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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Admire the view of the famous Via dei Fori Imperiali, projected under the Government of Mussolini.
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.
Siriki was an excellent tour guide. Wonderful, informative experience. Highly recommend him and doing the private tour option. Everything from pickup to drop off was flawless!
First access was AMAZING for the colesseum. Our guide was so very knowledgeable and we were able to enjoy the colesseum and forum without the crowds. She tailored the tour to our interests and needs. Worth every penny!!
having a private tour is the only way to have this experience. The crowds make other tours difficult to follow and understand.
Lina was wonderful! Explained everything well and was very patient with my questions. She knew a LOT about the history of the Eternal City and other parts of Italy as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Private tours best way to do the coliseum. Emmanuela was the best tour guide. Very knowledgeable and full of energy
Juanluca is the best storyteller. it is a must do tour with this exact company. we loved our time and what a fun adventure.
Gianluca’s business card lists him as a "Storyteller," and that is truly the absolute best way to describe him. Walking through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with him didn't feel like a standard historical overview—he brought the ancient world to life with incredible stories of what daily life was like, the history behind the architecture, and the reasons why things were done the way they were. On top of his engaging storytelling, he was exceptionally thoughtful and accommodating. My mother-in-law has a bad knee and needed frequent breaks, and Gianluca seamlessly adjusted our pace. At every stop, he made sure to find shaded areas with benches or spots where she could sit comfortably while he shared his knowledge with us. It was an overall fantastic tour, and Gianluca made the experience engaging, comfortable, and deeply memorable for our whole group. Highly recommended!
It was great!!! Highly recommended! The tour guide was an archeologist and incredibly knowledgeable! It was very interesting even for our three kids!
This tour was great. There was a lot of walking but you can go at your own pace. Our tour guide was Paola, she was excellent. Very friendly, and spoke great English .
This was a fantastic tour! Azzurra was a wonderful guide. She was knowledgeable and fun, which was perfect for our 2 kids. She answered their questions and made the history relatable to them and their loves. I highly recommend this tour with Azzurra!
Our private tour of Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum with Valeria was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Rome. From the moment we met her, she made us feel welcome and transformed what could have been a simple sightseeing experience into an unforgettable journey through the heart of ancient Rome. We began our tour at Palatine Hill, where Valeria immediately brought the history and legends of Rome to life. Her storytelling helped us understand the significance of this incredible site and its connection to the origins of the city, the emperors who called it home, and the events that shaped Roman civilization. From there, we continued into the Roman Forum and Valeria’s knowledge and passion truly stood out. She explained how this remarkable area served as the center of Roman public life, politics, religion and culture. Her ability to connect the ruins to the people and events of the past made the experience much more meaningful than simply viewing ancient stones and structures. We finished our tour at the Colosseum, where Valeria captivated us with stories of gladiators, emperors and the incredible engineering behind one of the world's most iconic landmarks. Her explanations helped us imagine what life was like nearly 2,000 years ago and gave us a much deeper appreciation for this extraordinary monument. Beyond her impressive knowledge, Valeria was warm, engaging and incredibly attentive. She carefully managed the pace of the tour, especially in the summer heat, making sure we stayed comfortable, took breaks when needed and reminded us to hydrate throughout the experience. Her thoughtfulness allowed us to fully enjoy every moment without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. A private tour with Valeria is truly the way to experience ancient Rome. Her passion, professionalism and ability to make history come alive made this an experience we will always remember. We highly recommend Valeria to anyone visiting Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Thank you, Valeria, for sharing your knowledge and helping make our time in Rome so special!
My husband and I had the privilege of taking a private tour of the Colosseum and the Forums on July 14. Our tour guide was Silvia. It was the best tour I think I have ever been on because Silvia is the best guide ever! We had just finished a cruise that began in Venice and ended in Rome, which was great, but we both agree that this tour was the highlight of our travels in Italy because of Silvia. Our tour was on one of the hottest days we could have chosen this summer, but it was an absolute joy. Her knowledge and personality just made the day very fun in spite of the heat. I hope the next time we are in Rome we will get to do another tour with Silvia.
Alessia was a wonderful guide, engaged with our teenage boys, and knowledgeable about history and fun facts to keep us all entertained. It was a hot day, so she made sure we weren't too worn out or tired, and we felt like we saw everything we wanted to see without being rushed. Highly recommended!
Our tour was perfect! It was our second tour with Elanora whom is the best!! Her knowledge of history and art is incredible!!
Our guide had an amazing amount of knowledge he shared with us. He was patient and answered all my questions!
This was our Roman holiday splurge, and well worth it. There were 11 of us in our family, ranging from 4 years old to 76. Before we even started, the tour operator was in contact via WhatsApp to confirm pickup location and timing, which was very reassuring. We had black van service (2 cars) from our hotel to the meeting spot, and then our guide Maurizio was already there waiting for us. We started at 9am and the line and security into the Forum was only 5 minutes, although by the time we got to the Colossuem there was a slight wait for the group entry, but very manageable compared to the regular entry lines. The sites were well worth it, but what amplified the experience was Maurizio's passion and knowledge. He very patiently explained as much as he could to us, answered questions thoroughly, and actively engaged our 7 and 4 year olds. Pickup after our tour was smooth. We were very happy with our overall experience.
