FAQs

There are no age restrictions in terms of rules, but the reality of the tours may mean though that small children and the elderly may find some of our walking tours a little arduous. The duration and terrain of the tours should therefore be taken into account before booking in addition to the capabilities of participants.  Parents of small children should also be aware that stories surrounding the persecution of Christians by the ancient Romans may be upsetting.  If you have any concerns please contact us with specifics and we will be able to offer more tailored advice.

Unfortunately we are not yet able to offer tours in sign language but we are happy to work with interpreters and offer concessions to facilitate the participation of everyone on our tours.

Yes, all of our tours suitable for children, although parents should bear in mind (1) several of our tours go deep underground into 1st century excavations where it can be cold, damp and claustrophobic; (2) the duration of some tours is 3 hours and involves walking so the attention span of the children may be an issue; and (3) stories of certain martyrdoms are not for the faint-hearted.  We hope in the future to develop some fun tours focused on children so watch this space!

Rome is full of cobbled streets and poorly maintained roads and are not very wheelchair friendly.  Furthermore, some of our tours take in 1st century excavations deep underground and some off-the-beaten-track churches and other locations that are not wheelchair accessible. Tours of major places of interest, such as St Peter’s, St Mary Major, St Paul’s and the Cathedral are wheelchair accessible. However, as a precaution, please let us know in advance so that we can plan and advise accordingly.

The mission of our Catholic tour company is to offer traditional Catholics (and anybody else who is interested) faith-centred tours led by scholars and devout guides. To educate, to evangelise and to offer in-depth knowledge about civilisations unrivalled Christian historical patrimony.

The vast majority of tour guides in Rome and Lisbon are either not religious or outright anti-religious. Many lack the fundamental knowledge of the Catholic faith that goes hand-in-hand with that of the sites, relics and artefacts connected with Christendom and the development of history for the past 2000 years.

Yes.  While anybody is welcome to follow our Christian tours, they are given through the lens of traditional Catholicism, therefore followers of other faiths may find incongruencies with their own views.  Nevertheless it should be remembered that the historical context of Europe for the past 2000 years has been Catholic and it is therefore necessary to explain the features and reasons for what has happened in history and why.

Absolutely – our religious tours are Christian because the history is Christian, but everyone is welcome to follow our tours from fervent Catholics, lapsed Catholics, protestants, agnostics, followers of other religious and atheists.  We are passionate about sharing the riches of history and Catholic culture with all.

Our timetabled tours are currently all in English but we can organise private tours in other languages on request including French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Wikang Filipino.

Unfortunately we are not yet able to offer tours in sign language but we are happy to work with interpreters and offer concessions to facilitate the participation of everyone on our tours.

No, we do not charge any extra fees or surcharges. The listed price is the price you pay. including tax.

We understand that you may not have a printer handy when you’re travelling so it is not necessary to print a receipt of your booking. However, we may require that you show ID matching your reservation especially for student bookings.

The cost to do a private tour is very reasonable.  Generally speaking, we’ll simply add the amount that we’ll lose by excluding other people from the tour, but within reason so that you don’t pay too much extra. You can book a private tour using our website booking system at the bottom of each individual tour page which will specify the amount of the uplift in euros. For private tours outside of the normal schedule, simply contact us!

Our cancellation and refund policy is as follows:

Cancellation

• If you cancel a booking more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then you will be given a full refund less any monies already expended by ourselves for your booking (e.g. tickets). 
• If you cancel your booking between 72 and 24 hours before the scheduled tour departure, then you will receive a full refund less any monies already expended by ourselves for your booking and less a cancellation admin fee of €50.
• No refunds are offered on bookings cancelled within 24 hours of the tour or for no-shows.

Amendments

• If you wish to amend your booking more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then you will be given a refund for any persons removed for the booking less any monies already expended on their behalf.  If the amendment is to add persons to the booking, then further funds will be required from you before the amendment is accepted and such amendments are subject to availability of space on the tour, transport considerations and of course ticketing limitations.
• If you wish to amend your booking less than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then in addition to the above condition, there will be an admin fee of €40 due immediately.

In terms of what to wear for tours, the principle is to wear respectful dress and dress appropriate for the conditions.

IMPORTANT: Anyone with shoulders and/or knees uncovered risks not being allowed into certain holy sites. No refunds will be offered and we will only skip a given site if the whole group is refused entry. Other than that, just dress comfortably! But remember you are in Italy, so no pyjamas in public. Some of our tours are long and require a lot of walking. The ground in some of the ancient churches and archaeological sites we visit is not always even (and neither are the pavements in Rome). It is recommended to have a sturdy pair of shoes, boots or sneakers and check the weather forecast in case you need to bring an umbrella or jacket.

In terms of what you need to bring, essentially just yourself but perhaps a bag to carry snacks and a water bottle that can be refilled at any of the numerous water fountains in the city. You may wish to bring a camera or smartphone to take photos where permitted. Please note it is also required by law to carry ID in Italy – a photocopy of your passport, ID card or driving licence will suffice. Also, cash is king in Italy – it’s always a good idea to carry a little just in case.

In terms of dress code, churches in Rome require shoulders and knees to be covered and attire to be respectful. Other than that, try to be comfortable and weather-appropriate.

