Ancient Roman Empire Tour: From Teatro Marcello to the Pantheon

Follow Augustus’ footsteps as he rebuilt Rome after Julius Caesar’s death

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: History
Duration: 3 hours
Location: Rome

Photos & Highlights

Take a deep dive into ancient history of Rome
Led by an archaeologist or historian
Pantheon, Portico D'ottavia, Largo di Torre Argentina, Mausoleo di Augusto, and Teatro di Marcello

Tour Description

With the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, Rome entered a period of political upheaval settled only when Caesar's nephew Octavian defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra, took control of the Empire, and claimed the title of Caesar Augustus. In this three-hour Ancient Rome tour, we will look closely at this period and how, under the influence of the first emperors, Rome rapidly developed into one of the greatest capitals of the ancient world. Along the way your expert will weave a narrative of power and legacy as we visit some of the most important monuments of ancient Rome, including the Pantheon, the Theater of Marcellus, and Largo Argentina.

Please Note: The lines to enter the Pantheon can currently be really long and exhaustive if this tour is booked over the weekend. There's no skip-the-line possibility, just a reservation, which your guide will hold for you. Entry checks might take a long time, so it will be up to you and your guide's discretion whether you want to enter the Pantheon depending on the tour timeline.

Ancient Rome Tour

Our tour begins at the Theater of Marcellus, originally conceived by Julius Caesar as a statement of prestige in his war of status with Pompey, but built by his nephew Augustus after his death. As one of the largest Roman theaters still standing and an amazing testament to Rome's ability to adapt and reuse its buildings throughout history, we'll use this monument as a jumping off point to lay the groundwork of our time together. Depending on our guide, who may be an archaeologist, classicist, architect, or other specialist, our discussion may take any number of paths. However, some central themes will emerge regardless: the story of the Caesars and their political adventures at the turn of the millennium, the intersection of art and power, the development of Rome as the center of an empire, and the role of city-making in history.

In the Footsteps of Augustus

Our path will follow, roughly, a kind of monumental way envisioned by Augustus when remaking the old Field of Mars into a new center for the city. We'll pass many of the structures that played a key role in this, including the Pantheon, regarded during the Renaissance as the most perfect building in the world. We'll also pass the site where Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March. Although the Caesars will occupy much of our time, we'll also look at many other emperors and their impact on the city as they contributed to the imperial remaking of Rome. We'll look at how architecture was employed for political ends during the imperial period and how one can read that history today in the standing ruins embedded in the historical fabric of Rome.

Our walk will end in the vicinity of the Ara Pacis, a museum housing the great altar of peace commissioned by Augustus to signal the Pax Romana, or period of relatively uninterrupted peace ushered in by Augustus and lasting over a hundred years. In the shadow of Augustus' own mausoleum we'll discuss the legacy of the Caesars, both real and imagined, and how successive rulers down to the Fascists of the 20th century drew on the narrative of Julius and Augustus Caesar to validate their own rule. We'll emerge with a new sense of Rome and its relevancy to issues today.

Interested in more Ancient Roman history? See our Colosseum Tour.

FAQ

What is a private tour?

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

What is a small group tour?

Our small group tours cover many of the same itineraries as our private tours, but they place you with other travelers in groups of 6 or less. They operate on a pre-scheduled calendar, and are designed to provide an opportunity to engage with and learn from other travelers. Most of our small group tours require at least three (3) participants to run, although there is some variation from walk to walk. However, there is some variation from walk to walk. As you sign up for a tentative walk we display the minimum number required in order to confirm.

Does this tour focus on Julius Caesar?
No, while this tour covers a bit of Julius' life, its main focus with the venues on this tour is the rebuilding of imperial Rome right after his death. The tour focuses on the legacy of the Caesars, with many of the venues being tied to Augustus' contributions to Rome.

Does this tour include an interior?
Yes, we make reservations at the Pantheon. However the lines to enter the Pantheon can currently be really long and exhaustive if this tour is booked over the weekend. There's no skip-the-line possibility, just a reservation, which your guide will hold for you. Entry checks might take a long time, so it will be up to you and your guide's discretion whether you want to enter the Pantheon depending on the tour timeline.

What is the dress code inside the Pantheon?

The Pantheon is considered a holy place. Men should wear slacks, and women should wear slacks or skirts below the knee. Shoulders must also be covered. If you are intent on wearing spaghetti straps or a halter-top, bring a shawl and expect to keep it around you. Shorts above the knee are not allowed. These rules may seem unduly strict, but remember, the Pantheon is also a church so the same dress code standards apply.

Do you reserve headsets for this tour?

Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Cecilia

Cecilia is an art historian and a native Roman with a Master's degree in Medieval and Renaissance art from the Sapienza University of Rome. Although her specialty is painting and decorative arts, she has a broad knowledge of the history of Rome and a personal passion for ancient history, which she shares on many antiquity-themed itineraries. Cecilia has worked actively in the past as a lecturer, teacher, and curator of exhibitions. She had been a staff member of the didactive service of the Vatican Museums, the Galleria Doria Pamphili and the Galleria Colonna where she still frequently consults. As a licensed guide for Rome and Florence and with a specialized teaching degree, she has more than 20 years of experience in leading highly-qualified tours.

Liz

Liz, a native of San Francisco, California holds degrees in architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and Università degli studi "La Sapienza", Rome. She specialized in restoration and urban design. Her restoration projects have brought her to work in direct contact with the rich historical layers of Rome and Italy. She has been leading study walks for Context Rome since its beginning and has lived in Rome since 1988 practicing architecture, researching design and lecturing at university study abroad programs.

Olivia

Olivia is a Rome licensed guide and an expert art historian who has worked as a main contributor to the award-winning Eyewitness Guide to Rome. She combines this role with her job as a professor, teaching a course at the Lorenzo de Medici School in Rome on Roman civilization. In addition she has contributed to the National Geographic Lost Cities of the Ancient World. Olivia infuses her discussion of Rome with a sense of what it's like to grow up in the city and be Roman.

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142 Reviews – (4.79)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

We enjoyed the tour so much. Olivia was so knowledgeable and personable. We learned so much from her and thought this tour shed light on parts of Rome that we had not visited before.

Deborah

Mar. 22, 2023

I can’t rave enough about Josè, our guide for the Caesar in Rome tour. Of all the guides we’ve ever had, Josè took the most time to introduce himself and to learn about us so that he could tailor his tour to our interests. He was able to engage all of us, including our two young adult children - catering to their pre-existing interest in history and Roman politics, and also expanding our knowledge of arts and architecture. As a student of the classics, a natural teacher, and an artist himself, he was able to enliven the history with context and connections across disciplines and time periods. He even sent us some video links and added some book recommendations so that we could extend our learning on our own. Our family was unanimous that Josè was fantastic.

Toby

Jan. 7, 2023

Liz was terrific, had a great energy and so informed and always willing to take the time to reply all our questions.

Olivia

Dec. 12, 2022

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