Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour | Private

Travel back in time to relive the Roman Empire and its imperial grandeur. Follow in the footsteps of some of Roman history’s most illustrious figures: from the tyrannical Julius Caesar and the cunning emperor Augustus to notorious emperor Nero and the fearless (and fortunate) Flavians. Your private Ancient Rome and Colosseum tour takes you on an unforgettable journey through the beating heart of the imperial capital.

Starting at the iconic Colosseum, which the Flavians funded through their conquest of Jerusalem, we’ll venture through the Roman Forum – the space at the center of public and political life. Our final destination is usually the imposing Palatine Hill. However, as this is a private tour we can customize your itinerary to include exactly what you want.

Scratch beneath the surface of the Colosseum

A temple of slaughter funded from spoils of war, the Colosseum is the most mesmerising monument of the ancient world. Some 60,000 spectators, from senators to plebeians, would congregate within its walls to worship at death’s altar. Wild animal hunts, battle reenactments, and criminal executions were the usual order of the day. Yet the Colosseum had no shortage of the kind of gladiatorial combats we’re most familiar with – immortalized in popular culture through Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator.

Your knowledgeable guide will bring the Colosseum to life, painting scenes of its blood-stained sands and evoking its deafening atmosphere among the raucous roars of its crowds. Gaze down upon the arena floor, now the setting of the Colosseum Underground, imagining the unspeakable scenes that took place there. Wander the different levels of the monument, absorbing its powerful history and shaping an experience you’ll never forget.

Follow in the Caesars’ footsteps as you walk the Roman Forum

Our journey into the Roman Forum takes us along the Via Sacra where victorious generals returning from battle would ride in chariots during their triumph. Pass by the Arch of Titus and Temple of Romulus to enter the heart of the Roman Forum, treading the same cobblestones that the likes of Caesar, Cicero, and Caligula would have once walked as they conspired, plotted, and navigated their survival.

Behold the site where Mark Antony cremated Julius Caesar – his speech rousing the rabble to riot. Marvel at the Temple of Vesta, where the Vestal Virgins kept the sacred fire burning – both for Rome and for their own protection. Discover the Roman Forum’s magnificent temples; not just to gods as with the Temple of Saturn, but also to emperors like Vespasian and Antoninus Pius, who were declared gods after their death.

Climb the Palatine Hill to discover where it all began

Should you wish to extend your tour to 4 hours, your expert guide will then take you up the Palatine Hill: a site bursting with historical significance. It’s not surprising it has some of Rome’s oldest and most ornate monuments given how old the Palatine Hill is. For according to legend it was on the Palatine that Romulus founded Rome after murdering his twin brother Remus.

The Hut of Romulus is closed to the public, though it can be seen from outside. But recently opened are the equally fascinating and beautifully painted House of Augustus and Livia and the Domus Transitoria. Before the Great Fire of 64 AD the Domus Transitoria was the emperor Nero’s palace. Intended to link all imperial residences together, its sheer size was staggering.

A separate ticket is required for some of the Palatine Hill’s sites: House of Augustus, the House of Livia, and the Domus Transitoria. If you would like to explore these, please let us know in advance.