Great tour of Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill. Recommend getting early start to avoid heat and crowds
This company went above and beyond — hands down the best tour we took. Their communication was impeccable from start to finish, making sure every detail of the experience was amazing. Our guide Gio was so knowledgeable and engaging that after four hours exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, we still wanted more time with her. She was that incredible! I can’t say enough good things about this tour. If you love Roman history, do not miss it.
Manny was a fantastic guide. Friendly, passionate and explained the history of the Roma Forum and Colosseum in a way that kept us engaged and interested. He also took pictures for us and kept us in the shade. A joy to be around !
Azzurra was absolutely fantastic! She helped our family (my wife and I plus 3 kids aged 24, 21 and 16) really get the most out of our visit to "Ancient Rome". The stories and history she shared, and the flowing narrative really brought our time alive for all of us and was the absolute highlight of our vacation in Italy.
Our travel guide was excellent in giving us details about what we were seeing. She was also very friendly.
Incredible experience with an incredible guide
Great tour! Our guide was the best. He had so much information and spoke great English. Best tour in Rome
Great experience in the colosseum and the Roman forum. Guide was super knowledgeable and did a wonderful job keeping us all engaged
Where do we begin with Mauricio? We took the private Colosseum tour with our family of four including a 9-year-old who was battling jet lag and the Roman summer heat. Mauricio didn’t just manage the situation… he thrived in it. He kept our daughter engaged, made ancient history accessible and fun for her, while simultaneously delivering university-level depth for my wife who wanted every detail. The ability to calibrate that range simultaneously, without either person feeling shortchanged, is a rare gift. Mauricio is an archaeologist who teaches at the university level and also works with middle schoolers, and you feel both sides of that in the best possible way. He is a scholar with knowledge to go deep on anything you ask, and the human touch to read his audience and bring the history to life rather than recite it. Standing on the arena floor of the Colosseum with someone who has dedicated his life to understanding that place is something else entirely. This wasn’t a tour. It was an experience. The private tour side of it was incredible. Wife really wanted to see the circus Maximus. Mauricio turned around and made a 5 minute detour to go view what she wanted to see. Exceeding expectations doesn’t come close to describing what Mauricio delivered. If you are visiting Rome and considering a private Colosseum tour, stop considering and book Mauricio and this private tour. We cannot recommend him highly enough. Thank you Mauricio — the Parr family won’t forget this.
Tour was fabulous. Driver arrived right on time. Guide was knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour.
This was the final day of our family "bucket list" vacation, and my wife and I (both of whom had previously toured the Forum and Colosseum 10 years ago) wanted our 19 and 22 year old daughters to experience this wonder and be impacted the way we were. As you know -- the tour guide makes or breaks the experience. And we hit the lottery with Manny. He was personable, very easy to understand, a master storyteller, able to answer all of our questions (with legitimate expertise), and felt like part of the family by the time we concluded. We started with the Forum, which was perfect, and was like a trip through a time machine -- complete with visuals and renderings that Manny brought. so we could understand what was present and missing, and then toured the Colosseum. Our guide was familiar enough with the entrance options that we were able to avoid crowded areas and any lines for entry. MUCH APPRECIATED! There were times for questions, photos, and easy discussions as we hit so many highlights. We paid extra for the small group experience, and for the Colosseum floor access, and it was totally worth it. We wanted to give ourselves and our kids the gift of a lifetime experience of ancient awe and beauty, and this tour did it! Manny crushed it!
Colosseum and the Forum can be overwhelming in itself. Azzura did a fantastic job at making it such a great experience for us. She was very knowledgeable and kept us and the kids engaged for 3 hours while walking.
We booked this tour for 3 hours with a private guide. We were notified the night before the tour guide could not do it... then they found another one... we were supposed to be picked up and dropped off... but that changed and we had to find another driver for that... we were shipped to be the first in the coliseum but the guide was late getting in... then we were told she could only do 2 hours instead! We were supposed to tour 3 places and only ended up touring the Colluseum and felt rushed the whole time! We wanted a refund... but only got a portion that was not fair... we are highly disappointed with Viator and will never book with them again!
10/10. This was the highlight of our 10 days in Italy. There is an overwhelming amount of history to be shared and Rachelle did an amazing job of sharing the history in the short amount of time we were together. I would recommend this tour to everyone
We had an amazing guide, Rafella. She knew everything about the history of the Colosseum. There is a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a hat for hot days.
I loved this tour! Simone was our guide and he taught us so much about gladiators, Roman history, the building and how it was constructed. He was very attentive, answered our questions, had pics to help us see how the ruins looked when they were originally standing. Highly recommend!
