Walking Tours: Rome, Italy
Rome
Take a small group walking tour of Ancient Rome’s major sights; by joining this tour, you will skip the queues for the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Perfect for first-time visitors, this guided morning tour is the ideal introduction to Ancient Rome, leaving you with the afternoon free to explore Rome at your leisure. Several major sites are covered in just three hours, and you’ll receive enlightening insights into Rome’s millennia of history, without wasting time waiting in line.
Tours begin atop the Colle Oppio with a panoramic view of the Colosseum (image right), Rome’s most recognizable landmark. You will be able to skip long lines and gain special access to the Colosseum. Once inside, your expert official guide will take you through the bloody past of the amphitheater as you listen to tales of gladiators, mock sea-battles and executions. (Entrance fees are included, tours are led by expert guides, and you will skip long lines.)
After a brief rest at the Arch of Constantine, the tour visits the Palatine Hill, the most famous of the seven hills of Rome where you will view the Roman Forum and Nero’s Circus Maximus where chariot races were held.
The last stop on this half-day tour is a walk along the Via Sacra or "Sacred Way," the main path through the Roman Forum that was used for triumphal processions.
Colosseum’s Underground Chambers
For the first time in history, in 2011 the Colosseum opened its underground level to visitors, as well as the Colosseum’s third tier, which hasn’t been open in decades. The 8:30 a.m. tour includes special access to both areas and see the tunnels where gladiators prepared for fights and where lions and tigers were once caged. You’ll also go up to the highest existing level of the Colosseum – the third tier (terzo anello). The view from the third tier includes not only a new perspective of the inside of the Colosseum, but also the surrounding Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Important Note Winter 2012: The underground areas of the Colosseum have been closed due to excessive flooding. Tours may include the third tier of the Colosseum with the smaller-groups (10 people). The underground may open by March; tour guides will notify guests upon commencement of tour.
Tags: Walking tours of Rome
