lovely seaside hotel and gather for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Three nights at the 5-star Hotel Parco dei Principi. (B,D)

Friday, October 23: Pompeii | Villa Stabiae site & Archaeological Museum | Sorrento
Today and tomorrow are dedicated to visiting sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata.” (Torre Annunziata includes Villa Poppea, which we visited yesterday; and Villa Stabiae, which we will visit today.) Spend the morning at Pompeii, one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius both buried and preserved Pompeii under tons of ash, pumice, and lapilli. Excavations have revealed life in this prosperous ancient Roman city, and highlights of our tour may include the House of the Faun, Villa of the Mysteries, the brothel, Garden of Fugitives, and more. This afternoon we visit the ancient seaside Villa Stabiae. The town, with its two primary Villas of Arianna and San Marco, was buried in heavy ashfall from the A.D. 79 eruption of Vesuvius, but some of the town’s most striking remnants are fine mosaics and wall paintings that are comparable to those from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Cap off the day with a visit to the archaeological museum “Libero D’Orsi,” within the historic Reggia di Quisisana. This museum houses more than 500 artifacts from the villas of Stabiae, including frescoes, marble sculptures, ceramics, and bronze items. Return to our hotel with dinner at leisure. (B,L)

Saturday, October 24: Herculaneum | Sorrento: PM at leisure | Farewell dinner
Spend this morning at Herculaneum, where excavations reveal the customs, habits, and art of an ancient holiday resort for wealthy Romans. Like Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried and thus preserved by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Among the most important buildings are the theater, the basilica adorned with marble and paintings, the spa with gym, and the House of Argos. We return to Sorrento for the balance of the day at leisure to relax and shop, before gathering for a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Sunday, October 25: Transfer to Naples Airport | Fly home
You are met at the hotel for a group transfer to Naples International Airport (NAP) in time for flights homeward. (B)