Ancient Rome Private Guided Tour: Colosseum, Roman Forum & 7 Hills
Written by: Elena local guide in Rome
Let’s travel through time! Are you interested in the history of Rome? Do you know anything about the rise of Christianity? Together we will make a fascinating journey to ancient Rome, its glory and monuments, and discover how it looked 2000 years ago:
- We are going to find out how Romans lived in ancient Rome with a tour of the Colosseum, an exploration of its underground chambers & arena, and the Roman Forum.
- Where did the Gladiators train?
- What did the Imperial Palace look like?
- How did the ancient system of “radio news” and “cinema” used to work?
- Where was the center of the city located, and how patricians and plebeians used to spend their free time?
- Why were women prohibited from watching games with their husbands?
- How did the tradition of football fans create?
- We will talk about animals that participated in games in arenas of amphitheaters and many other secrets of the ancient city!
Moreover, we will take fascinating photos from “secret” observe decks with amazing views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum that many tourists don’t know about
During our 4.5-hours private guided tour, you will see the following:
- The Colosseum: also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is perhaps the grandest construction in the history and culture of ancient Rome. It had been the most prestigious place for entertainment in the capital and empire for four centuries. Over time, this colossal arena became the hallmark of Rome. We will talk about the Gladiator’s games and battles of wild animals that were brought from different continents! You will also get to know about an individual who was responsible for laying the basis of the IUCN Red List, attitudes and treatment towards gladiators, the way executions turned into shows, the location of the Paralympic Games, the way gladiators got freedom, the palace where Nero was located and much more.
- Palatine Hill and the Palace of the Emperor: 44 thousand square meters of luxury and wealth, where the members of the emperor’s family used to get entertained.
We will discuss why the word “palace” comes from this place, how the finest marble mosaics were created 2 thousand years ago, and the evidence that all antique statues were decorated. Moreover, we will discover 50 shades of marble, the orange gardens of the Farnese family, and Observation platforms with amazing views of the Roman Forum and the Hippodrome (the second hour of the tour). - The Roman Forum: the meeting point to discuss the most important issues of that time, the center of bazaars, courts, banks, games, and sacrifices. We will see the largest temple of Ancient Rome from the panorama where the entire Colosseum is seen perfectly, where the vestals lived and how they were punished for losing their virginity, the Medieval Sistine Chapel, where all the gold of the empire was stored, and the Roman version of the Taj Mahal. Moreover, you will learn how to differentiate ancient basilicas from the Christian churches, why the triumphal arches were built, and the secrets of creating roads that are still used today.
- Capitoline Hill and the Forums of Emperors: a story about the expansion of the central square, a visit to the world’s first shopping center, facts about how Emperor August avenged the death of Caesar, discovering antique theater, and a story about why Romans didn’t like it that much.
- Aventine Hill and Circus Maximus Hippodrome: a story about the Romans who kidnapped the Sabines, facts about the canalization which helped to create the modern system of hippodromes, the birth of the tradition of using flags in sports competitions, and exploration of the place where 300 thousand viewers could gather in Rome. Moreover, we will visit one of the best panoramas in the Orange Garden and the famous keyhole, and the place where you will see three governments at the same time: Italy, the Vatican, and Malta.
This daytime tour inside the Colosseum and its Forums ideally complements the Rome sightseeing tour at sunrise. It is a perfect option for tourists interested in the history of ancient Rome. If you choose to visit the tour at sunrise, we recommend taking this walking tour in 4 hours without seeing Aventine Hill. There are only group tours for tourists interested in the Colosseum and Roman Forums tour by night. Enjoy smart tourism through the archaeological discovery of the main attractions of Rome with us!
Also, we recommend you Rome walking tour along ancient Appian Way.
Organizational Details
- Duration of the tour: 4.5 hours (recommended), 3.5 hours – without the Aventine Hill and Hippodrome, 2.5 hours – only the Colosseum, Roman Forums, Palatine Hill, and the Palace of the Emperor.
- Beginning time: 1:15 pm, an available day in the tour guide’s schedule
- Price of an individual tour: 400 euros for a group of up to 3 participants, 3.5 hours – 350 euros, 2.5 hours – 300 euros. This is a private tour only for your group without additional tourists.
- You will need comfortable shoes. During summertime, we recommend taking sunglasses, hats, and water.
- It is prohibited to take alcohol, sprays, and pierce and cut objects.
- Roman Forum and Colosseum tickets: 18 euros per person; we will help to buy Colosseum tickets to skip the line.
- Meeting point: right by the entrance of the “Colosseo” metro station on its underside, where the bus stop is located.
