Alexander Meddings
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4.94(2344)
22 Guests Max
3 hrs
Flexible TravelVisit Rome during the derby between its two top-flight football teams (A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio) and you'll be shocked at how rivalries between Rome's citizens can run quite so deep. Many regard Roma vs Lazio as one of the fiercest derbies in world football, with tensions running high in the hours leading up to the match and police massed around the city and its stadium to prevent violence from spilling over.
Rivalries in sports are not uncommon, of course. Yet there is something distinctive, almost deep-rooted, about the rivalry in Rome. When you reflect on Rome's foundation story of Romulus and Remus — where one twin murdered the other just for jumping over his wall — things may start to make sense.
The story of Romulus and Remus takes us back more than 3,000 years, to a time long before the mythical founding of Rome (753 BC) and even further back to ancient Troy.
It all began when a Trojan Paris named Paris abducted Queen Helen of Sparta, having been promised her as a prize for adjudicating a beauty contest between the Olympian Gods. Helen's abduction triggered the famous Trojan War (and the unfortunate movie some 2500 years later), in which the Greeks laid siege to Troy, on the coast of modern-day Turkey, in an attempt to get her back.
For ten long years the Greeks were unsuccessful, until a cunning warrior called Odysseus suggested constructing an enormous wooden horse. The Greeks left this horse outside Troy's walls as an offering of peace (concealing the fact that some of Greece's finest warriors were hidden inside).
Everybody knows what happens next. The Trojans wheel the wooden horse into their city; its occupants open the city's gates; and the Greeks, having breached the city, proceed to slaughter everybody inside. Paris shoots the legendary warrior Achilles in the heel before being shot himself; Odysseus has a ten-year mare trying to get back home to his wife and son; and Helen returns with her husband to Sparta and lives happily ever after without even the slightest hint of awkwardness.
Wait a minute, I hear you ask.
What does all this have to do with Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome?
Well, one of the few Trojans to escape the burning city was a brave warrior called Aeneas, who carried his aged father and infant son as they fled the smouldering city. Aeneas' journey from Troy to Carthage in Northern Africa and finally the shores of Italy forms the subject of a book called The Aeneid (which is one of the most readable works of Latin literature but is still really pretty dull) which the emperor Augustus commissioned the poet Virgil to write in the first century BC.
According to the story, Aeneas ends up settling in Latium (today's region of Lazio) and having lots and lots of kids with a lovely lady called Lavinia. His great great great great great great great great great great great great (roughly) granddaughter was a woman called Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa and the future mother of Romulus and Remus.
All was going well until her uncle Amulius stole the throne, usurping Numitor and forcing poor Rhea to become a Vestal Virgin — ensuring she would have no children who could claim the right to power. But despite the best-laid plans of the devious usurper Amulius, the rowdy Roman gods had other ideas.
You see, the Greco-Roman gods were notoriously promiscuous and loved nothing more than meddling in the lives of their mortal subjects, especially beautiful young ladies. Jupiter (or Zeus, to the Greeks) was particularly promiscuous. Legend tells of him even transforming himself into a swan to molest a Spartan queen named Leda, raising the very valid question of who would ever want to become a Spartan queen.
After her run-in with a rowdy swan, Leda gave birth to twin sons (Castor and Pollux) and twin daughters (Clytemnestra and Helen of Sparta). Presumably, if they took after their father, it was in his human form — either that or Paris of Troy had a swan kink that was beyond the help of any ancient sexual therapist.
Anyway, back to the Romulus and Remus story.
The legend goes that Rhea Silvia was visited by Mars, God of War, one night, who forced himself on her and impregnated her with twins. This left Rhea Silvia in a terrible situation. Vestal Virgins who broke their vow of chastity faced the terrifying punishment of being walled up alive outside the city walls. But since the people of Alba Longa were superstitious, and did not want to anger a figure as formidable as Mars the God of War, they decided not to execute her but to imprison her instead.
Not a day had passed since Rhea Silvia had given birth to twins Romulus and Remus when the usurper king Amulius ordered for them to be killed. He entrusted the task to a servant, who took pity on the boys and set them adrift on the River Tiber in a basket. When the river overflowed, the baby twins became stranded on the banks of the river. But a passing she-wolf (lupa, in Latin) came to their rescue. Having recently lost her cubs, the she-wolf nurtured them as her own, suckling them from her teat until they became big and strong and endowing them with a ferocity that would come to define both themselves and their descendants.
