Temple of Caesar

On this private tour, you will time travel back 2,000 years to visit the Ancient Rome sites that were of significance to the Roman Empire including the Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome, and the Palatine Hill, where the city of Rome was founded on.

On your private tour, you will:

• Explore the Colosseum and learn of its architectural secrets, and of the gladiators who fought here;
• Hear stories about some of the empire's greatest emperors, like Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, and stories of its' cruellest emperors: Nero and Caligula;
• Discover the Roman Forum, the heart of Ancient Rome and an open-air meeting site;
• Take in the vast scale of the Imperial Palaces on Palatine Hill.

You will start your tour at the ancient Colosseum, which is an enduring symbol of the power, prowess and bloodlust of the Roman Empire. Although damaged over the years by earthquakes, pollution and stone robbers, it remains a truly spectacular structure.

The building hasn’t been used for entertainment since the early medieval era; in the following centuries, it was employed variously as a fortress, Christian shrine, and housing for a religious order.

Your next stop will be the Roman Forum where you will come across remnants of magnificent temples, law courts, palaces and marketplaces, while your guide shares the stories of what daily life in the heart of the Roman Empire was like.

Your tour will end at Palatine Hill – the birthplace of the Roman Senate, and where Rome’s Emperors lived and ruled from. The word ‘palace’ is derived from the name of this hill, as so many Roman rulers built their lavish residences on the Palatine.

Climb the hill today, and you will find extensive ruins of the once splendid palaces and gardens of some of Rome’s most famous emperors, including those of Augustus, Tiberius and the Flavian Palace, as well as the Temple to Apollo built by Augustus, and Domitian’s impressive Hippodrome.

Please note that the order of this tour may change based on ticket availability.

Immerse yourself into Ancient Rome and travel back to the time of Roman gladiators by exploring the Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater and the Roman Forum, the scenario for public meetings, gatherings and shops, on this family-friendly half-day tour especially designed for young children and teens in mind.

On your private tour, you will:

• Bring Ancient Rome to life on this child and family-friendly tour with your private guide;
• Learn of the famed Gladiators and their courageous fights at the Colosseum;
• Hear the stories of the first games ever held in the times of Emperor Titus;
• Find out how many spectators the amphitheatre could accommodate and who could be invited;
• Have a sweet treat on us and a short break to enjoy some gelato;
• Explore the Roman Forum considered the heart of Ancient Rome and the first open-air public meeting place;
• Discover what religious ceremonies and festivals were held there;
• Walk past the remains of numerous important buildings, built to honour men and roman gods.

If any site in Rome will entertain your children, the Colosseum will! A symbol of Rome and of the Ancient Roman Empire, this building has been entertaining people for millennia! This is where the Emperor and the Roman people would come to watch the "games" ranging from gladiator fights to processions of exotic animals.

After visiting the Colosseum (time-entrance tickets included), you will see the Arch of Constantine, built to commemorate Emperor Constantine the Great's victory over Maxentius in 312 AD. Your guide will regale you with tales of the Emperor and his army triumphantly marching into Rome!

You will then head into the Roman Forum and walk on the Via Sacra (or "sacred way"), the main street of Ancient Rome. This was the "downtown" area of the city where Senators and people alike came to meet and trade, hear public speeches, vote in elections, trial criminals, host religious ceremonies... and more! You will even see the ruins of the Temple of Julius Caesar and his altar, where people still lay flowers today in commemoration of the famed Roman General!

Depending on the day and your preference, you will enjoy a quick stop for a delicious Italian Gelato either halfway through the tour for a sweet treat break or at the end of the tour.

This shorter tour is ideal for families with young children and does not include a visit to Palatine Hill. 

Please note: The order of this tour may change based on ticket availability

• Begin at the mighty Circus Maximus, where Caesar will have come to watch the races, famous for being the largest stadium for chariot racing in the world, with marble seating for over 250,000 spectators. Learn all about this popular, and highly dangerous sport;
• Admire the stunning views of the ancient palaces of the Palatine cascading down the hill;
• Hear all about the importance of public games for the smooth running of society: ‘Give them bread and circuses!
• Learn all about the early life of Julius Caesar and his unlikely, stratospheric political and military rise to power;
• Wander down the hill towards the River Tiber and look over the bridge to Trastevere where Julius Caesar had a villa and where he housed Cleopatra;
• Discover Teatro Marcellus, an ancient open-air theatre used for artistic performances; 
• See the ruins of the ancient fish market and the Portico d’Ottavia: the building of which was begun by Julius, and completed by his adopted son Octavian - better known as Caesar Augustus, who dedicated it to his sister, Octavia;
• Head towards the centre of governance in Ancient Rome, the Capitoline Hill; 
• Be wowed by the spectacular view overlooking the ruins of the Roman Forum, the cradle of the gods and of ancient civilization, and at the far end, the Colosseum;
• See the buildings that were begun by Caesar including the temple to Venus, the Curia, and his spy's humble resting place in the centre of the Forum;
• Across the Fori Imperiali (built by Mussolini) you’ll see the ruins of Trajan’s Forum and the firewall built to protect the forum and the suburban from fire;
• Wander through the ruins to see some of the Suburra where Caesar was born and raised, now a trendy neighbourhood called Monti;
• Walk back through Piazza Venezia, through the picturesque Jewish Ghetto toward the spectacular ruins at Largo Argentina;
• End your tour here with the dramatic story of Caesar’s assassination, on those very steps! Stabbed 23 times by his enemies so the blame was shared; including his trusted friend, Brutus, is where the mighty Julius Caesar was finally toppled. ‘Beware the ides of March'.