His travelling companion was Robert Furze Brettingham; they travelled via Paris, where they visited Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, and then went on to the Palace of Versailles on 29 March.
They finally reached Rome on 2 May 1778.
Soane wrote home, "my attention is entirely taken up in the seeing and examining the numerous and inestimable remains of Antiquity ...".
His first dated drawing is 21 May of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura.
His former classmate, the architect Thomas Hardwick, returned to Rome in June from Naples.
Hardwick and Soane would produce a series of measured drawings and ground plans of Roman buildings together.
During the summer they visited Hadrian's Villa and the Temple of Vesta, Tivoli, whilst back in Rome they investigated the Colosseum.
In August Soane was working on a design for a British Senate House to be submitted for the 1779 Royal Academy summer exhibition.

In the autumn he met the Bishop of Derry, Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, who had built several grand properties for himself.
The Earl presented copies of I quattro libri dell'architettura and De architectura to Soane.
In December the Earl introduced Soane to Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford, an acquaintance which would lead eventually to architectural commissions.
The Earl persuaded Soane to accompany him to Naples, setting off from Rome on 22 December 1778.
On the way they visited Capua and the Palace of Caserta, arriving in Naples on 29 December.
It was there that Soane met two future clients, John Patteson and Richard Bosanquet.
From Naples Soane made several excursions including to Pozzuoli, Cumae and Pompeii, where he met yet another future client, Philip Yorke.
Soane also attended a performance at Teatro di San Carlo and climbed Mount Vesuvius.
Visiting Paestum, Soane was deeply impressed by the Greek temples.
Next he visited the Certosa di Padula, then went on to Eboli and Salerno and its cathedral.
Later they visited Benevento and Herculaneum.
The Earl and Soane left for Rome on 12 March 1779, travelling via Capua, Gaeta, the Pontine Marshes, Velletri, the Alban Hills and Lake Albano, and Castel Gandolfo.
Back in Rome they visited the Palazzo Barberini and witnessed the celebrations of Holy Week.
Shortly after, the Earl and his family departed for home, followed a few weeks later by Thomas Hardwick.

It was then that Soane met Maria Hadfield (they became lifelong friends) and Thomas Banks.
Soane was now fairly fluent in the Italian language, a sign of his growing confidence.
A party, including Thomas Bowdler, Rowland Burdon, John Patteson, John Stuart and Henry Grewold Lewis, decided to visit Sicily and paid for Soane to accompany them as a draughtsman.
The party headed for Naples on 11 April, where on 21 April they caught a Swedish ship to Palermo.
Soane visited the Villa Palagonia, which made a deep impact on him.
Influenced by the account of the Villa in his copy of Patrick Brydone's Tour through Sicily and Malta, Soane savoured the "Prince of Palagonia's Monsters ... nothing more than the most extravagant caricatures in stone", but more significantly seems to have been inspired by the Hall of Mirrors to introduce similar effects when he came to design the interiors of his own house in Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Leaving Palermo from where the party split, Stuart and Bowdler going off together.
The rest headed for Segesta, Trapani, Selinunte and Agrigento, exposing Soane to Ancient Greek architecture.
From Agrigento the party headed for Licata, where they sailed for Malta and Valletta returning on 2 June, to Syracuse, Sicily.
Moving on to Catania and Palazzo Biscari then Mount Etna, Taormina, Messina and the Lepari Islands.
They were back in Naples by 2 July where Soane purchased books and prints, visiting Sorrento before returning to Rome.
Shortly after, John Patterson returned to England via Vienna, from where he sent Soane the first six volumes of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, delivered by Antonio Salieri.

In Rome Soane's circle now included Henry Tresham, Thomas Jones (artist) and Nathaniel Marchant.
Soane continu
His travelling companion was Robert Furze Brettingham; they travelled via Paris, where they visited Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, and then went on to the Palace of Versailles on 29 March. They finally reached Rome on 2 May 1778. Soane wrote home, "my attention is entirely taken up in the seeing and examining the numerous and inestimable remains of Antiquity ...". His first dated drawing is 21 May of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura. His former classmate, the architect Thomas Hardwick, returned to Rome in June from Naples. Hardwick and Soane would produce a series of measured drawings and ground plans of Roman buildings together. During the summer they visited Hadrian's Villa and the Temple of Vesta, Tivoli, whilst back in Rome they investigated the Colosseum. In August Soane was working on a design for a British Senate House to be submitted for the 1779 Royal Academy summer exhibition.
In the autumn he met the Bishop of Derry, Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, who had built several grand properties for himself. The Earl presented copies of I quattro libri dell'architettura and De architectura to Soane. In December the Earl introduced Soane to Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford, an acquaintance which would lead eventually to architectural commissions. The Earl persuaded Soane to accompany him to Naples, setting off from Rome on 22 December 1778. On the way they visited Capua and the Palace of Caserta, arriving in Naples on 29 December. It was there that Soane met two future clients, John Patteson and Richard Bosanquet. From Naples Soane made several excursions including to Pozzuoli, Cumae and Pompeii, where he met yet another future client, Philip Yorke. Soane also attended a performance at Teatro di San Carlo and climbed Mount Vesuvius. Visiting Paestum, Soane was deeply impressed by the Greek temples. Next he visited the Certosa di Padula, then went on to Eboli and Salerno and its cathedral. Later they visited Benevento and Herculaneum. The Earl and Soane left for Rome on 12 March 1779, travelling via Capua, Gaeta, the Pontine Marshes, Velletri, the Alban Hills and Lake Albano, and Castel Gandolfo. Back in Rome they visited the Palazzo Barberini and witnessed the celebrations of Holy Week. Shortly after, the Earl and his family departed for home, followed a few weeks later by Thomas Hardwick.
It was then that Soane met Maria Hadfield (they became lifelong friends) and Thomas Banks. Soane was now fairly fluent in the Italian language, a sign of his growing confidence. A party, including Thomas Bowdler, Rowland Burdon, John Patteson, John Stuart and Henry Grewold Lewis, decided to visit Sicily and paid for Soane to accompany them as a draughtsman. The party headed for Naples on 11 April, where on 21 April they caught a Swedish ship to Palermo. Soane visited the Villa Palagonia, which made a deep impact on him. Influenced by the account of the Villa in his copy of Patrick Brydone's Tour through Sicily and Malta, Soane savoured the "Prince of Palagonia's Monsters ... nothing more than the most extravagant caricatures in stone", but more significantly seems to have been inspired by the Hall of Mirrors to introduce similar effects when he came to design the interiors of his own house in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Leaving Palermo from where the party split, Stuart and Bowdler going off together. The rest headed for Segesta, Trapani, Selinunte and Agrigento, exposing Soane to Ancient Greek architecture. From Agrigento the party headed for Licata, where they sailed for Malta and Valletta returning on 2 June, to Syracuse, Sicily. Moving on to Catania and Palazzo Biscari then Mount Etna, Taormina, Messina and the Lepari Islands. They were back in Naples by 2 July where Soane purchased books and prints, visiting Sorrento before returning to Rome. Shortly after, John Patterson returned to England via Vienna, from where he sent Soane the first six volumes of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, delivered by Antonio Salieri.
In Rome Soane's circle now included Henry Tresham, Thomas Jones (artist) and Nathaniel Marchant. Soane continu
John Soane