At least this is the most popular version of the myth. The thing is, the Latin word lupa means both she-wolf and prostitute (the brothel in Pompeii, for example, is called the Lupanar). This adds a layer of complexity to the story of Romulus and Remus: were they rescued and reared by a wolf or by a practitioner of the world's oldest profession?
Soon Romulus and Remus left the care of the she-wolf and entered the world of men. Raised by the shepherd Faustulus, the brothers quickly gained a reputation for their strength and leadership, gathering a band of followers from among the shepherds and outcasts of the region. Returning to Alba Longa, they became involved in a dispute between supporters of Numitor and Amulius, and Remus was taken prisoner and brought to Alba Longa.
Both his grandfather and the king suspected his true identity. Romulus, meanwhile, had organized an effort to free his brother and set out with help for the city. During this time, they learned of their past, and their mother's subsequent suicide by drowning in the River Tiber, and joined forces with their grandfather to restore him to the throne. Amulius was killed and Numitor was reinstated as King of Alba Longa.
But with their natural charisma and shared ambition, the twins were not content to live out their lives in Alba Longa. Instead they began to dream of founding a city that would be theirs, a place where they could rule and leave a lasting legacy.
The twins' shared vision, however, led to a rivalry. Both were determined to establish their city, but they couldn't agree on where it should be built. Romulus favoured the Palatine Hill, while Remus preferred the Aventine Hill, and to settle the dispute, they sought a sign from the gods. Each would stand on their chosen hill and look to the skies, believing that the gods would reveal their will through the flight of birds.
Remus was the first to see six vultures circling overhead, and he thought the victory was his. But just as he was about to claim it, Romulus saw twelve vultures above the Palatine Hill. Confident that the gods had favoured him, Romulus began marking out the boundaries of the new city on his chosen hill.
Quite understandably, however, Remus was unwilling to concede. As Romulus worked, Remus mocked the modest beginnings of the city, going so far as to leap over the low wall that Romulus had started to build. This act of defiance was more than just a challenge; it was a direct violation of the sacred space Romulus was creating — a violation that called for retribution.
In a fit of anger, Romulus struck down his brother, killing him on the spot. With Remus dead, Romulus became the sole founder of the city, which he named Rome after himself. The city would grow into one of the most powerful empires the world had ever known, but its origins were forever marked by this fratricide — a grim reminder that even the greatest achievements can be born from violence and tragedy.
So how did a small, stone-age settlement by the River Tiber grow into the ancient world's most powerful civilization? Initially, King Romulus had no one to rule over. Allegedly, he sent out invitations to neighbouring tribes, inviting people to become the first citizens of Rome at a point between the two peaks of the Capitoline Hill called the Asylum (you didn't have to be mad to live there, but it helped).
Romulus declared that anyone who arrived at the Asylum would be granted citizenship, no questions asked. The problem was that such an open invitation didn't do much to attract farmers and families to join this fledgling community. The first citizens of Rome were probably convicts, bandits, and runaway slaves—hardly the kind of people you'd invite to dinner. Yet, they were loyal, courageous, and ambitious. Sometimes, having nothing to lose is the key to success.
However, it’s unlikely that settled farmers and families were eager to join this fledgling community. The first citizens of Rome were convicts, bandits, and runaway slaves: hardly the kind of people you'd invite to dinner. Yet, they were loyal, courageous, and ambitious. Sometimes, having nothing to lose is the key to success.
There was just one problem: all of Rome's inhabitants were men.
For the city to grow, the Romans needed women. Romulus requested intermarriage rights from neighbouring tribes, but they all refused. Frustrated, Romulus devised a plan. He organized a grand festival, possibly on the future site of the Circus Maximus, and invited the neighbouring Sabine tribe as guests. Once the guests were sufficiently inebriated, Romulus gave the signal, and the Roman men carried off the Sabine women. This event, known as the "Rape of the Sabine Women," was later chronicled by Plutarch and has inspired countless works of art and literature.
The Rape of the Sabine Women by Sebastiano Ricci
Although this act caused considerable tension between the Romans and the Sabines, the women eventually intervened, urging peace between their new husbands and their families. "We are wives and mothers now," they reportedly said, "do not leave us widowed and our children orphaned." And so, ancient Rome was born. It would go on to dominate the entire Mediterranean world, but that is a story for another day.
