Highlights
- The Colosseum, first and second level
- The Roman Senate
- The Via Sacra
- The Temple of Saturn and others in the Roman Forum
- The Arch of Titus and Septimius Severus
- Stadium of Domitian on the Palatine Hill
- Flavian Palace on the Palatine Hill
Preview Description
Discover the highlights of Ancient Rome on this group tour for visitors with limited time in Rome.
Description
Bringing alive more than 2,500 years of history in Ancient Rome
There is so much to see, discover and learn in the Colosseum and grand archaeological park of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. Here, every corner holds an amazing scene: the place of Julius Caesar’s funeral, demanded by the mob after Mark Antony’s famous speech; a church built inside an enormous temple; the marble portraits and stories of the Vestal Virgins. But if at first the ancient city strikes us with the magic of a far-off world, it soon leads to a sense of bewilderment. Alongside well-preserved buildings, there are staircases to nowhere and overlapping columns, and one feels immersed in a giant puzzle with many missing pieces. As on all of our Ancient Rome group tours, our guides will seek to restore this puzzle to its former glory by re-animating these imposing spaces with the political passions of the great Romans, men whose speeches transfixed the enormous crowds before them.
This group tour of 3 hours has been specially designed for visitors with limited time in Rome and aims to showcase as much as possible in a short time-frame.
Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine
Inside the Colosseum, a series of wild beast hunts, executions and gladiator games held imperial Rome in suspense for centuries. On our Colosseum group tour we will take you on a journey through the lives of the gladiators by retracing their origins, their training, and the fame that many of them enjoyed by climbing the social ranks. On the Arch of Constantine like movie scenes set in marble, you will trace the rituals of Rome from the beginning of the fourth century and learn about the Empire’s evolvement to Christianity.
Roman Forum
Here we have a great valley, the political heart of Ancient Rome where the daily life of the ancient Romans unfolded. The Republic revolved around the Senate where giant, richly decorated spaces still resound with the voices of the great senators that unleashed war and brokered peace throughout the Mediterranean. While the House of the Vestals introduces us to the only female religious order of Rome, Via Sacra, still marked by the wheels of carts that traversed it for centuries, helps us understand the Romans’ amazing engineering capabilities. In front of the Temple of Julius Caesar, we will be catapulted into the story of one of the greatest political murders of all time. Nearby, the temple of Antoninus and Faustina tells us of the extent of the Roman empire, with its rare marbles and inscriptions. The images carved into the Arch of Titus tells of the conquest of Jerusalem and the transfer of its ancient treasures to Rome, fascinating stories that your expert guide will narrate.
The Palatine Hill
It would be a terrible shame to leave Rome without having visited the Palatine Hill and it is here that we must come in order to gain a real sense of the magnitude of the Ancient City. The immensity of the palaces and gardens where the emperors lived, at the Stadium and the Domus Flavia, is awe-inspiring even today. The panoramic view onto the Circus Maximus (one of the many views the emperors enjoyed from their palaces) and the Huts of Romulus, dating back to the eighth century BC, will complete our essential exploration of the most beautiful and magical hills of Rome.
Itinerary
Detailed hourly tour description after it starts.
| Roman Forum | 1 hour | | Palatine Hill | 1 hour | | Colosseum | 1 hour |
Activity Level
The archaeological park is vast with uneven walkways and we strongly recommend comfortable shoes and water.
Wheelchairs and motorised scooters are NOT permitted on this group tour.
Imperial palace of the emperor Domitian (51-96 AD). It is still uncertain the precise function of this large building, also known as Domitian's stadium (Stadio di Domiziano) or "Circus ... moreAgonalis". The stadium was part of the imperial palace and was surrounded by a two-story portico. Maybe it was not just an hippodrome, but more in general, it was the “viridarium” (the garden), private place where the emperor he could walk on sunny days and watch the races.
