Religious Studies Trips to Rome
Rome, the “Eternal City” is Italy’s political and religious heartbeat and the twin presence of government and Church dominates the city. It has been a sacred place and internationally important city since ancient times with the first known temple being built in Rome around 575 BC. A Jewish community was established here in 161 BC and Christians arrived in the 1st century AD. Ever since Rome has been the centre of Catholic Christianity.
Rome's abundance of ancient temples, synagogues, churches and shrines make it one of the best cities to explore the holy places of a variety of religious traditions, making it a perfect and unforgettable place to visit with a group of students.
Prices start from£579pp
Popular itinerary
Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check in to UK airport for flight | Arrive Rome and transfer to your accommodation | Meal in a local restaurant |
| 2 | Guided Walking Tour of the city | Explore the ancient Christian Catacombs | Meal in a local restaurant |
| 3 | Guided Visit to Vatican City, to include the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica | Evening meal and free time in Piazza Navona | |
| 4 | Visit to The Great Synagogue | Transfer to Rome airport for return flight | Arrive UK, onward travel to school |
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
| Morning | Check in to UK airport for flight |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Arrive Rome and transfer to your accommodation |
| Evening | Meal in a local restaurant |
| Morning | Guided Walking Tour of the city |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Explore the ancient Christian Catacombs |
| Evening | Meal in a local restaurant |
| Morning | Guided Visit to Vatican City, to include the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | |
| Evening | Evening meal and free time in Piazza Navona |
| Morning | Visit to The Great Synagogue |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Transfer to Rome airport for return flight |
| Evening | Arrive UK, onward travel to school |
Price Shown includes
- Return Air Travel
- 3 nights B&B Accommodation
- Specialist Group Travel Insurance
- Bespoke itinerary planning service
- Free Place Ratios
- Live Trip Tracking
- Online trip organiser & Travel App
- 24/7 support whilst you are away
Places to Stay
Reasons to Visit
Vatican City
The Vatican City is situated entirely within the city of Rome, sprawling over a hill west of the River Tiber, and separated from the rest of the city by a wall. Vatican City comprises St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Square, the Vatican and the Vatican Gardens. The Vatican City is best known to tourists and students of architecture for the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums house one of the finest art collections in the world. As the collections are so vast, it is better to confine yourselves to a few selected highlights such as the Chiaramonte Gallery, the Raphael Rooms, Raphael’s Loggia and the Chapel of Nicholas V, the Pinacoteca Gallery, not forgetting the Sistine Chapel with the awe-inspiring Last Judgement, which fills the altar wall.
The Pantheon
Rome's temple to the gods was constructed in 27 B.C. An altar was later added for Christian worship and after the Renaissance, it became a tomb for the city's elite including the painter Raphael and former kings of Italy. The Pantheon's architecture is inspiring with its tall columns and impressive dome with the sun shining through the oculus, a 27-foot hole in the centre of the rotunda.
Sistine Chapel
Thanks to the extraordinary talents of Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City has become one of the most famous art galleries in the western world. But the Sistine Chapel is more than the sum of its artistic wonders: it is a symbolic statement of papal authority and the place in which papal elections in conclave are held to this day.
St Peter's Basilica
St Peters’s Basilica is a major basilica in Rome. It was until recently the largest church ever built and it remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. St Peter’s Basilica stands on the traditional site where Peter – the apostle who is considered the first pope – was crucified and buried.
Christian Catacombs
In Rome there are miles of catacombs holding thousands of dead. Many of these date from 4BC and the bones of early saints and popes are held in some of them. The most popular of these are San Callisto and San Sebastiano, both located on the old Appian Way.
Trevi Fountains
The famous fountain which has been a star of film. This Baroque fountain is worth a visit and as legend goes, if you toss a coin in the fountain, you will return to Rome.
The Spanish Steps
Rome. The piazza, church and famous Scalinata Spagna (Spanish Steps) have long provided a gathering place for foreigners. Built with a legacy from the French in 1725, but named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See (which is still located in the piazza), the steps lead to the French church, Trinità dei Monti. In the 18th century the most beautiful women and men of Italy gathered here, waiting to be chosen as an artist's model.
Colosseum
Rome’s great gladiatorial arena is the most thrilling of the city's ancient sights. A monument to raw, merciless power it is not just the amazing completeness of the place, or its size, but the sense of violent history that resonates. Two thousand years on it is Italy's top tourist attraction.
Palatine Hill
A number of palaces dating from the 1st century can be found on the hill overlooking the Roman Forum. Open: Mon & Wed-Sat 9am till two hours before sunset, Tue & Sun 9am-1pm.
Piazza Navona
Enjoy the daily circus of street performers, artists and tourists acted out against a backdrop of baroque palazzi and ornate fountains.
Guided Sightseeing Tour
A sightseeing tour of Rome will offer your group the opportunity to see the city's main attractions. A professional, experienced, English-speaking guide will give an insight into the history and culture of the city and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
The Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain stands 85 feet high and 65 feet wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.
Day Trip to Assisi
Approximately 90 miles north of Rome, in the rolling hills of Umbria, stands the exceptionally well preserved medieval town of Assisi. Known primarily as the birthplace of St. Francis (1182-1226 AD), the town has been a sacred place since long before the Fransiscan era. The Basilica of San Francesco, one of Italy's foremost monuments, was built between 1228 and 1253 AD.
Day Trip to Tivoli
Tivoli is located not far from Rome, Italy. Known as Tibur in ancient times, Tivoli was a favourite resort for Roman travellers, and home to Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa). It took ten years to complete the largest and most sumptuous palace in the Roman Empire (135 AD.) Built on Roman ruins in 1550, the nearby Villa d'Este boasts one of the finest gardens in all of Italy. It's a magical place where five hundred fountains keep tons of water flowing.
The Spanish Steps
Designed by Italian Francesco De Sanctis, financed by a French diplomat and named after the nearby Spanish Embassy, the Spanish Steps are Rome's most famous staircase.
Welcome to Rome - Immersive Journey Through Rome's History
Experience spectacular video projections across the walls, ceiling and floor, accompanied by a narrative as you take a journey through over 2500 years to see how Rome became the city we know today. Your visit is enriched by an additional four interactive models dedicated to the construction of St. Peter's Basilica, the story of Castel Sant'Angelo, the construction of the Roman Imperial Fora and a description of the Forum of Augustus.
We Make Trip Planning Easy
- Day to day support and advice from our team of travel experts
- Easy-to-view online tour quotation
- Market-leading trip organiser portal, My Tour Manager
- Free Resources and templates to help launch your trip
- Email reminders to keep you on track
- Free and completely personalised Travel App to access your information on the go
- Locate My Trip designed to provide reassurance to parents and teachers
- Risk Assessment advice so you can make an informed decision on every tour component
- Teacher Inspection Visits
What you say
European Study Tours were superb and very supportive during all parts of the planning process. Brighton College Al Ain
This is the fourth time we have used European study tours. The service is always courteous and patient and our needs are addressed professionally and with humour. Mid Kent College
As usual service from EST was excellent. Bacons College
As always, excellent service and care given. So easy to organise and the students loved it again! The Angmering School
This was a fantastic hotel! Highly recommend everything about it. The staff were exceptionally helpful. St Bernards Catholic High School
Everyone was amazing especially when answering my numerous questions. Everything that needed to be done was done. The online system is great because the checklist kept me focussed with planning. I loved the app -it meant I could see times at a glance without having to get paperwork out and double check things. Canon Slade School