Now here's where things get really interesting.
Like many stories from antiquity (The Trojan War; The Odyssey; many episodes from the Old Testament), the Romulus and Remus story formed part of a vast oral tradition, which was 'fixed' only after being committed to paper. The 'fixed' version we have dates from the first century BC and a book called Ab Urbe Condita (Since the Founding of the City [of Rome]) by the historian Titus Livy.
But there were many versions of the Romulus and Remus story in circulation, not all of which accused Romulus of killing his twin. In the Historic Library of Diorodus Siculus (50s BC), for example, Remus does not see any birds from his viewing point on the Aventine Hill and is later killed by Celer, Romulus' worker. In his 5th-century CE City of God, Saint Augustine mentions in passing that Remus was alive after the founding of Rome.
So where did the version that accused Romulus of fratricide come from? And more importantly when?
Livy was writing under the patronage of Rome's first emperor Augustus (reigned 31 BC - 14 CE) who came to power after more than 100 years of almost constant civil war. As Rome's first sole ruler since the legendary Etruscan Kings, Augustus was faced with a delicate task — convincing the Romans, who had a proud republican tradition, to accept his autocratic regime of one-man rule.
Augustus' task was made easier by the fact that Rome was emerging from a terrible period of civil war. This allowed Augustus to portray himself as a quasi-Messiananic figure, ushering in a Golden Age of peace breaking through the clouds of civil conflict. What made this sell much easier was being able to convince the Romans that they were especially prone to civil war: that it ran in their blood. And driving home the message that their founder had committed the quintessential act of civil war — killing his own brother — helped to drive that message home.
The Romulus and Remus story is one of many we share on our popular Tipsy Tour of Rome. This unique tour combines all the best parts of travelling: meeting cool, like-minded people, trying traditional drinks and learning the scandalous stories from the place you're visiting! Our Tipsy Tour is consistently voted one of the best experiences in Rome, but don't just take our word for it: see what guests are saying!
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Explore the wonders of the Eternal City on our best of Rome walking tour. As you get your bearings around Rome’s cobbled historic centre, your expert storyteller will bring Rome’s most must-see sites to life, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Take photos, make memories, and most importantly, get the most out of your time in the Italian capital!
Your private guide will share the city’s secrets and narrate its story in a way that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time – from explaining how the stunningly intricate churches and palaces were erected, to how the grand fountains were used to channel water throughout the city.
We will start at Trajan’s Column, which portrays the bloody victory of the emperor during the Dacian wars in Eastern Europe. We’ll then head to the Piazza Venezia, the crossroads between the ancient city and the modern capital and one of the most scenic squares in Italy!
After taking a moment to marvel at the imposing Altar of the Fatherland, we’ll make our way to the iconic Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin into the fountain, spend a moment soaking in its sounds and scenery (metaphorically, not literally!), and uncover the fascinating stories behind the fountain’s statues and symbols.
After discovering the incredible frescoes within the church of Sant Ignazio, we’ll make our way to the Pantheon where the spectacle of the 2000-year-old dome will blow you away. Marvel at one of the best-preserved buildings of the ancient world, hear the story behind the man who built it, and discover the shocking architectural secret behind how the dome is (or isn’t) supported!
Your private walking tour of Rome finishes at Piazza Navona. The square is situated near some of Rome’s best and most vibrant bars and restaurants and your guide will be happy to recommend where to go.
This tour is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. You can expect this memorable experience to last about two hours, which leaves you with more than enough time to explore the city beyond.
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Channel your inner-Maximus as you step out onto the Colosseum Arena floor and access this recently reopened area of the world famous amphitheatre. Then, explore the rest of the heart of ancient Rome, with a friendly, expert guide and a small group of like-minded travellers!
Unlike regular tours of the Colosseum, our Colosseum Arena Tour gets you straight inside the ancient amphitheatre and out onto the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. This is the route the gladiators themselves took almost 2,000 years ago. Imagine the moment they left the gates, and were greeted by the cheers and jeers of 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators.
Your expert guide will transport you back in time to the height of the Roman Empire when the Colosseum was constructed. These were times when Rome was ruled by all-powerful emperors (sometimes wise, sometimes wacky), the city was flooded with exotic riches from around the world, and the Colosseum acted as the city’s main stage for showing off the animals and people that Rome had conquered and captured.
