800 Years of Gladiators: A Self Guided Rome Walking Tour

Duration1h 30m - 2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Rome's gladiatorial games didn't begin at the Colosseum - they began in a cattle market, at a senator's funeral, with six fighters and no emperor in sight. This self-guided walking tour traces eight centuries of combat, power, and spectacle across the city that turned violence into a sophisticated entertainment system.

The route runs from the Colosseum along the Palatine Hill to the Circus Maximus, where chariot star Gaius Appuleius Diocles once earned a fortune in prize money. In the Forum Boarium, you'll stand where Rome's first recorded gladiatorial combat took place in 264 BC - a funeral rite, not entertainment. A terrace on the Capitoline Hill opens onto a thousand years of temples layered above the Forum. The walk closes past Trajan's Forum and the Basilica of Maxentius, back at the Colosseum.

Perfect for history lovers who want more than a photo stop. Install the free VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.

What's included

Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS

Smartphone and headphones
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Food and drink
Transportation
An in-person guide

What to expect

Colosseum
Pass by

Pass by the Colosseum, the Flavian Amphitheatre where gladiators once fought before roaring crowds. Learn how spectacle, imperial power, and architecture combined to stage Rome's most famous games. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Pass by

Walk along the base of the Capitoline Hill, Rome's most sacred hill and civic center since antiquity. Learn about the Temple of Jupiter, triumphal processions, and the legend of Tarpeia's betrayal. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Arch of Constantine
Pass by

Pass by the Arch of Constantine, built to celebrate his victory over Maxentius in AD 312. Notice how its reliefs recycle imagery from earlier monuments to legitimize the new emperor's rule. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Pass by

Stroll past the Circus Maximus, Rome's vast chariot-racing stadium stretching between the Palatine and Aventine hills. Imagine the roaring crowds, racing factions, and betting culture that once filled this valley. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Pass by

Pass by the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, a medieval church rooted in Rome's Greek-speaking community. Admire its portico, bell tower, and famous marble mask, the Mouth of Truth. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Mouth Of Truth
Pass by

Stroll past the Bocca della Verità, an ancient marble face legend says bites off the hands of liars. It gained lasting global fame after appearing in the film Roman Holiday. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Piazza del Campidoglio
Pass by

Walk along Piazza del Campidoglio, Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece atop the Capitoline Hill. Admire the trapezoidal design, star-patterned pavement, and statue of Marcus Aurelius at its center. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Pass by

Pass by the Capitoline Museums, the world's oldest public museum complex, housing the original bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius and treasures spanning Rome's ancient and Renaissance history. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Roman Forum
Pass by

Walk along the edge of the Roman Forum, the civic, religious, and political heart of ancient Rome. Explore layered ruins of temples, arches, and basilicas spanning over a thousand years. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Pass by

Pass by Imperial Forum Relais, a charming bed and breakfast tucked in the historic Monti district, steps from the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The tour starts in the pedestrian area beside the Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading

End point

The tour starts in the pedestrian area beside the Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading

Additional information

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.