Rome – Ancient Empire and Gladiators

Highlights

• Colosseum — Rome’s great gladiator amphitheater of stone tiers and arena sand; discover how crowds, emperors, and hidden lift systems turned games into the empire’s biggest show.
• Arch of Constantine — a triumphal arch built after a civil war victory beside the Colosseum; learn how older sculptures were recycled here to celebrate Constantine and reshape his public image.
• Roman Forum Entrance — today’s main visitor gateway into the Forum valley; hear how a former cow pasture became the carefully curated doorway into Rome’s most important ruins.
• The Roman Forum — the civic heart of ancient Rome between the Palatine and Capitoline hills; discover how courts, markets, speeches, and parades once crowded these now silent stones.
• Temple of Julius Caesar — the site of Caesar’s funeral pyre and later temple; learn why honors to his memory helped launch the imperial cult and still draw fresh flowers to the ruins.
• Curia Julia (Forum) — the brick Senate chamber where laws and wars were debated; hear how a simple hall survived as a church and kept the shape of Rome’s political stage.
• Basilica of Maxentius — the last great vaulted hall built in the Forum; discover how its soaring arches, colossal statue, and wide nave foreshadowed the plan of later Christian churches.
• Arch of Titus — a triumphal arch on the Via Sacra marking victory in the Jewish War; learn how the menorah relief, processions, and later imitations made this one of Rome’s most studied arches.
• Palatine Hill Overlook — a balcony view from the emperors’ hill above the Forum; hear how legends of Romulus and layers of palace ruins meet in this single sweeping panorama.
• House of Augustus — a relatively modest palace for Rome’s first emperor on the Palatine; discover how frescoed rooms and temple neighbors quietly broadcast power without marble excess.
• Circus Maximus — the long chariot racing stadium in the valley below the Palatine; learn how teams, crashes, and betting made this grassy field the site of Rome’s loudest entertainment.
• Temple of Venus and Roma — Hadrian’s twin temple for love and the spirit of the city; discover how its back-to-back design and huge platform once framed views toward both Forum and Colosseum.
• Gladiator Gate — the ceremonial exit gate at the Colosseum arena floor; hear how victorious fighters passed through here toward fame while others left by a far harsher doorway.

All this, plus additional "hidden gems," expertly brought to life through our virtual guides....with rich, vivid history, local stories, and unmatched knowledge you will not find elsewhere. Even better, no tipping required!

What you’ll experience

• GPS location tracking — see your current location on the map.
• Virtual Tour Guides — Detailed narration at each stop & answers to common questions.
• Vast local knowledge — history, legends, and insider spots.
• Local weather updates — stay prepared as you explore outdoors.
• A “Free Roaming” adventure — start anywhere, wander at your pace.