Discover the Colosseum at its spectacular best on our exclusive private tour with a visit to the Arena Floor.
Highlights
Hidden Gems
- Flavian Amphitheatre
- House of the Vestal Virgins
- Palace of Domitian
Tour Includes
- Expert private guide for your group
- Skip-the-line tickets
- Exclusive Arena floor visit
Create Your Custom Journey
Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.
We’ve Got You Covered!
Can’t make your trip? Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, minus any ticket costs.
ITINERARY
What To Expect On Your Tour
The Colosseum
Get an in-depth understanding of the Colosseum with our expert private guide
The Colosseum is the first thing that everybody wants to visit on a trip to Rome, and with good reason. The remarkably large amphitheatre at the heart of the city is the most iconic monument of the ancient world, and visiting the storied edifice in the company of an expert guide will transport you back in time to the glory years of ancient Rome. Learn all about the history of the Colosseum, known in antiquity as the Flavian Amphitheatre, and how its dramatic inauguration in 80 AD was marked by 100 days of non-stop games. Discover how the brutal gladiator combats, wild animal hunts and public executions that were staged here were wildly popular with the Roman public, and why they were a vital tool of social control in the ancient empire. On our private tour of the Colosseum, we’ll be taking you through a day at the games: learn exactly what the crowds of over 50,000 spectators came to see, and get the full story of how gladiatorial combat unfolded – right where it happened.
Arena Floor
Walk out onto the Arena floor and see what the gladiators saw
The highlight of the ancient games at the Colosseum were the dramatic gladiatorial combats that stained the sand of the arena red with blood before the transfixed gazes of tens of thousands of spectators. To get a true sense of the frenzied drama that once lit up the amphitheatre, on our private Colosseum tour we’ll have the special opportunity to walk out onto the floor of the Arena itself. Usually off-limits to visitors, following in the footsteps of the gladiators is a unique and exciting experience. Find out who the gladiators were, and what compelled them to fight; learn about the complex rules that governed the fights, and what happened to the victors and the vanquished. Our expert guide will bring the dramatic world of the ancient amphitheatre vividly to life, giving you an unparalleled insight into life in 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.
The Roman Forum
Explore the beating heart of antiquity in the Roman Forum
“Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears!” Our private tour of ancient Rome will continue in the nearby Roman Forum. This sweeping valley was the civic, political and spiritual heart of ancient Rome. It was here that the city’s most solemn religious processions took place, here that the ancient courts sat down to administer justice in soaring halls, here that great orators and politicians enthused crowds with their silver-tongued speeches.
Today the Forum is an enchanting and mysterious hodgepodge of ruined temples and soaring columns, massive porticoes and basilicas that speak evocatively to the splendour of ancient Rome. Let our guide bring this rich tapestry back to life as we stroll along the Via Sacra, get to know the Vestal Virgins (mysterious guardians of Rome’s sacred flame), gaze on the awe-inspiring columns of the Temple of Saturn, walk beneath a series of fabulous triumphal arches, and much more. Just think, 2,000 years ago these 30 odd acres were the most important piece of real estate in the entire world!
Palatine Hill
Discover the opulent palaces of the emperors on the Palatine Hill
Our in-depth private tour of ancient Rome concludes on the stunning Palatine hill. The Palatine Hill might be the least visited of ancient Rome’s big three sites, but it’s a must-visit if you want to get to grips with the story of Rome. According to legend, it was here that Roman history first took root, when the mythical twin brothers Romulus and Remus determined to found a new city here on the hill overlooking the Tiber. On our Palatine Hill tour we’ll learn all about the fascinating origin myth of the city – a dark tale of ambition and fratricide that saw Romulus murder his brother in a fit of rage. With a cast of characters including a jealous king, kindly peasants, a disquietingly human she-wolf and much more, it’s a cracking tale!
But there’s much more to the Palatine Hill than ancient legends. During the days of the Roman Republic the senators and VIPS of ancient Rome made their homes in this leafy enclave; at the height of Imperial Rome it was here too that the emperors built their fabulous palaces, and exploring their soaring ruins today gives a vivid sense of the opulent splendour of antiquity. Learn all about the unhinged excesses of the emperors who lived here as we wander through the rubble of Domitian’s palace, a building that was so big that according to contemporaries it dwarfed even the sky itself. A visit to the Palatine Hill is the perfect way to conclude our in-depth exploration of ancient Rome. Join us today!
Create Your Custom Journey
Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.
What Our Guests Are Saying
Guests Reviews
We had an amazing private tour of the Colosseum, Gladiator Arena Floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with Thomas, and it was one of the highlights of our time in Rome. Thomas was incredibly knowledgeable and made the history come alive with his storytelling and insights.
He was kind, engaging, and explained everything so clearly – it made a huge difference in how much we enjoyed and understood what we were seeing. His passion for Roman history was contagious, and he managed to make the experience both fun and informative for everyone in our group – including a 10 year old. I can’t recommend Thomas enough!
Gracelyn was a fabulous guide! She is one of those teachers who can really make history fun and interesting! We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her and we appreciate her patience and personal touch. She had in depth notes and graphics prepared and took every question the group threw at her. She was even patient and attentive with our five-year-old little daughter, who loved the attention.
We highly recommend Gracelyn as a tour guide, and we hope to have more tours like hers. She is a true gem. Thank you Through Eternity Tours!!
Our guide, Gracelyn Monaco was fabulous! Highly recommend. She was very personable and relatable to my 13 year old son. She knew where we needed to be and helped us navigate through the large crowd to the location spot for the special underground tour. We did several tours with different companies throughout Italy and she made this one special! I would definitely use Through Eternity Tours again and ask for her specifically next time I’m in Rome!
Gracelyn was a wonderful guide. She made sure we say everything and she was very helpful at giving us history updates. I would love to do more tours with her.
Other Tours You May Like…