For full details of our refund and cancellation policy please follow the link.  Succinctly however, you must call 72 hours ahead of your scheduled tour for a full refund. Within 72 hours you will assess a $35 termination fee. There are no refunds for cancellations within 24 hours of your tour, or if you not show up on time.

Yes you need to make a tour reservation. Reservations are required for guaranteed spots on all tours. Reservations help us determine the number of guides we need to ensure that our groups remain manageable and enjoyable, and they allow us to notify you of changes to the tour due to weather or anything that could disturb the tours.  Reservations also enable us to organise ticketing and transport when applicable.

To reserve your place on the tour, simply use the booking system on the page of the tour of your choice.

We understand that you may not have a printer handy when you’re travelling so it is not necessary to print a receipt of your booking. However, we may require that you show ID matching your reservation especially for student bookings.

Certainly. Each tour has an option to upgrade to a private tour in the booking form below the tour.  This means that only your booking and the guide would be on the tour slot.  We also offer the chance to deviate from the set schedule and itineraries to produce a custom tour for you should you so desire.  Contact us as far in advance as possible and we’ll book you in at prices that won’t be beaten.

Yes but we often require a minimum number of people in order to offer a tour. Solo travellers, if the first to book on a particular tour, may not have their booking confirmed until there are other participants.

Our cancellation and refund policy is as follows:

Cancellation

• If you cancel a booking more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then you will be given a full refund less any monies already expended by ourselves for your booking (e.g. tickets). 
• If you cancel your booking between 72 and 24 hours before the scheduled tour departure, then you will receive a full refund less any monies already expended by ourselves for your booking and less a cancellation admin fee of €50.
• No refunds are offered on bookings cancelled within 24 hours of the tour or for no-shows.

Amendments

• If you wish to amend your booking more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then you will be given a refund for any persons removed for the booking less any monies already expended on their behalf.  If the amendment is to add persons to the booking, then further funds will be required from you before the amendment is accepted and such amendments are subject to availability of space on the tour, transport considerations and of course ticketing limitations.
• If you wish to amend your booking less than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the tour then in addition to the above condition, there will be an admin fee of €40 due immediately.

Unfortunately we are not yet able to offer tours in sign language but we are happy to work with interpreters and offer concessions to facilitate the participation of everyone on our tours.

Our timetabled tours are currently all in English but we can organise private tours in other languages on request including French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Wikang Filipino.

There are no age restrictions in terms of rules, but the reality of the tours may mean though that small children and the elderly may find some of our walking tours a little arduous. The duration and terrain of the tours should therefore be taken into account before booking in addition to the capabilities of participants.  Parents of small children should also be aware that stories surrounding the persecution of Christians by the ancient Romans may be upsetting.  If you have any concerns please contact us with specifics and we will be able to offer more tailored advice.

Rome is full of cobbled streets and poorly maintained roads and are not very wheelchair friendly.  Furthermore, some of our tours take in 1st century excavations deep underground and some off-the-beaten-track churches and other locations that are not wheelchair accessible. Tours of major places of interest, such as St Peter’s, St Mary Major, St Paul’s and the Cathedral are wheelchair accessible. However, as a precaution, please let us know in advance so that we can plan and advise accordingly.

Yes.  While anybody is welcome to follow our Christian tours, they are given through the lens of traditional Catholicism, therefore followers of other faiths may find incongruencies with their own views.  Nevertheless it should be remembered that the historical context of Europe for the past 2000 years has been Catholic and it is therefore necessary to explain the features and reasons for what has happened in history and why.

Absolutely – our religious tours are Christian because the history is Christian, but everyone is welcome to follow our tours from fervent Catholics, lapsed Catholics, protestants, agnostics, followers of other religious and atheists.  We are passionate about sharing the riches of history and Catholic culture with all.

The vast majority of tour guides in Rome and Lisbon are either not religious or outright anti-religious. Many lack the fundamental knowledge of the Catholic faith that goes hand-in-hand with that of the sites, relics and artefacts connected with Christendom and the development of history for the past 2000 years.

Certainly. Each tour has an option to upgrade to a private tour in the booking form below the tour.  This means that only your booking and the guide would be on the tour slot.  We also offer the chance to deviate from the set schedule and itineraries to produce a custom tour for you should you so desire.  Contact us as far in advance as possible and we’ll book you in at prices that won’t be beaten.

Yes, all of our tours suitable for children, although parents should bear in mind (1) several of our tours go deep underground into 1st century excavations where it can be cold, damp and claustrophobic; (2) the duration of some tours is 3 hours and involves walking so the attention span of the children may be an issue; and (3) stories of certain martyrdoms are not for the faint-hearted.  We hope in the future to develop some fun tours focused on children so watch this space!

Our extensive list of Catholic tours focuses on relics (particularly those of the Passion of Christ), the four Major Basilicas, early Roman martyrs and a wealth of lesser known wonders. Contact us to formulate tailor-made private tours on a theme of your choosing. 

Our tours are intimate with a maximum group size of 10 unless a specific exception is made. The usual group size is around 5 however.

Within reason, yes – the tour will go ahead in adverse weather conditions. Remember to check the weather forecast and dress appropriately, and bring an umbrella if necessary. If you do not bring an umbrella and you find you need one, you can often buy one for €5-10 from an exuberant street vendor.