Alexander Meddings
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Verified Writer
4.96(2727)
20 Guests Max
3 hrs
Flexible TravelRome might be most famous for its ancient history and culture, but it’s packed with plenty of things to do for modern family fun! If you’re visiting Rome with kids — particularly tweens and teens — this comprehensive guide will guarantee that everyone has a blast.
Ready to dive in? Here’s how to make the most of Rome with kids.
Cinecittà World is an amusement park like no other, dedicated to Italian and international cinema and television. Perfect for kids and families, the theme park is home to some phenomenal rides and roller coasters like the loop-the-loop packed Altair, the water coaster Aktium, the award-winning flying cinema Volarium, and the scariest of all: Inferno.
Cinecittà World complements its rides and coasters with several themed areas, including the Far West, Spaceland, Roma (a realistic recreation of ancient Rome) and, for younger explorers, Adventure Land. If you’re visiting Rome in summer, Aqua World is an absolute must, combining a traditional water park with an outdoor cinema experience.
Getting to Cinecittà is easy, despite its distance from the city centre. A shuttle service departing from Termini station is available for anyone needing transportation to the park. Adult tickets cost €27 and children's tickets cost €22. Discounts are also available for families of 3 or 4.
→ Purchase your Cinecittà World tickets here
Nothing complements a Colosseum tour like a visit to Rome’s Gladiator School. Situated just outside the city walls, a stone’s throw from the Appian Way, Rome’s Gladiator School comprises a recreated Roman arena and an immersive museum, curated by the Historic Group of Rome.
After learning about the fascinating history and stories of Roman gladiators, your aspiring gladiators will take part in a hands-on training session in the arena, learning the essential techniques of sword fighting. They’ll receive expert instruction from a Roman lanista (gladiator trainer) using the same gladii (wooden swords) used by the ancients.
Family at Rome's Gladiator School
If you don’t want to take part in the more physical side of things, no worries! You can watch from the viewing platform or spend your time uncovering the fascinating history behind the ancient combatants and different gladiatorial styles in the fun and informative museum.
→ Book your spot at Rome’s Gladiator School
Rome’s historic centre is a joy to explore, with ancient monuments, baroque churches, and picturesque squares greeting you at every turn. But because context is key to getting the most out of Rome, the best way to see the city centre is through a family-friendly walking tour.
Family visiting Rome with Kids on a Carpe Diem walking tour of Rome
Depending on the season, you might want to explore during the day or discover the city by night. Regardless, your fun and engaging family-friendly guide will share the secrets behind landmarks like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps and leave you and your family feeling like locals.
→ Book our Rome by Day Walking Tour
→ Secure your spot on our Rome by Night Walking Tour
Everybody loves Italian food, with pizza and pasta featuring heavily in most Roman itineraries. But while eating out is fun, there’s nothing quite like learning to make traditional pasta and tasty tiramisù yourself.
Ideal for adults and older kids alike, Carpe Diem’s Pasta & Tiramisù Class guarantees an unforgettable 3-hours of hands-on cooking in Rome. Not only will you get to roll, knead, and shape your very own fantastic fettuccine pasta and craft your own creamy, dreamy tiramisù, but you’ll also get to enjoy your delicious creations at the end of the class.
Expect a few happy, flour-covered faces by the time you’re done!
→ Book your Pasta & Tiramisù Class
No to the Italian capital would be complete without visiting the iconic Colosseum, and there are several family-friendly options for those visiting Rome with kids. Carpe Diem’s Small-Group Colosseum Tour is by far the best way to visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Enjoying the views from the Palatine Hill
Young adventurer exploring ancient Rome!
Our tours include skip-the-line access (because who wants to stand around in line with kids?) and can be tailored to younger audiences, focusing on fun facts and gory gladiator stories that are bound to keep them engaged and entertained.
→ Book your Colosseum Guided Tour
Discover the genius of Leonardo da Vinci at this interactive museum. Filled with life-size models of his inventions, including 50 machines and 22 works of art, this museum offers hands-on learning that is as fun as it is educational.
This museum is a must for families whose kids have an interest in science and creativity, and is the one museum in Rome where your kids will want to push all the buttons! Adult tickets cost €12 while children aged between 6-15 pay a discounted rate of €10.
→ Visit the Leonardo da Vinci Museum
Bring the ancient chariot races to life at Rome’s Circus Maximus. Once the largest stadium in ancient Rome, this site is now little more than a grassy valley. But thanks to the magic of augmented reality, your family can experience the thrill during the height of the Roman Empire.
Watch as chariots race past you and the roar of the crowd fills your ears, all while walking through the actual historic site. Costing just €13 for adults (€11 for people under 26), this thrilling immersive experience is sure to leave a lasting impression on your kids.
Built in the early 3rd century AD, the Baths of Caracalla were once one of the largest public bathhouse complexes in the whole Roman Empire. However, as impressive as its remains might be, they represent but a fraction of the baths’ former glory.
With augmented reality, however, you and your kids can experience this ancient wonder to the full. Watch as the ruins around you transform into a bustling bathhouse complete with statues, fountains, and ancient Romans at leisure. You might just inspire some future archaeologists!
Since Rome is like a lasagna, formed from many overlapping historical layers all built atop one another, Rome has an abundance of underground sites. Perhaps the spookiest of all are the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, Saint Calixtus, or Domitilla near the Appian Way, where Rome’s early Christians and popes were buried. Walk through the ancient tunnels as your guide explains the history and significance of these eerie but beautiful burial sites.
