Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill 3-Hour Tour

About this experience

Rome is filled with Ancient ruins and the remnants of the past. This tour is the perfect way to visit the three most important sites and learn about the times in which they were built and used. The Colosseum is probably one of the most recognized monuments and is included on the New 7Wonders of the World list. Innumerable Roman citizens walked through the arches and corridors of the famous amphitheater, and now you will do the same, as a captivating guide reveals all the secrets of the landmark’s past. Next to the Colosseum are the Forum and Palatine Hill. Here you will discover the religious, social, and political center of the Ancient city, still filled with the remains of temples, homes, palaces, and even the abode of the Vestal Virgins. With your guide to navigate you through the tumultuous history of these areas, this will be an experience you won’t forget.

Itinerary

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1. Stop 1

   Duration: 45 min

   Your reserved slot takes you straight to the security check and inside, onto the first and second tiers. From the walkway you look down into the hypogeum, the two-level basement of tunnels and lifts that pushed animals and gladiators up into the arena, and out across seating built to hold roughly 50,000 people in a stadium that could empty in minutes. Your guide covers how the games were staged, funded and eventually abandoned.

2. Stop 2

   On the way out you pass beneath the largest triumphal arch left standing in Rome, 21 metres high and raised in AD 315 for Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge. Look closely at the sculpture: much of it was stripped from earlier monuments to Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius, with the old emperors' faces recut into Constantine's.

3. Stop 3

   At the top of the Via Sacra stands the arch Domitian raised to his brother Titus in AD 81. Inside the passage, one relief shows the spoils of Jerusalem carried in triumph through Rome — the seven-branched menorah taken from the Temple in AD 70, and one of the few surviving Roman images of it.

4. Stop 4

   Duration: 60 min

   The last climb takes you up to where Augustus, Domitian and their successors built their palaces — the hill that gave every European language its word for "palace". You walk through the ruins of the Domus Augustana and along the sunken Stadium of Domitian, ending at the terrace above the Circus Maximus with the Forum, Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum laid out below.

5. Stop 5

   Duration: 60 min

   You walk down the Via Sacra into the Forum itself, along the route triumphal processions took. Your guide picks out what the ruins were: the Curia where the Senate met, the eight surviving columns of the Temple of Saturn that held the treasury, the round temple where the Vestals kept the fire lit, and the spot where Caesar was cremated, still marked with flowers.

What's included

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• Entrance fees to Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Audioset (NOT included for the ticket option with audio guide)
• Colosseum reservation fee (valued at €2 per person)
• Professional guide (not included if you select the AUDIOGUIDE option).
• Please note: Colosseum fees as above. The remaining cost of the experience covers other services.
• Colosseum entrance ticket (valued at €18 per person, or €24 per person if arena access is included)

What's not included

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• Transfers

Additional information

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• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please bring a Valid ID Document of all participants in order to enter to the Colosseum.
• Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
• Aerosols, sharp objects and large backpacks will not be allowed
• Kindly insert full name for all participants at you party. Please note that the names not included in the list will not gain access to the Colosseum. Please bring a valid identification card or passport.
• Please wear comfortable walking shoes
• Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
• Changes to the tour may occur if the minimum number of participants cannot be reached; under these circumstances, you will receive a phone call or message from the activity provider
• Enjoy Rome is an officially accredited operator of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, authorized to offer guided and self-guided tours
• This tour offers several options, including access to the arena floor and the gladiators' gates, as well as the option for a small group. We recommend taking the time to consider which option best suits your needs.
• Individuals with Disabilities MUST NOTE it on their booking.

Cancellation policy

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If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel between 1 and 3 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel within 1 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.