Ancient City, Piazzas & Fountains

Relive over 2,500 years of history on a private tour of Rome's most famous monuments. We recall the colourful stories of emperors, gladiators, Caesars and slaves. With a focus on the Colosseum, Forum, Campidoglio and Campus Martius, this tour is a wonderful introduction to the history of ancient Rome.

 Prices

To confirm your 'Ancient City, Piazzas & Fountains' booking, click Check Availability below and pay a 50 Euro deposit per person. Balance payment information will be sent with your confirmation e-mail.

1 person: 310 Euro; 2 persons: 340 Euro; 3 persons: 370 Euro; 4 persons: 410 Euro; 5 persons: 460 Euro; 6 persons: 490 Euro; 7 persons: 530 Euro; 8 persons: 580 Euro; 9 persons: 620 Euro; 10 persons: 670 Euro; 11 persons: 750 Euro; 12 persons: 790 Euro; 13 persons: 840 Euro; 14 persons: 890 Euro; 15 persons: 930 Euro; 16-50 persons: + 50 Euro per person.

 Tour Duration / Availability

Approximately four (4) hours on Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat excluding religious holidays.

 Ancient City, Piazzas & Fountains / Meeting Point

09:00 AM or 14:00 PM at the large white monument dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II located in the centre of Piazza Venezia. The monument contains the tomb of the unknown soldier and has ornate fountains with large ground level basins that may or may not be full of water on either side. The tour meets at the fountain on the right as you are looking at the monument. If you are able to see the Colosseum, you are standing on the wrong side of the building. Rather, a small bus depot will be visible directly across the road. Your guide will be standing in front of the fountain holding a red folder and/or red umbrella. Piazza Venezia is reachable by bus or metro. Alternatively, the approximate cost of a taxi would be about €10 from most hotels in the centre of Rome. Hotel pick up can be arranged on request. Your guide can meet you at your hotel or other accommodation in Rome but delays may occur due to traffic and other causes beyond our control. Preferred and recommended tour start times are 09:00 AM or 14:00 PM.

 Overview

Colosseum (with optional new 'birds eye view' 3rd tier and underground chambers available on request by e-mail, add 40 Euro to 'Prices' above), Roman Forum, Imperial Forums, views of the Palatine Hill, Piazza Venezia, Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona.

Your guide would meet you at your hotel (should you prefer or if you are staying outside the center, we will be happy to arrange for an on site meeting point) and arrange for transfer by taxi to Rome's Ancient City. We begin the tour with one of Ancient Rome's greatest engineering accomplishments, the Colosseum. Once inside we will wander across the arena floor and hear the history of the bloody and violent games that took place here, learn about the "making of a gladiator", and you will be given a good understanding of what these games meant to the ancient Romans. We would then change gears and head up the Via Sacra to enter the Roman Forum and talk about the more civilized side of ancient Rome and the beautiful architecture that has inspired so many architects today. We would cover all the main basilicas and temples and of course dedicate much of this segment to a discussion on Julius Caesar and his role in ancient Roman history. We will also explain how the Roman Empire became such a super power and why it eventually collapsed.

We would then visit the Capitoline Hill, locally known as the Campidoglio. This piazza was designed by Michelangelo and offers a stunning view of Piazza Venezia - the site of the Victor Emmanuelle II monument and Mussolini's Palazzo. From there a lovely stroll will take us to Piazza Navona to cover the Fountains of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of St Agnes by Borromini while hearing about the rivalry between these 2 artists supposedly evident in the architecture. Next a short stroll would take us to the beautiful Trevi Fountain where you will hear about the abundance of water and fountains in Rome, the aqueducts, and of course you will have time to throw your coins in and perhaps have a gelato. Last but certainly not least, on to the ancient pagan temple of the Pantheon which today is a Catholic Church. We will cover the construction of the dome not surpassed until 1959 and the Oculus as we wander inside this masterpiece in engineering that has stood intact for over two centuries.

 The When In Rome Tours Promise

** WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR COLOSSEUM TICKETS WITH PRIORITY NO LINES ENTRANCE
** Our prices include Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine tickets.

No hidden costs.
English speaking guides.
Personalized assistance.
Original articles & top stories from Italy.
Free Rome orientation & maps at our office.