This is the best conserved construction of all three pieces of the Palace of Domitian. It was also built according to a project of architect of Domitian, Ribarius. It served for the sport competitions, horse races and, probably, as a garden for the imperial family. The stadium is 146m long. The arena was surrounded by a two-storeyed portico with engaged columns covering a wide ambulatory or cloister. In the middle of the east wall is a wide exedra of two storeys, which served as an Imperial box.
Type: Attraction, Historic
The Arch of Titus (Italian: Arco di Tito; Latin: Arcus Titi) is a 1st-century AD honorific arch, located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed ... morein c. AD 82 by the Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus's victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70). The arch has provided the general model for many triumphal arches erected since the 16th century, perhaps most famously it is the inspiration for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.
Walk along the cobbled street of the Via Sacra and you’ll see this imposing triumphal arch, built in the first century AD to commemorate Titus’s military victories. Built on the orders of Domitian after the death of Titus, the arch depicts winged victories and a triumphant Titus being crowned with a laurel wreath. The arch is one of the earliest examples of humans and divinities being portrayed together, rather than in separate scenes. Even the laurel wreath is fictional, as in reality, Titus apparently refused to be crowned, saying that it was not really his victory – he had only been an instrument of God’s wrath.
The south panel of the arch shows spoils from the Siege of Jerusalem, including a menorah and trumpet. A contemporary historian, Josephus, claimed that a million Jews had been killed in Jerusalem. While this estimate is now considered to be greatly exaggerated, there’s no doubt that the Roman armies devastated the city. It was a major victory for Rome, and the Arch of Titus not only celebrated the emperor, but also served as a demonstration of the power of Rome. Illiterate Romans would have looked up at this magnificent monument – once brightly coloured – and read the story of the Roman victory through the sculptures, rather like reading a comic book.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
Roman Forum Here we have a great valley, the political heart of ancient Rome, where the daily life of the ancient Romans unfolded. The Republic revolved around the Senate, where giant, ... morerichly decorated spaces still resound with the voices of the great senators that unleashed war and brokered peace in the Mediterranean. While the House of the Vestals introduces us to the only female religious order in Rome, the via Sacra, still marked by the wheels of carts that traversed it for centuries, helps us understand the Romans’ amazing engineering capabilities. In front of the Temple of Julius Caesar we will be catapulted into the story of one of the greatest political murders of all time. Nearby, the temple of Antoninus and Faustina tells us of the extent of the Roman empire, with its rare marbles and its inscriptions. The images carved into the Arch of Titus tell of the conquest of Jerusalem and the transfer of its ancient treasures to Rome, fascinating histories that your expert guide will explain.
The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum (Italian: Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.
For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life in Rome: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million or more sightseers yearly.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
The Palatine Hill is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres above the Roman Forum, looking down upon it on ... moreone side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. From the time of Augustus Imperial palaces were built here.
Rome has its origins on the Palatine. Excavations show that people have lived in the area since the 10th century BC. Excavations performed on the hill in 1907 and again in 1948 unearthed a collection of huts believed to have been used for funerary purposes between the 9th and 7th century BC approximating the time period when the city of Rome was founded.
The hill has a strong link to Roman mythology. It is believed that on Palatine Hill, the twins Romulus and Remus were found in the Lupercal Cave by their four-legged shepherd mother, who raised them. Ultimately, this is where Romulus decided to build the city. Palatine Hill, Rome
The Palatine Hill today. Therefore, it was on this hill that the Roman Empire began.
From the start of the Empire (27 BC) Augustus built his palace there and the hill gradually became the exclusive domain of emperors; the ruins of the palaces of at least Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD), Tiberius (14 – 37 AD) and Domitian (81 – 96 AD) can still be seen.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
- The construction of the Colosseum was started in 72 AD by Emperor Vespasian and it was completed in 80 AD, a year after the death of Vespasian.
The Colosseum is one of Rome's most famous land marks. The structure is an elliptical amphitheatre located in the center of Rome. The colosseum was built from concrete and stone .It ... moreis considered to be the largest amphitheatre in the world. The construction of the Colosseum started in 72 AD by the Roman Emperor Vespasian. The building was completed in 80 AD, a year after the death of Emperor Vespasian.
The colloseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public shows and games such as animal hunts, mock sea battles, gladiator battles and executions. It seated 50,000 people. The Roman emperors used the Colosseum for the entertainment of the public with free games. The games symbolized power and they were used by the ruling emperor in order to increase his popularity. These games were held for an entire day or several days continuously. The shows usually started with comical acts and displays of exotic animals such as lions and bears and concluded with fights to the death between the animals and gladiators. The fighters were prisoners of war, slaves, or convicted criminals. The gladiatorial games continued until Christianity gradually put an end to the gory and deadly games.
The Colosseum was built on the area of an artificial lake. At the late 6th century a small church was built into the structure of the amphitheatre. In 1934, the Colosseum was damaged by an earthquake which resulted in the collapse of the outer south. The stones from the Colleseum were then reused to build palaces, churches,hospitals and other structures in Rome. Some of the famous structures which were built using the stones are Palazzo Farnese and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Church officials in Rome sought a productive use for the Colosseum during the 16thand 17th century. Pope Sixtus V had planned to turn The Colosseum into a wool factory in order to offer employment opportunities to prostitutes in Rome but the plans did not come to fruition due to his premature death. In 1671, Cardinal Altieri authorized the Colosseum to be used for bullfights but the public opposed this idea.
The Colosseum continued to be subject to different uses and renovations as nearly every leader of Rome had his own ideas concerning the use of the compound. The Roman emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games. The games symbolized prestige and power and they were used by the ruling emperor as a way of increasing his popularity. These games were held for a whole day or even several days continuously. In most cases, the shows started with comical acts and displays of exotic animals which ended with fights to death between the animals and gladiators. The fighters were normally slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. The gladiatorial games continued until Christianity gradually put an end to the parts of the games which led to the death of people.
The modern Colosseum has been renovated, redecorated and painted. The Colosseum is used to host large events although the space inside is limited. During events with great attendance, the audience sits outside the Colosseum. The Colosseum is also a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists visiting it every year to view the interior of the arena. Entrance for citizens of the European Union is partially subsidized, and the entrance is free for European Union citizens below the age of 18 or over 65. The upper floor of the outer wall of The Colosseum has a museum that is dedicated to Eros. Part of the arena floor had been re-floored and looks fabulous.
The Colosseum is also the site of Roman Catholic ceremonies in the 20th and 21stcenturies. For instance, Pope Benedict XVI led the Stations of the Cross ceremony called the Scriptural Way of the Cross at The Colosseum on Good Fridays. There was an agreement between the local official and Diego Della Valle, in 2011, to sponsor €25 million restoration of The Colosseum.
Today it is one of the most popular tourist sites in Rome. Be sure to come and visit the Colleseum!
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
| Adult | $ 11494 | Age 18+ | | Child | $ 10429 | Age 3 to 17 | | Infant | $ 2660 | Age 2 and under |
| Daily, until Tue, Dec 31 2024 | 9:15 AM | | Daily, until Sun, Dec 31 2023 | 9:30 AM |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you are permitted to stay within the last site until closure, be sure to let your guide know your intentions when the tour ends.
No, you must book our Underground Colosseum tour to have access to the dungeons and arena floor.
The tour usually ends in the Colosseum itself. This may vary depending on timed tickets we secure for the tour and we have to switch the itinerary around, in which case the tour ends within the Forum/Palatine. In this event, you will not be able to access the Colosseum again.
We allow 5 minutes for late arrivals after which the guide must leave the meeting point as we have strict timed tickets to the sites. Refunds are not given for missed tours.
Check In Details
You will meet your guide in front of the Cafe/Restaurant Angelino ai Fori, Largo Corrado Ricci, 43a. They will have a Through Eternity sign or flag.
Cancellation Policy
Custom policy
- Cancellations made 30 days before will be fully refunded except for a service fee of 3%.
- Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
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