Join me for a live presentation to discover the fascinating history of Rome’s Sistine Chapel and the troubled mastermind behind it all: Michelangelo. In this master class you will learn the secrets of this famous masterpiece, along with stories of power, revenge and back-breaking sacrifice that produced the singular most renowned and influential work of art in Western history: the Pope’s own Sistine Chapel Ceiling!

Michelangelo once said, “The dome of the Pantheon had to have been built by devils.” With this deep-dive into the history and mysterious construction of the Pantheon you will understand Michelangelo’s awed disbelief of its ancient origins. Learn the history of this ever-present building, from its construction as a unique Roman temple dedicated to all the gods, to a beloved Catholic church dedicated to Mary and the martyrs.

Sailing into the port of Ostia Antica during the height of the Roman Empire was a luxurious welcome to the Empire’s capital. Here you would find opulent bath complexes to relax you after a long trip, dazzling grand temples and basilicas, delicious food in the many restaurants and the ancient equivalent of 5 star hotels. Perhaps you would attend an evening theatre show or buy a fresh loaf of bread from the large flour mill and bakery near the forum. Follow along on a tour of life in this important ancient city by witnessing the surprisingly intact ruins of Ostia Antica.  

 It all began in 1618, when a young, art collecting Cardinal asked a 20 year old sculpture to create a statue to add to his already world-renowned collection of art. Over the next 7 years, Bernini created 4 breathtaking sculptures that are now the jewels of the Borghese collection. Hear the delightful stories of Aeneas, Persephone, Daphne and David told in marble by the hand of Bernini: the unparalleled master of the baroque.

It may seem like rubble at first glance, but nowhere else in the Ancient world bragged the richest and power of the ancient empire quite like the Roman Forum. It was the political, commercial and spiritual center of ancient Rome, boasting 25 acres of marble-clad buildings complete with over 1,000 marble and granite columns and even more marble and bronze statues and monuments. Explore with Tiffany the temples, triumphal arches and law courts of the Forum, including the Senate House, the Temple dedicated to Julius Caesar and the home of the Vestal Virgins.

 Some of Rome’s most thrilling sights are underground. Take a virtual visit to the underground cemeteries of the first Christians, created in a time when Christianity was a radical and shocking new belief system ruled to be a crime against the government and punishable by public execution. These extensive tunnels were dug by lamplight nearly 2,000 years ago, using pickaxes and shovels. Journey back to the roots of Christianity in Rome by following the rise and fall of these sacred burial lands. 

 It took 500 years to build ancient Rome’s massive fresh water system, which boasted 315 miles of aqueducts carrying water to dozens of monumental fountains, hundreds of public basins and countless private villas. To this day, Rome’s incredible fountains are still fed by some of those same aqueducts, and no fountain is more famous than the iconic Trevi Fountain. 1.2 million euros are tossed in it’s basin each year, promising its contributor a return to Rome. Join Tiffany for a live presentation to explore how the aqueducts functioned in ancient Rome and how an 18th century fountain became one of the most sought out monuments in history.