Colosseum Skip-the-Line Access and Rome Walking Tour

The tour begins at Rome’s most iconic landmark and the site of gruesome gladiatorial contests and dramatic public spectacles – the Colosseum. Here we skip past the queues and head straight inside to learn more about the largest amphitheatre ever built. 

Discover how this awe-inspiring structure got its name and see where emperors sat and watched the bloodshed unfold. Did you know that it wasn’t just gladiators that met their fate in the arena? Thousands of exotic wild animals such as rhinos, hippos, tigers and giraffes were also hunted and killed here. [readmore]Walk in the steps of emperors at the Forum After about an hour, we then jump next door to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. The verdant Palatine Hill offers some of the most stunning views of the city and is the most famous of Rome’s seven hills. It’s also said to be where the myth of Romulus and Remus was born. Next, we head downhill to the heart of ancient Rome, the Forum. Filled with temples, government buildings and marketplaces, this was once the liveliest place in Rome. On our tour, you can stand in this spectacular sprawl of ruins and listen to what life was really like all those years ago. 

All roads lead to Rome  In the second half of the tour, we explore further into the Historic Centre, starting with Piazza Venezia. Several of Rome’s most important streets converge at this hectic intersection, which is towered over by the enormous Altare della Patria, a monument to the first king of Italy. Join us on the tour and find out why this controversial structure has acquired a number of unflattering nicknames since its construction in 1935. 

Marvel at Baroque beauty Be sure to bring a coin with you because the next stop is the beautiful, Baroque Trevi Fountain. Throw a coin in its rippling waters and, according to legend, you’ll secure your return to the Eternal City. This gorgeous white Travertine fountain is just as magical in real life as on the big screen in films such as Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita. 

 Engineering that stands that test of time  From there we wind through cobbled streets until we reach the exceptionally well-preserved Pantheon. Almost 2,000 years old, it was built as a temple to ‘all the gods’ and is an impressive feat of engineering – its roof remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. 

Soak up piazza life Our exploration of Rome concludes at Piazza Navona where our guide details the Baroque art and architecture which characterizes this charming square. It’s here that the rivalry between the famed architects Bernini and Borromini is most obvious – one of the figures of Bernini’s masterpiece, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, appears to shield his face in horror at the sight of Borromini’s Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, opposite.