Wednesday, June 17, 2015

A Mediterranean Cruise With Celebrity Cruises and Discover the Wonders of Rome

A Mediterranean Cruise With Celebrity Cruises and Discover the Wonders of Rome......Hop around Rome

Unless death-defying sports are on top of your list, it would be safe to assume that renting a car whilst visiting Rome is not something you'd consider. Good choice. Driving in Italy is certainly not for the faint hearted! The public transport system can also leave a little to be desired, so to this end we highly recommend the ever-popular hop-on/hop-off tourist bus option. In a city like Rome, it is just the perfect way to get around safely and swiftly.

Most rides start from the Termini Bus Station and, while a ticket can be purchased onboard, we'd also recommend you do some research beforehand and pre-purchase a ticket online. There are various routes to choose from, and it may take you a little planning to decide which one suits you best. Save time and hassle, and arrive in Rome with a clear plan of action. If deciding to stay in Rome after your cruise, feel free to ask Celebrity Cruises' activity coordinators to book this for you before you arrive.

A 24 hour ticket costs around €20 and, while stops may not be directly in front of major attractions, they will only be a short walk away. Feel free to hop on and off at leisure, or just sit back and enjoy the full two-hour circuit at first.

Step Back in Time at the Colosseum

This most famous of all the Roman landmarks is conveniently located on the city's most beautiful streets: the "Via dei Fiori Imperiali". Built over two millennia ago, the impressively preserved amphitheater is Rome's pride and joy, and a visit is like a step back into gladiator times!

Here's a little insider's tip: save hours of queuing and pre-purchase an English-speaking tour online. Not only do you get to skip the line (saving you hours), but you also can take advantage of the local guide's immense knowledge on Roman history, meaning you won't need to bring a guide book along to get the best of your visit. The guides working at the Colosseum are superb, and their English proficiency quite impressive. For just under €30 you get entry, a two-hour guided tour and even access to the third floor, which has only recently re-opened. Keep in mind that you'll also be able to sneak a peek at the underground dungeons, something which is only allowed if visiting with a group. Visit Rome after your Celebrity Cruise and you could easily book a private tour with some newly made friends!

Devote Yourself to the Vatican

The Vatican City is a must-see attraction for believers and non-believers alike. The headquarters of the Catholic Church is not only a religious pilgrimage site, but is also home to some of the world's most spectacular works of art. In fact, there are so many paintings, frescos and sculptures here, that UNESCO gave up trying to count them all and listed the entire city as a World Heritage Site!

St. Peter's burial place, the most famous Vatican Basilica, is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture. Michelangelo's 'La Pieta', the famous marble statue of Mary holding a dying Jesus, holds centre stage here, and is the most adored of all the artworks in the Basilica. Another show-stopping piece by the Italian master can be found in the Sistine Chapel, namely "The Last Judgment" fresco which decorates the wall behind the central altar. Widely regarded as Michelangelo's best ever piece, the fresco took over six years to complete...now that's devotion!

Whilst joining a guided tour here would also save you hours of queuing (as with the Colosseum) we reserve the right to hold off on recommending doing this at the Vatican. If spending a few hours waiting, in order to explore an attraction at your own pace, then this may be the place to do that. The choice is yours! Keep in mind that the Vatican City is absolutely huge, and one could easily spend an entire day alone discovering all its hidden gems.

If you are taking a Celebrity Cruises Western Mediterranean cruise then undoubtedly one of the ports of call will be Rome also known as the Eternal City and also the capital city of Italy. Rome is everything a capital city should be, it's vibrant, lively and very fashionable!

Assuming that you will have an entire day in Rome as part of your Cruise stopover you will not be short of things to do, whether it's a visit to the Colosseum, Vatican City or to one of the famous Rome Parks - there is so much to do and so careful planning is advised.

A better option is to maybe book a shore excursion with your Celebrity Cruises representative, this will involve a coach tour and will allow you to see many of the attractions during your short visit to this amazing city.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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