Thanks to Marley who told us about the history and myths of the coliseum Kept us entertained even during the thunderstorm snd long queues Prepare to queue for everything during summer months Even with fast track or first entry tickets Or visit in February when quiet
Katie was an incredible guide. She was very knowledgeable and engaging. Our family got so much out of this tour.
Elisa is a fantastic tour guide, making the history of the Colloseum and Forum come alive. She guided expertly through the area, giving tidbits and stories of Roman culture that has made me want to learn more! Highly recommend.
Our tour with Rosalba was amazing. She was very knowledgeable about, not just the history of Rome and the buildings, but about their significance during each era. As someone who loves Ancient Roman/Greek history, it was wonderful to hear so much about each area that I would have never even thought about walking around by myself. Not only that she was super patient with my family who get caught up looking at 1000 things and knew the answer to every one of my questions. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide.
Super helpful, knowledgeable tour guide. Navigated us through tight crowds with ease while with an elderly client,
We had the pleasure of taking this tour with Marina yesterday. Marina knows so much and was a wonderful tour guide. The Colosseum was of course fantastic, but she really made the Forum and Palantine hill come to life with historical perspective and stories that were fascinating. Her timing on what to do first to avoid Saturday in May crowds was a real timesaver. We recommend her wholeheartedly! - The Nicholson's
We had a wonderful time and learned a great deal about the Rome ruins. Michela was phenomenal - both a knowledgeable archeologist and a great storyteller. My husband, who is not a fan of historic tours, also remarked that it was money very well spent.
Marina did an excellent job of recreating the use of the coliseum and its magnificence along with the history of the forum. Be sure you are in shape for a lot of walking!!
ZERO STARS. I booked three months in advance for this tour because it was important to us. I paid over $1,100 for 5 people for a colosseum arena tour. They charged my cc, we were confirmed, our family flew to Rome, and LESS THAN 15 hours before the tour - THEY CANCELLED. of course they refunded my money, that’s not the issue - they cancelled on us so late that we weren’t able to book anything else. Nothing is available 15 hours in advance. the only option I could find online was a private 5,000 euro tour for 5 people, and that’s just crazy. They were not apologetic, they did not offer any other solutions. Just cancelled, last minute, no explanation, and we didn’t get to tour the inside of the colosseum - a bummer for this spring break trip with our three kids who were so excited to see it.
A fabulous tour with Valeria! We were a mixed group--one of us had been to the Colosseum and Forum many times, one never, and the rest once or twice. We ALL learned a lot and had a great time. Three hours absolutely flew by, which is always a sign of an excellent tour. Valeria is very knowledgeable and friendly and fun. She was also really flexible and made sure to end the tour close to where we were meeting friends. I would highly recommend this tour, and ask for Valeria!
This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Rosie from Private Eyes is a fantastic tour guide. We are very interested in history and fairly well read, and she had tremendous knowledge to share - always in an interesting, thoughtful, and friendly and congenial (and never overwhelming) way. The experience with City Eyes was also outstanding. It's expensive but well worth the splurge to be guided around the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill in a truly memorable way. We would give more stars if we could. It would be great to tour anywhere with Rosie!!
We had a wonderful tour with Simone! He is so full of knowledge and relatable. We really enjoyed his sense of humor and his dinner recommendation was perfection! We also very much appreciated the flexibility of the tour operator to help us get a tour in even with our delayed arrival to Rome!
Our private tour was perfect - at our pace and Manny was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot and loved it!
What a fantastic afternoon we had enjoying this tour. From the hotel pick-up to meeting our lovely guide Marielinda who provided an absolutely first class service, we couldn't rate this highly enough. Marielinda's knowledge and expertise was amazing - she really brought it all to life and was able to answer so many questions. Thank you so much!
Wonderful tour and our guide was well versed on the history and helping us navigate. Private tour is really the way to go!
Highly recommend this tour and our tour guide! Katie was fantastic and especially wonderful with our children, ages 9 and 11. She was engaging, patient, and did an incredible job keeping them interested throughout the tour. Katie is a wealth of knowledge in all areas of Roman history and presented everything in a way that was both informative and fun. This tour was a highlight of our trip, and we are so grateful we had Katie as our guide!!
Ask for Simone Lanna. He was very personable, knowledgeable and made this tour a very memorable experience.
We booked three tours with Eyes of Rome: the Coliseum and Forum; the Pantheon and Piazza Navona; and the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. We did it to try and make the most of our week in Rome. It was a good decision to do so. The guides are professional and knowledgeable, but wear their expertise lightly. They are fun and sensitive to their clients. It gave us a much deeper and personalized appreciation of Rome. Highly recommended. There is so much to see in Rome, and the guides were able to frame what we were seeing and give background, for example for the Sistine Chapel, so that we could comprehend the sights. The three of us feel that our memories are stronger and deeper because of the guides.
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