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This tour has special access to the Colosseum underground, only recently opened to the public. We also visit the exclusive ‘third ring’ of the Colosseum – not open since the 1970’s – and the reconstruction of a portion of the arena, roped off to the general public.
In addition to our extended Colosseum tour, we also visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, giving you a deeper insight into the history of Rome, starting from day one.
Small groups of 12 people and headsets when appropriate mean you’ll always hear your guide. Your tour will be more intimate and your pace more leisurely.
Description
Explore more of the Colosseum than was previously possible on our Semi-Private Colosseum Tour, which takes you to areas of this majestic structure that have only recently been opened to the public. With special access to the Colosseum underground, you can explore the tunnels where gladiators once prepared for fights and lions and tigers were caged before being hoisted onto the arena floor through trap doors using lifts and pulleys. Access to the Colosseum underground is only available on guided tours booked in advance.
Our extended Colosseum tour also takes you to the third-tier level of the Colosseum, only recently opened for the first time since the 1970s, as well as the arena floor — areas not visited on regular Colosseum tours. Of course we’ll also visit all the general access areas visited on our regular Colosseum tours, giving you a more rounded view of this ancient structure.
After the Colosseum we’ll head onward to the Roman Forum and the “Via Sacra” or “Sacred Way” which is the main path through the Forum that once sparkled with festivals and triumphal processions. It begins at the temple which houses the altar where Julius Caesar was cremated. Listen as your guide points out all of this, plus moneylenders’ shops and the home of the famous Vestal Virgins, bringing these magnificent ruins to life.
We finish our tour at the beginning, the Palatine Hill, where legend has it Remus and Romulus were found by the she-wolf, and where they went on to fight for the right to build their own city. Romulus won, making this exact spot where Rome was founded. Explore some of Rome’s oldest ruins, once decadent palaces and gardens, as well as some of the most beautiful views in the whole city.
Travelling in groups of only 12 people or less on our smallest Colosseum tour, and using headsets for the duration, your tour will be intimate and your expert, English-speaking guide easy to hear and interact with. Handling such a small group, your guide will be better able to cater to your group’s needs and interests, making this tour our most special way to experience the wonders of Ancient Rome.