After a short 30-minute break, we’ll head off on the next part of the tour…
Next, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill, where the ancient city was founded. The Palatine Hill is a real archaeological wonder, home to settlements from the Iron Age to the 16th century. Gaze upon such sites as the Hut of Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder, and the Imperial Palace, where the emperors in their family engaged in ruling, politicking, and scheming. Get your camera at the ready – you really can’t beat these views!
The final destination on our Colosseum Arena Tour is the Roman Forum. As the beating heart of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum was once a bustling hub of markets, law courts, temples, and more. It was here that Julius Caesar was cremated, where victorious triumphs paraded with the spoils of Roman conquests, here where two disgraced emperors were murdered in 69 AD, and here where Cicero delivered the speeches that shaped western culture for centuries.
When our tour is over, feel free to stay and explore the Roman Forum at your own pace.
Book the complete ancient Roman experience today with our Colosseum Arena Tour!
5(1839)
Learn to cook like an Italian in this small group pasta & tiramisù cooking class that gives you mastery over the country’s best-loved classics. Over the course of three-and-a-half-hour fun-filled hours, you’ll enjoy the expert guidance of our fluent professional chef and get hands on recreating real Roman recipes, culminating in a well-deserved dinner in which you feast on what you’ve made.
Situated in our centrally situated air-conditioned cooking school, your interactive class will give you the true sense of an Italian nonna’s loving kitchen. Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable English-speaking chef, our cooking masterclass is perfect for kids and adults, beginners and experts.
Savoiardi (ladyfingers) are gently dipped in rich coffee before being layered with dollops of delicately mixed eggs and panna (cream). Finished off with a sprinkle of cocoa, these delicious desserts are set aside to rest in time for an after-dinner energy boost. In fact, the espresso within a tiramisù is what gives it a name that translates literally as “pick me up”!
Rolling up our sleeves, here is where we channel our inner nonna. Mixing, kneading, rolling, and shaping our fresh pasta from scratch will work up a sweat but result in elegant end products. We will then combine these carefully crafted creations with the flavors of the season and locality; be it twangy cacio e pepe or creamy carbonara.
How else to conclude your cooking class than by fully indulging in your culinary creations! Celebrate your accomplishment with family-friendly company, a gorgeous setting, and a selection of red or white wines and soft drinks.
Whether returning a culinary maestro or a self-proclaimed novice, you’ll be sure to take the memories home with you and ruling your dinner parties back home!
5(1852)
Join us on a journey through Roman history on our immersive Rome by Night Walking Tour. Your expert guide will share the city’s secrets, history, and fascinating tales—from antiquity through to the modern day, and at a pace to suit you.
Our tour starts in Rome’s most picturesque square, Piazza Navona, where the ancient Romans used to watch athletic contests (agones). Today’s piazza sits above the ancient stadium and boasts Gian Lorenzo Bernini‘s stunning Fountain of the Four Rivers as its centrepiece.
A five-minute walk from Piazza Navona takes us to the world-famous Pantheon. Constructed more than two-thousand years ago by the eccentric emperor Hadrian, the Pantheon was consecrated as a monument to all the pagan gods (pan theos, in Greek meaning all the gods). This second-century temple is one of the best-preserved monuments in the Roman Empire and its unreinforced concrete dome still perplexes architects.
Our next stop is the iconic Trevi Fountain. Immortalised by Anita Ekberg wading through its water in Federico Fellini’s iconic film La Dolce Vita, the Trevi Fountain one of the most romantic spots in the Eternal City. Snap your photos of the monument in the moonlight, listen to your guide decipher its symbols, and toss a coin over your shoulder to guarantee your return to Rome.
We emerge from Rome’s winding backstreets onto Piazza Venezia. Stretching from the foot of the Capitoline Hill, against the backdrop of the Altar of the Fatherland, Piazza Venezia is Rome’s most recognisable square, and a repository of history involving figures from Napoleon to Mussolini.
Your guide will lead you down the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the boulevard that cuts through ancient Rome, past Trajan’s Column and alongside the forums of Trajan, Augustus and Nerva. Your guide will feed your curiosity and nourish you with knowledge about ancient Rome and its empire as you make your way towards the most famous monument of all: the Colosseum.
The Colosseum is one of the most awe-inspiring attractions that has survived from antiquity. As a colossal feat of architecture and engineering, its form has been replicated throughout the ages, manifested in stadiums and sports venues around the world. But while its form is familiar to us, the spectacles it accommodated are entirely alien, and remind us of the violent nature of Roman culture.
