Rome: Private Tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Highlights

• Arena Access (Optional)
• Expert Private Guide
• Optional Hotel Pickup

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Colosseum

   1h 30min

   Visit the Colosseum, one of the largest structures of the ancient world, where Romans once gathered to watch the gladiator games, battles with wild beasts, and according to legend, sea battles. Discover how the Colosseum, a massive stone amphitheater which seated an estimated 60,000 spectators, was built in only 8 years. Your guide will unlock fascinating stories of the design and construction, the political benefit, the fighters, and the eventual end of the games at the Colosseum.

2. 2

   Roman Forum

   50min

   At the Roman Forum, your guide will bring to life the mythology, the popular celebrations of the time, and the gods of ancient Rome, which are reflected in the star signs in contemporary astrology. Learn how the pagan holiday Saturnalia influenced the unfolding of Christmas on the 25th of December today. Listen to the story of the Lapis Niger (Latin for ‘black stone’), the most ancient Latin text ever discovered in the world - which is housed in the foundation of a column in the Forum. Discover the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. They worked in the temple for a period of 30 years under different emperors and were regarded almost as goddesses in status. Their foremost duty was maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta which represented the heart of Rome. As legend has it - as long as the sacred flame burned, Rome would endure and be victorious.

3. 3

   Arch of Constantine

   Pass by

   Admire the view of the most important Triumphal Arch of Rome dedicated to the Famous Emperor Costantine. This Arch represents a turning point of the Roman History and Art, a dividing line between the rise of the Christians and the decline of the Roman Empire.

4. 4

   Tempio di Vesta

   Pass by

   The Temple of Vesta (Latin Aedes Vestae; Italian: Tempio di Vesta) is an ancient edifice in Rome, Italy, located in the Roman Forum near the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins. The temple's most recognizable feature is its circular footprint. Since the worship of Vesta began in private homes, the architecture seems to be a reminder of its history. The extant temple used Greek architecture with Corinthian columns, marble, and a central cella. The remaining structure indicates that there were twenty Corinthian columns built on a podium fifteen meters in diameter. The roof probably had a vent at the apex to allow smoke release.

5. 5

   Piazza del Colosseo

   Pass by

   You will walk along this Piazza in order to access the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Nothing was added from the time of the Roman Empire, what you see, is more or less the view that the romans had in the past.

6. 6

   Foro di Cesare

   Pass by

   The Forum of Caesar (in Latin, Forum Iulium) is a forum which is part of the so-called Imperial Forums in Rome, where the first forum of this complex to be built. The construction began at 54 a. C., and was finished at 29 a. C. by Augustus. While the Forum of Caesar, underwent some renovations in time of Trajan and the year after the fire 283 d. C. Julio Cesar spent huge sums of money made in the campaign of Gaul (60 million sesterces as Cicero, according to Suetonius 100 million) to buy the land and expropriate private and demolish the buildings they occupied the area, and had also relocated to the Curia hostility and faces. Julio Cesar sent instructed Cicero buy land that would serve to build the forum. Roman law had such power that even the emperors could go over the contracts.

7. 7

   Via dei Fori Imperiali

   Pass by

   Admire the view of the famous Via dei Fori Imperiali, projected under the Government of Mussolini.

8. 8

   Palatine Hill

   20min

   Not so far from the Forum stands the Palatine Hill. Be ready to climb it to enjoy a marvellous view of ancient Rome, and see the hill that gave birth to Rome, the Eternal City.

Before you go

Location