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Photo from inside Rome’s Catacombs of Domitilla
The catacombs are perfect for older kids who love exploring spooky historical sites or just want to discover a different side of Roman history!
→ Browse our Underground Rome Tours
Located a stone’s throw from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome’s Museum of Illusions is perfect for an after-lunch museum visit or a rainy-day activity. The museum’s experiential itinerary features 70 illusions including a rotated room, infinity room, vortex tunnel and a bottomless pit, which are guaranteed to have all ages scratching their heads and questioning reality.
As well as rooms, paintings, and installations, the Illusion Museum also features games and a gift shop to get the creative juices flowing. The museum is open daily from 10 am (with the last entry at 7:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and at 8 pm on weekends), but you’ll want to book your slot in advance — especially on weekends, where reservations are mandatory.
→ Click here to purchase your tickets
For families visiting Rome with kids, staying in the historic centre is a game changer. Consider booking accommodations near Piazza Navona, the Pantheon or Monti. Staying here means you can walk to most of the major attractions, which removes the need to navigate Rome’s public transport or dip into your budget on taxis. Plus, these areas are filled with charming squares, restaurants, and gelato shops — perfect for a stroll with the kids after a day of sightseeing.
Roman restaurants traditionally serve dinner from 7 pm onwards, although a growing number open earlier to accommodate travellers and tourists. While you’ll have no problems finding places to eat around the historic centre, finding places that open early can be tough around the periphery. Generally, the best thing to do is check out top-rated restaurants near your accommodation, especially since you’re likely to be tired after a long day of sightseeing.
If you're happy to venture a little further, check out our guides to the best pizza places in Rome and where to eat pasta in Rome.
Here’s an essential checklist for planning your trip to the Eternal City.
Ready to create unforgettable memories in Rome with your kids? Book your family-friendly tours and experiences with Carpe Diem Tours and discover a side of Rome that’s as fun as it is enriching.
Young family enjoying a Colosseum Arena Tour with a visit to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
Whether it’s a gladiator lesson or a journey through the Roman Catacombs, we’ll make sure your trip is filled with history, laughter, and a whole lot of Italian flavour.
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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!
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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 our expert guide in an adventure through ancient Rome. No Rome trip would be complete without exploring the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum — the three most immersive sites of the world’s mightiest ancient empire. So what can you expect from our Colosseum guided tour?
Our most complete three-hour tour of ancient Rome starts at the Colosseum, which you’ll step straight inside with your timed entry tickets. Your expert guide will help you uncover the mysteries and histories of the Colosseum and follow in the footsteps of the ancients. Any question you can think of, they’ve got the answer – so ask away!
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.
This is one of our most popular tours, so be sure to book your slot ASAP!
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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!
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Channel your inner-Maximus as you emerge onto the Colosseum arena floor, enjoying exclusive access to this newly reopened section of the world most famous amphitheatre. Don’t settle for half-measures on your Roman holiday. Seize the moment—carpe diem—and treat yourself to an immersive tour of ancient Rome with a private expert guide!
Unlike most other tours, this private tour gets you straight inside the Colosseum and out onto the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. This is the route Rome’s gladiators took almost 2,000 years ago. Imagine the scene of them being greeted by the cheers and jeers of 50,000 spectators.
Your expert private guide will transport you back in time to the height of the Roman Empire when Nero’s Golden Palace fell and the Colosseum was constructed in its place. 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.
Next, we’ll climb the Palatine Hill, where Romulus founded the city. 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, the houses of Augustus and Livia, and the Imperial Palace, where the emperors in their family engaged in ruling, politicking, and scheming.
The final destination on your private 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, here where two disgraced emperors were murdered in 69 AD, and here where Cicero delivered the speeches that shaped western culture for centuries.
At the end of your private tour, feel free to stay and explore the Forum at your own pace.
4.96(1256)
Master the art of authentic Italian cooking through this private cooking class! The generational tradition of extended mealtimes will be stretched across three-and-a-half fun-filled hours, culminating in a well-deserved dinner in which you feast on your recipes.
Your private class will give you the true sense of an Italian nonna’s loving kitchen. Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable English-speaking chef, our centrally situated 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”!
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to knead, roll, and shape your fresh pasta from scratch. After running your pasta dough through a traditional pasta machine, you’ll get to combine your carefully crafted creations with the flavors of the season and locality; be it twangy cacio e pepe, creamy carbonara, or saucy amatriciana.
How else to conclude your cooking class than by indulging yourself 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(849)
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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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!
5(567)
Rome may well be the world’s most beautiful city, but after dark a more sinister side emerges. The ghosts of popes, emperors, and artists lurk on every corner, their lives claimed by tragedy and conspiracy across more than 2,000 years of history. Our Rome Ghost Tour is not for the faint hearted — you’ll hear the ghastly tales of beheadings and murder that are sure to keep you up late at night.
Your Rome Ghost Tour starts at Campo de’ Fiori, a central square, where you’ll be treated to the tale of Giordano Bruno, one of Rome’s greatest minds who got on the wrong side of the church. After learning about his grisly end, you’ll begin to explore the city. Venture through medieval backstreets; visit an ancient church adorned with skulls; and step inside the home to a mysterious order of monks. Discover the childhood home of one of Rome’s most infamous executioners; see the site of one of Rome’s most infamous prisons; and pass by a poisonous perfumery where cosmetics killed.
Your tour ends at the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo, where your guide will reveal the horror of Rome’s most disturbing executions. If you’re (un)lucky, you might even encounter a ghost or two.
No matter what, you’ll never see Rome the same way again.
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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.
5(452)