Group sizes are 15 people maximum.
Book your spot now to avoid missing out!
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The best way to understand Rome is to take a look beneath it. Our Rome Catacombs Tour is perfect for travellers who want to get off the beaten track, unearth underground passageways, and discover the secrets of the largest catacombs in Rome.
Prepare to discover the deeper, darker, and more mysterious parts of Roman history with a small group of like-minded adventurers. By digging downwards into the ancient labyrinth of tunnels, we’ll uncover all the secrets and dark tales of the catacombs of Domitilla.
Your friendly expert guide will meet you outside and give you a quick overview of the tour before we make our descent. With our close guidance, you’ll have the chance to explore and discover ancient passageways in the largest, most famous catacombs in Rome. These tunnels are sacred and an integral part of the Christian and Roman faiths. Learn how ancient Christian rites and rituals were held underneath the bustling city streets.
These tunnels were not only a place of ritual, but are still a sacred place of rest for more than 150,000 bodies. These catacombs and the bodies they hold stretch for almost 20 km underground, some of which is yet to be seen by the public eye.
With a maximum of ten travellers per tour group, you’ll have the opportunity to ask plenty of questions. The price of the tour includes the tickets. If you’d like to join us on our Rome Catacombs Tour of the darkest, largest catacombs in Rome, book your spot now to make sure you don’t miss out!
5(235)One of the best ways to meet people in a new city is to grab a drink together, and few city serve up more iconic drinks than Rome. Whether you’re travelling solo or with a group, for a long vacation or a short city break – our Rome Tipsy Tour is for you!
This unique nightlife experience combines all our favourite elements of travel: discovering new places, being immersed in different cultures, meeting fun people, and trying out a range of delicious drinks! It’s not a run-of-the-mill bar crawl. It’s a sociable tour that gives you a real taste of with Rome’s sights, stories, and signature drinks in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with fun, local hosts. We also welcome sober travellers who want to join for a social experience but who want to forgo a hangover, so we’ll have non-alcoholic options available as well!
You’ll meet your guide and group at Piazza Madonna dei Monti, where we’ll break the ice with a warm Italian welcome – aka, a refreshing glass of local wine. After saying cheers—salute—we’ll head into Monti, an uber-trendy district filled with quirky bars and cobblestoned streets, and plenty to unpack. In ancient Rome, Monti was known as a suburra – the red-light district of Rome where prostitutes plied their trade and gangsters once roamed. As we wander through the cobblestone streets your guide will tell you scandalous stories of sex and bloodshed that you won’t hear on your typical walking tour.
After so much scandal, you’ll surely need a drink. So at our first stop on the Rome Tipsy Tour you’ll get an extra stiff one. The spotlight will be on Carpano Classico a venerable vermouth with a curious story! Unravel the history of the man who made it – Antonio Benedetto Carpano – back in 1786 whilst sharing some sips with your newfound friends.
We’ll keep the night going with some more saucy stories before trying a classic Italian Spritz. Indulge in the bitter flavours of Aperol or Campari Spritz while enjoying dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing—apart from getting tipsy of course!
Our final stop is Rome’s most iconic road, the Via dei Fori Imperiali, leading down to the Colosseum. The views of the ancient city are best enjoyed after dark with an ice-cold Limoncello – trust us. Sip away as your guide tells shocking stories of the power-hungry Roman emperors who once ruled the known world.
At 11 p.m., the Tipsy Tour officially ends, but the night out begins! We will continue drinking with our new friends at some of Rome’s most popular bars!
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We promise to make your night in Rome one you’ll never forget! Skip a boring walking tour, and come get tipsy with us.
Book your spot now!
4.94(2344)
Feed your curiosity while pleasing your palate on this indulgent Rome Food Tour! This fun (and filling) food tour gives you and a small group of others insider access to Rome’s best delicatessens, pizzerias and restaurants as well as Rome’s tastiest traditional food the locals keep to themselves.
Our Rome food tour takes place in Trastevere, Rome’s most traditional medieval neighbourhood. The area is renowned for its buzzing nightlife and fantastic eateries with delightful aromas spilling out of them. However, it’s also known to have its fair share of tourists traps! Our team of expert foodies invite you, and your tastebuds, to try some of the finest flavours in the city! Vacations are too short to eat bad food, right?
