A cultural itinerary and historical deep dive with the Podcaster Fry and Bry. A tour through Rome, Viterbo, Orvieto and Florence, discovering the roots of early Christianity, the splendor of the Renaissance, and the artistic treasures that the Popes of every era have left behind as a legacy - narrated with the humor, brio and fun of Pontifacts!

Welcome day - meet the energy of Bry and Fry and start by meeting all the popes of history as they are portrayed in San Paolo fuori le mura. Obviously, there will be a great welcome dinner party.

Individual transfers trimed with your flight

Arrival in Rome and private transfer from Hotel Diana to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

A day to discover the fascinating origins of Christianity in Rome, exploring its profound impact on society throughout history. You will learn how the early followers of Christ faced challenges and persecution, and how their faith ultimately transformed the cultural landscape of the city. You will discover how the first popes were elected and the roles they played in shaping the Church's direction and influence. This immersive experience promises to deepen your understanding of one of the world's major religions and its historical roots in the heart of Rome.

Discover Rome like never before on a 90 minutes 500 tour, where you can experience iconic sights and hidden gems. Enjoy a personalized journey led by local experts, who provide in-depth historical insights.

This day is dedicated to the Lateran, the true episcopal seat of the Bishop of Rome: the Pope. The Lateran predates the Vatican by a thousand years, and it is from this seat that popes have led Christianity for hundreds of years. The Lateran remains the place where popes act as the Bishops of Rome rather than the heads of Christianity: urbis rather than orbis.

In the vicinity, you will find some of the most significant early Christian churches and relics.

Visit to the Basilica of San Clemente, a remarkable archaeological and spiritual treasure built on three historical levels: a 12th century basilica, a 4th century church, and ancient Roman buildings beneath.

NOTE: At the moment San Clemente is under renovation. In the case the renovation has not been completed wil will visit Santo Stefano Rotondo in lieu.

We will jump ahead a few centuries and enter the world of the papacy during the time of the Counter-Reformation. Powerful, wealthy central italian families competed for the papal seat, played political games, led international coalitions, and, in the process, showcased their power by filling Rome with the most stunning works of art. Welcome to Baroque Rome!

We have secured places at a Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. To sit in the presence of the Bishop of Rome, direct successor to a two-thousand-year institution, one of the last truly universal offices in the world, is something that transcends sightseeing entirely.

The day will be built around this moment. The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of St Peter, the Papal Crypts. The sequence of the day will flex around the audience, which may take place in the morning or the afternoon.

One thing we ask you to hold with grace: papal audiences answer to no fixed schedule, and His Holiness carries obligations that can, on occasion, require last-minute changes. What we can guarantee is that we will do everything within our power to make it happen, and that we will manage any change with full transparency and care.

The papacy was never a Roman institution alone. For much of the 13th century, Viterbo was the papal city: Rome too violent, too factional, too ungovernable. The popes simply left. It was here that the longest conclave in Church history took place, three years from 1268 to 1271, the cardinals so deadlocked that the city locked them in, reduced their food, and removed the roof. The word conclave (cum clave, under lock and key) was born from that room.

Orvieto adds another layer. Urban IV was here when he commissioned the Corpus Christi feast in response to the Miracle of Bolsena. Thomas Aquinas wrote the liturgy at this papal court. The cathedral that followed is one of the finest Gothic facades in existence.

The group will spend the night in a working monastery. The right place, given the history.

Experience an overnight stay at L'Istituto S. Lodovico, a monastery in Orvieto run by the Suore della Compagnia di Maria Nostra Signora, founded in 1607. With a rich history since 1834, this religious order educates young minds through a preschool for children aged 15 months to six years. Guests can immerse themselves in the unique, welcoming atmosphere, making for a memorable stay.

No family shaped the Italian Renaissance more completely than the Medici. Bankers who became kingmakers, patrons who became immortal, their fingerprints are on virtually everything Florence became between the 15th and 17th centuries. Two of them became popes. Several more shaped papal politics from the outside, which was often more effective.

To walk their city is to understand how private wealth, political ambition, and genuine aesthetic obsession can, in rare alignment, produce something that outlasts all three.

We begin where their story is most visceral. The Duomo whose dome Brunelleschi solved when no one else could, backed by Medici money and nerve. And the Cappelle Medicee, where the family buried its dead and commissioned Michelangelo to mark the fact. He spent years on those tombs. The results are among the most unsettling works he ever made.

Immerse yourself in the art of traditional Tuscan cooking. Enjoy hands-on classes led by experienced chefs who guide you through authentic recipes in a friendly environment. With small class sizes and market explorations, you’ll experience the true flavors of Italy.