Your day of exploration begins with meeting your expert archaeologist who will welcome you to your Roman adventure. You’ll skip the line of the Colosseum and head in to discuss topics ranging from Roman public decadence, ancient Roman engineering, and the gladiatorial fights and the wild beats that went with them. Leaving the impressive amphitheater behind, you will head towards Palatine Hill where you will learn the legend of Rome’s founding in 753 B.C. by Romulus. You will stop for a coffee or gelato while walking down to the Roman Forum, strolling past the major sites that crowded ancient Rome. 

After lunch, you will be guided through an in-depth exploration of Rome after the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. You’ll look closely at this pivotal historical period, and how, under the influence of the first emperors, Rome quickly became one of the most powerful capitals of the ancient world. During this expedition, you will visit some of the most important monuments of ancient Rome including the Theatre of Marcellus, Largo Argentina, and the Pantheon, 

At the end of our full-day archaeological explorations viewing the city's most famous sites, you will come away with a deep and fascinating historical understanding of ancient Rome. 

 

Logistics Note:
The tour may be reversed depending on Colosseum ticket availability. Interested in a full-day art orientation tour? Check out our Full-Day Rome Art Tour.

For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Yes, as long as morning Colosseum tickets can be secured, we can do this tour in reverse with a meeting point at Oppio Caffe.

 

Yes. We can adapt the itinerary based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party.

 

Rome private guide itineraries include the cost of your time with your expert and include museum or monument entrance tickets.  Lunch and refreshments are at your expense. Accommodation is not included. We will purchase the tickets ahead of time. Adult tickets are pre-purchased for this tour regardless of participant age.

 

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, so bring something to cover them. Shorts above the knee are not allowed. 

 

We don’t accept Roma Pass; holders have to wait in a different line and won’t be able to access priority tickets, so they cannot be used on this tour.

Will I need to bring identification to enter the Colosseum?
Yes, original identification is required to be presented upon entry to the Colosseum for all visitors including children. These should be original documents, copies will not be accepted.   

What are skip-the-line tickets?

For this tour, your Colosseum tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.   

Are there any other tickets included on this tour?
Yes! It is now required to purchase tickets in order to enter the Pantheon. Context will pre-purchase these tickets in anticipation of your tour.

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.