Rome for Readers: A Self-Guided Literary Tour

Rome, Italy
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Duration1h 30m - 2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

“Rome has opened my eyes to beauty,” said Hans Christian Andersen, one of the many literary geniuses who spent time in the Eternal City.

Some of the world’s greatest writers and poets traveled to Rome on cultural pilgrimages, in search of art, history, beauty and, above all, inspiration for their own work. On this walking tour, you’ll follow in the footsteps of these famous writers, making your way past many of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

You’ll find out where these writers lived and wrote their most famous lines, and where they drank coffee and met with other writers. As you stroll from Terrazza del Pincio where our tour starts to Piazza Barberini where it ends, you’ll see the sites that inspired their greatest masterpieces.

Most of all, you’ll hear from these writers in their own words: from famous quotes and lines of poetry to snippets from letters they sent home describing their impressions of the city, what it meant to them, and how it influenced their work.

What's included

  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • App for Android and iOS
  • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Personal expenses for attractions not included during the tour
  • Food and drink
  • Transportation

What to expect

  1. Piazza del Popolo
    Pass by
    This self-guided audio tour starts near Piazza del Popolo. As you explore the sites connected to some of the world's greatest writers, you'll pass through the piazza.
  2. Pass by
    On this self-guided walking, you'll stroll past Hotel de Russie where Charles Dickens stayed in the mid-1800s.
  3. Pass by
    On this self-guided walking, you'll see Antico Caffè Greco where Gogol would write for hours and Terrazza della Pincio where Henry James liked to sit and write while people-watching.
  4. Pass by
    On this self-guided tour, you'll find out where famous writers lived in Rome and wrote their most famous lines, and where they drank coffee and met with other writers. You'll pass by Hotel d'Inghilterra Roma and hear how its connected to these writers.
  5. Pass by
    On this self-guided tour, you'll stroll through Piazza Mignanelli, taking in its surrounding sites and hearing about its connected to famous writers like Shelleys, Keats, the Brownings, Lord Byron and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
  6. Spanish Steps
    Pass by
    On this self-guided tour, you'll stroll through Piazza Di Spagna, taking in its surrounding sites and hearing about its connected to famous writers like Shelleys, Keats, the Brownings, Lord Byron and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
  7. Babington's Tea Room
    Pass by
    On this tour, you'll pass by Baington's Tea Room and hear how it got its start as the first tea room in Rome.
  8. Keats-Shelley House
    Pass by
    On this self-guided walking, you'll take in the fountain that inspired John Keats’ epitaph (Fontana della Barcaccia) from the house that Keats stayed in on Piazza di Spagna.
  9. Spanish Steps
    Pass by
    On this walking tour, you’ll follow in the footsteps of these famous writers, making your way past many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps.
  10. Piazza Barberini
    Pass by
    As you stroll from Terrazza del Pincio where our tour starts to Piazza Barberini where it ends, you’ll see the sites that inspired great masterpieces from world-renowned writers.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts at Terrazza del Pincio. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

This self-guided audio tour ends in front of Fontana del Tritone on Piazza Barberini.

Additional information

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$11.99 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours · Booked through Viator
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