2. Colosseum: Arena and Undergrounds Restricted Areas Tour
Meet your licensed, English-speaking guide at the Arch of Constantine, before enjoying your express, skip-the-line access to the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum. This incredible monument can boast several records: it is the biggest, best-preserved Roman amphitheater in the world and its tiers could host up to 75 thousand people. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the entire historic centre of Rome and is officially in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Start your tour to one of the restricted areas of the Colosseum, the Underground Hypogeum and the Arena.
THE ARENA
Be ready to become a Roman Spectator by listening to the vivid description by your guide, who will explain in detail how these shows were prepared and why they were so important to the Roman society. Discover the true stories and secrets about some of the most famous characters of Roman history.
After basking in this touching experience, your guide will accompany you to discover the undergrounds, the heart of the world’s most famous amphitheater.
UNDERGROUND
Discover a world of narrow corridors, tunnels and complex mechanisms. Walking through the Undergrounds you will be able to witness the ingenuity of the Romans. The Undergrounds represented the beating heart of the amphitheater and the popular shows that took place in it. Slaves moved and created incredible stage effects without anybody noticing, beasts from all over the Empire were prepared for the games and hoisted on the arena, where gladiators awaited their moment of glory before the battle.
While visiting this area, your guide will reveal details about the long lost days of the Colosseum.
Take a journey to the past and experience the glory of living like a true Roman. Discover the true stories and secrets about some of the most famous characters of Roman history. Your guide will then accompany you along the tier that surrounds the undergrounds and show you the cross that dominates the arena, an unexpected symbol of Christian pilgrimage that the Pope himself “visits” on Good Friday, before heading to the Palatine Hill.
The Palatino Hill and the Roman Forum
Outside the Colosseum, admire the 4th-century Arch of Constantine, which symbolizes the moment in which the namesake emperor made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. Head to the social and political center of Ancient Rome, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the oldest part of the eternal city. Learn about politics, religion and the everyday life of a Roman citizen, and the story of the she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus, founders of the city.