During the experience, we will try at least 10 different tastings together with a selection of local wines. However, this experience is more than just simply trying different local foods while sipping on red wine. This is a journey inside the Roman kitchen—discovering the delicacies, the diet and the cultural dos and don’ts.
Not only will you experience the mouthwatering flavours of Rome, but you’ll also discover the process, meet the makers, and truly understand why Italian cuisine is considered the best in the world. So book your spot on our Rome Food Tour today and get ready for a true taste of the capital!
Please note: the places that we visit and the food that we try depends on the season.
This is a sustainable tour, meaning part of its profits goes towards reforestation and other sustainable projects. We also ask all of our guests to bring a reusable water bottle to refill at one of the water fountains along our route to stay hydrated and help us reduce waste.
**Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate a gluten-free or vegan diet but we hope to be able to in the future. While we can cater to vegetarians, we ask that you let us know about dietary requirements in advance so we can best suit your needs.**
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Home to Rome’s most impressive collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculpture, the Borghese Gallery is a must-visit for all art lovers. The 17th-century villa is an artwork in itself, furnished with frescoes by the Florentine-trained artist Ludovico Cigoli and situated in the midst of a vast landscaped garden. But the artworks it contains are unrivalled in Rome, featuring sculptures and paintings by the likes of Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Canova.
Tickets to the Borghese Gallery are had to find – and for good reason. Everyone wants to step inside, but few get the chance. Book your tour of the Borghese Gallery today and you can be among the lucky few. Simply turn up on time, and we’ll take care of the rest.
After meeting the rest of the tour group in the lush surroundings of Villa Borghese park, you and your expert art-historian guide will make your way into the gallery. This 17th-century villa is home to countless works of priceless art and is named after a passionate and wealthy cardinal, Scipione Borghese.
As an art enthusiast and nephew to the Pope himself, Borghese was known for going above and beyond to make sure he could own and display the masterpieces that caught his eye. You’ll have the chance to learn everything there is to know about the Cardinal, from how he hosted extravagant parties to the infamous threats he made to artists worldwide in an attempt to take their art for his own.
Unlike some of the other museums in Rome, the Borghese Gallery only allows a certain number of visitors at a time. Not only does that make for a more exclusive experience, but it also gives you the peace and quiet you need to really absorb the sheer beauty of its art.
Bernini’s sculpture of Apollo and Daphne and Raphael’s sensual depiction of La Fornarina are just a few of the masterpieces you’ll have the honour of seeing during this leisurely, private tour.
Book your spot now to avoid disappointment, skip the lines, and immerse in Roman history with Carpe Diem.
5(270)
Descend into the depths of the Colosseum Underground and follow in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors. The area beneath the Colosseum is closed to the general public. But our Colosseum underground tour can get you exclusive access.
Step straight inside the amphitheatre, onto its arena floor, and down into the dark underbelly of the Colosseum. What’s more, as well as touring the Colosseum, we’ll be visiting the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum to discover where Rome’s history began.
Your storyteller guide will walk you and a small group of like-minded travellers through the rich history of the world’s most iconic amphitheatre. Discover which animals the Romans caged beneath the Colosseum and how they winched them up onto the arena sands. Recreate the architectural ingenuity of the Colosseum’s hypogeum (underground chamber) and retractable arena floor.
Emerging from the Colosseum Underground, we’ll climb the amphitheatre’s original steps, following in the footsteps of its ancient spectators as we make our way up to the Colosseum’s upper-tiers. Here you’ll hear all about the social status of its spectators, discover the gory details of ancient entertainment, and geek out on the gladiatorial fights and performances that thrilled the Colosseum’s crowds.
Once outside the Colosseum, we’ll cross the ancient cobbles, passing the triumphal Arch of Constantine and climbing the Palatine Hill. Home to the sprawling ruins of Rome’s imperial palaces, the Palatine is the most picturesque of Rome’s Seven Hills.
It was here where Romulus founded the city in the 8th century BC and here where Rome’s rich and famous settled throughout the Republic and Empire. Take in the Palatine’s sweeping views of the Circus Maximus, Roman Forum, and Colosseum as we explore the ruins of the emperors’ luxurious palaces.
At the end of the tour, we’ll make our way down the Palatine Hill into the Roman Forum. Starting off as swampland between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, this area was drained by Rome’s Etruscan kings, becoming the bustling hub of the ancient city.
