Colosseum to Host Gladiator Experience, Thanks to Airbnb Partnership

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Colosseum Arena Tour with Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

Clock icon5(1839)
from115 €

Early in May 2025, Rome’s Colosseum will ring out with the clash of swords and shields as combatants once again take to the arena floor. Not since 404 CE has the Colosseum hosted gladiatorial combat, though, on this final occasion, the spectacle saw not the triumph of a gladiator but the death of a humble monk. Horrified by the bloodshed, this monk, named Telemachus, entered the arena to put an end to the violence. His intervention was met with the ire of the crowd, however, who stoned Telemachus to death on the arena sands. 

Telemachus’ death moved the emperor Honorius to abolish gladiatorial combat once and for all. But in May 2025, the Colosseum will host a new — and less lethal — kind of spectacle. A gladiator experience, courtesy of an exclusive partnership with Airbnb launched in conjunction with the release of Gladiator II. Set after sunset, against a flame-flickering backdrop, this experience, promises an authentic glimpse into ancient Roman spectacle, allowing participants to follow in the footsteps of gladiators and experience the grandeur of the Colosseum by night.

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Gladiator shields stored in the Colosseum’s hypogeum. Image Credit: Cristopher Anderson

About this Colosseum Gladiator Experience

Participants will begin this experience by descending into the hypogeum, the Colosseum’s underground labyrinth beneath the arena floor where gladiators would prepare for battle, where the amphitheatre’s wild animals were caged, and where the scenery to be winched up onto the arena was stored. Here, each participant will select armour suited to their gladiator type — be it murmillo, thraex, provocator, retiarius, or contrarete. Guided by Airbnb hosts, participants will adorn traditional gladiatorial attire, echoing the legends of Rome’s most famous gladiators.

Guests will walk the Colosseum’s dimly lit tunnels, where gladiatorial legends like Priscus and Verus once roamed, absorbing the gravity of their surroundings. This journey of reflection will end in a gathering space, where they’ll savour a modest spread of authentic Roman foods, including grapes, pomegranates, almonds, and walnuts: sustenance for the battle ahead.

Then, the real test begins. Gladiatorial experts will demonstrate the combat style of ancient Rome in a thrilling spar, a prelude to the guests’ own showdown. Under the watchful eye of the summa rudis, the referee, guests will be judged on their skill, agility, and determination. The glory of victory will loom large as combatants strive to earn their place among the pantheon of Rome’s greats. 

Will you be the one whose exploits echo in eternity?

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Gladiators commence combat in the Colosseum Arena. Image Credit: Christopher Anderson

How to Book this Gladiator Experience

For your chance to test your mettle in the Colosseum arena, you can request one of two exclusive, three-hour sessions, free of charge through this link on Airbnb’s website. Booking opens at 6:00 am Pacific Time on November 27. Each event, hosted by none other than Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), will allow 16 guests — 8 guests plus a companion each — to witness and participate in a one-of-a-kind gladiatorial experience. 

Visiting Rome? Explore with us.

Planning on visiting the Colosseum? Don’t waste time standing in line.

All our Colosseum tours include skip-the-line access to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum, and the expert guidance of fluent licensed guides.

Preview of our Colosseum Arena Tour

First time in Rome? Join a fun, fact-filled Rome Walking Tour and see all the capital’s must-see sites as you explore the historic centre. Dare to descend beneath Rome's streets? Check out our Rome Catacombs Tour.

Looking to immerse yourself in Rome's culinary culture? Taste your way through the medieval district of Trastevere as you sample the city's traditional street food, pizza, pasta, gelato and more!

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Alexander Meddings
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Alexander Meddings is a professional copywriter and postgraduate in Roman history from the University of Oxford. After graduating with his MPhil, he moved to Florence and then Rome to carry out his research on the ground and pursue his passion at the source. He now works in travel, as a writer and content consultant, and in education as a university lecturer and translator.
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