Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

The Colosseum: Rome's Great Amphitheatre

Begun by Emperor Vespasian around 70 AD and inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 AD with 100 days of games, the Flavian Amphitheatre, known as the Colosseum, could hold around 50,000 spectators. Its 80 entrance arches allowed the crowds to fill and empty the stands in minutes, a design still copied in modern stadiums.

Your guide explains the gladiator fights, the wild animal hunts and the social order of the seating, from the emperor's box to the upper tiers for the poor. Earthquakes, stone robbers and time removed much of the outer ring, yet it remains the symbol of Rome and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Allow about 90 minutes for this part of the Colosseum tour.

The Arena Floor and the Gladiators' Gate

With the recommended option you enter through the Gladiators' Gate and step out onto the reconstructed Arena floor, the same level where fighters and animals once appeared before the roaring crowd. From here the view up to the tiers is completely different from the upper walkways, and you understand the scale of the building.

Below the floor lies the hypogeum, a network of corridors, cages and lifts that raised animals and scenery into the arena through trapdoors. Standing on the Arena floor is the highlight many visitors remember most, and Colosseum Arena tickets are limited each day, so booking early is wise. The Arena visit lasts about 20 minutes.

The Roman Forum and the Via Sacra

A short walk from the Colosseum, the Roman Forum was the political, religious and commercial heart of ancient Rome for more than a thousand years. Following the Via Sacra, the Sacred Way, you pass the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vesta where the Vestal Virgins kept the sacred flame, the Curia where the Senate met and the eight columns of the Temple of Saturn.

Your guide brings the ruins to life with the stories of Julius Caesar, whose body was cremated here in 44 BC, and of the triumphal processions that marched to the Capitol. Many visitors find the Forum their favourite part of this Roman Forum tour. Plan about 30 minutes with your guide and more on your own if you like.

The Palatine Hill and the Imperial Palaces

Rising above the Forum, the Palatine Hill is where, according to legend, Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC, and where the emperors later built their palaces; the word palace itself comes from Palatine. You walk among the remains of the Domus Flavia and the Domus Augustana, with their courtyards, fountains and the vast stadium-shaped garden.

From the terraces there are wide views over the Circus Maximus on one side and the Forum on the other, among the best panoramas in Rome. Is the Palatine Hill worth visiting? Yes, and it is often calmer than the Colosseum. The Colosseum opening hours change with the seasons, closing earlier in winter, and the sites are closed on 25 December and 1 January.