Its temples, basilicas, military monuments, and residences were Rome’s main areas of activity (as most ancient Romans spent as little time at home as possible!) Your expert guide will be at hand the whole time to answer all your questions to make sure you get the most out of this exclusive tour of ancient Rome.
Our pace is comfortable and leisurely, which means that our Colosseum Underground Tour is appropriate for guests of all ages and fitness levels. The tour lasts about 3 hours, giving you more than enough time to explore.
Spaces fill up fast, so be sure to book as soon as you can!
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Tired of big-group tours that move from one attraction to the other before you’ve even had the chance to understand what your seeing?
This is the Vatican Tour for you.
Our VIP Vatican tour offers a more personal, intimate experience that doesn’t compromise on anything. See it all, learn it all, and feel it all.
With a maximum group size of 12, you can guarantee you’ll have more than enough time and privacy to soak up the stunning artworks and fascinating history of the Vatican City.
Our tour starts at the Vatican Museums, where more than four millennia’s rich history resides. Worried about getting lost in the labyrinth of corridors and galleries? Don’t be. Gain real-world insight into the stunning wonders of the museum’s 1000+ rooms thanks to the help of your friendly, expert guide. They’ll be excited to answer as many questions that you could possibly come up with, so feel free to ask away.
Afterwards, we’ll head over to the Pope’s private place of prayer, the Sistine Chapel. Home to two of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, The Last Judgement and its famous ceiling, the Sistine Chapel is just as awe-inspiring today as when it was unveiled in the 1500s. Marvel at world famous frescoes and discover how Popes are elected, here in this very room.
Our VIP Vatican tour runs at a comfortable, leisurely pace and includes all ticket prices for the different sites and areas we’ll be visiting. Remember, our VIP tours only accommodate a maximum of 12 people at a time, which means that spots fill up fast.
Book your VIP Vatican Tour now to avoid disappointment!
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Experience the Vatican like never before with an exclusive private tour, designed for those who want a deeper, more intimate journey through history, faith, and art. With a personal guide, explore the Vatican’s most breathtaking landmarks at your own pace, without the distractions of a larger group.
2025 marks the Holy Year of Jubilee, a once-in-50-years event that makes this the perfect time to visit. Your expert guide will tailor the experience to your interests as you follow in the footsteps of pilgrims who have come to Rome seeking spiritual enlightenment for centuries.
Marvel at the grandeur of Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, stroll through the iconic Piazza Navona, and uncover the secrets of Castel Sant’Angelo, once a fortress, papal refuge, and prison. Throughout the tour, you’ll gain a profound understanding of how faith and power have shaped Rome’s history.
Your journey concludes at Piazza Pia, offering a stunning view of Saint Peter’s Basilica and its Holy Door, a sacred gateway opened only during the Jubilee. From here, you decide what comes next—step through the Holy Door, explore St. Peter’s Basilica, or take a moment to reflect on the timeless legacy of Catholicism.
Whether you seek a spiritual experience or simply a deeper dive into the Vatican’s incredible past, this private tour offers an unparalleled way to witness the Eternal City.
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Take your Roman adventure to the next level with our semi-private tour of the Ancient City! With a small group of just 6 people, you’ll enjoy more personal attention from your guide as you explore the legendary Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. This means more chances to ask questions, deeper dives into history, and the opportunity to truly engage with both your guide and your fellow explorers.
What are the holes that pockmark the ancient amphitheatre? Why is one side shorter than the other? And how much do we really know about the gladiators—and even emperors—who battled on the arena sands? (We promise the answers will surprise you!)
After exploring the Colosseum, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill to discover the birthplace of the ancient city. Here, your storyteller guide will recount the mythical foundation of Rome, the legend of Romulus and Remus, and the stories of the emperors who resided on the Palatine, like Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula. Next, we’ll explore the ruins of some of the most luxurious palaces in Roman history, the emperor’s residences on the Palatine Hill, from which we get our word ‘palace.’
Last but not least, we’ll head into the Roman Forum, the heart of the ancient city. Discover what life was really like for everyday Romans as we explore the social, religious, and political hub of the Roman Empire. Marvel at the remains of towering temples, triumphal arches, sprawling basilicas, and the ancient senate house as you walk on the very same stones that the likes of Caesar and Cicero once did.
Prepare for a unique, unforgettable journey through Rome’s most famous landmarks with a small, friendly group that lets you explore at your own pace.
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