Colosseum with Gladiator Arena Floor, Forum and Palatine Hill Semi-Private Tour

Tour Overview

Take a trip back in time to ancient Rome on our small group tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine hill, including an exclusive visit to the awe-inspiring amphitheatre’s arena floor. Strap on your sandals and follow in the footsteps of the gladiators as we relive the bloody spectacles that left ancient Roman audiences spellbound: in the company of an expert archaeologist you’ll learn all about the drama of the deadly ancient games, and have the chance to walk out onto the arena floor to see exactly what the gladiators saw almost 2,000 years ago. Our in-depth exploration of ancient Rome will continue in the fascinating Forum, the beating heart of the classical city. Conclude your tour in the evocative ruins of the nearby Palatine hill, where generations of Roman emperors lived in palaces of unimaginable luxury. Our Colosseum tour with exclusive arena floor access is the best way to experience ancient Rome - book your place today!

*** All participants 18 and over must book as adults, there is no older student discount available for this itinerary, and due to new regulations for Colosseum tickets, all participants must provide full names immediately upon booking ***

Tour Description

Relive the bloody drama of the Colosseum with an expert guide

A true Roman icon, there are few experiences in travel more exciting than your first sight of the Colosseum; a visit to the extraordinary Flavian amphitheatre is a must when in the Eternal City. The best way to experience the Colosseum is in the company of an expert guide, and on our tour of the ancient city you’ll be in the engaging hands of one of our highly qualified archaeologists. During the glory days of the Roman empire the Colosseum could seat over 65,000 people, and the city came to a standstill to drink in the gruesome spectacles of death that unfolded here: brutal gladiatorial combats to the death, wild animal hunts that brought some of the world’s most exotic animals to the brink of extinction and shocking public executions all took place on the sand of the Colosseum’s arena floor. Learn all about what a day at the ancient games was like and get the full picture of gladiator combat in the ancient world, right where it happened. 

Follow in the footsteps of the gladiators and walk out onto the Arena floor

Have you ever imagined what it must have been like to step out onto the sands of the Colosseum, a tiny and insignificant speck looking up at rows upon rows of men, women and children screaming for the spilling of your blood? The baying crowds might be no more, but the unique opportunity to tread the very ground where the gladiators practised their brutal art thousands of years ago is a very special experience. On our tour you’ll get to follow in the footsteps of the gladiators and walk out onto the stage where the bloody drama unfolded almost two millennia ago.

Discover who the gladiators were and what exactly took place on the sands of the arena; see the imperial box from where the emperor watched the combat, and learn how the games played a vital role in the society of ancient Rome. Access to the arena floor is only possible for a limited number of visitors each day, but on our tour you can be sure that you’ll get to channel your inner Russel Crowe as you visit this exclusive area of the Colosseum.

Explore the beating heart of antiquity in the Roman Forum

Whilst the Colosseum was the most important entertainment venue in the ancient city, the nearby Roman Forum was the political heart of ancient Rome. A valley filled with temples, courthouses, triumphal arches and much more, it is in the Roman Forum where you can witness the splendour of ancient Rome in all its variety. On our tour of the Roman Forum we’ll take a stroll along the Via Sacra, the ancient city’s most important road, and explore the enormous basilica of Maxentius. Learn all about the mysterious Vestal Virgins, sombre guardians of ancient Rome’s sacred flame, in the beautiful house they called home, and gaze on their ancient portraits. Relive the dramatic assassination of Julius Caesar in the temple dedicated to him after his death, and admire the soaring columns of the awe-inspiring Temple of Saturn.

Discover the opulent palaces of the emperors on the Palatine hill

Your tour will also include an in-depth exploration of life in ancient Rome on the beautiful Palatine hill. The Palatine Hill is a vital piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is Ancient Rome, and its spectacular ruins are far too often overlooked by visitors. The Palatine is where the long history of Roman civilization began, and where the powerful Emperors of the Imperial age ruled over one of the largest empires the world has ever seen. On our tour we’ll get to grips with the history of Rome, learning the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus and tracing the evolution of Rome from a Republic to an empire.  Exploring the ruins of the vast Palace of Domitian (including a private racetrack) with spectacular views over the Circus Maximus, you’ll get a vivid sense of the incredible grandeur of the ancient world’s most important city.

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