Tour Details
About the Tour
- Category
- History, Colosseum, Private Guides, Full-Day Private Tours
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Location
- Rome
Photos & Highlights
- A scholarly day in Rome to explore archaeology and ancient history
- Led by Dimo, Rome private guide and Archaeologist
- Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Largo di Torre Argentina, Mausoleo di Augusto, and Historic District
Tour Description
Meet Dimo, your expert private guide to the history and archaeology of the Eternal City. If you’re after an exclusive curated experience with an expert guide who will take you through Rome’s most famous monuments and sites, this is the perfect in-depth eight-hour tour for you.
With his knowledge of archaeology, ancient art history and Roman architecture, Dimosthenis provides you with a unique perspective on ancient Rome.
During his PhD. studies at La Sapienza, the University of Rome, he participated in national and international projects as well as several archaeological excavations including the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and if there's time maybe the Mausoleum of Augustus as well. Outside of the city, in collaboration with the British School at Rome and the German Institute of Archaeology in Rome, they covered Falacrinae, Segni, and Albano Laziale.
His intriguing work as an archaeologist led him into the fascinating study of Latin epigraphy and Roman pottery as well as researching classical art and architecture. His career has allowed him to study abroad and research in Paris and Athens and explore the interaction between Roman and Greek architecture.
It’s safe to say that Dimo is an expert in archaeology, and not only will you have a great time during this specially curated private tour, you will also leave with a deeper knowledge of ancient Rome’s fascinating rich history, architecture, and archeology.
Languages: Italian, English, German, Greek.
Please note that Colosseum tickets are amongst the most difficult to secure in Rome due to the way the venue releases tickets for tour operators to purchase. In the event that we cannot secure tickets for your tour date, our team will be in touch with alternative options.
Please note that Colosseum tickets are amongst the most difficult to secure in Rome due to the way the venue releases tickets for tour operators to purchase. In the event that we cannot secure tickets for your tour date, our team will be in touch with alternative options.
Sites Visited
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
- Pantheon
- Largo di Torre Argentina
- Historic District
- Mausoleo di Augusto
Included
- 8-hour private tour with Ph.D. archaeologist, Dimo
- Skip-the-line tickets to the Colosseum
Dimo's Roman Itinerary: Highlights of the Ancient World
Dimo has designed this itinerary exclusively for Context, and it covers the most spectacular highlights and architectural masterpieces of the ancient city. Join him on this full-day exploration of Rome’s archaeology, history, and architecture.
Your day begins at the Colosseum, one of the world’s greatest wonders, where you will learn all about how and why it was built. Dimo will take you to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill afterward to continue your explorations. After a break for lunch nearby at one of his favorite local spots, the tour will continue through the archaeological heart of the city along Via dei Fori Imperiali and towards Piazza Venezia.
Passing by Trajan’s Markets (and his mighty Column), we’ll discuss the role of public spaces in ancient Rome as we walk towards Largo Argentina, a fascinating archaeological site and the scene of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE. Dimo will point out the impressive temple architecture and explain the layers of history visible below street level.
The learning continues at the Pantheon with a focus on the role of architecture during the reigns of Emperor Augustus and Emperor Hadrian and how the surrounding area, the Campus Martius, evolved from swampland to battle training ground. We will stop for an afternoon coffee or gelato while we enjoy a stroll in one of the most elegant areas of the modern city rich with ancient historical landmarks, from ancient Roman construction to Renaissance residences to opulent Baroque churches.
Time permitting, we may end our day together at the site of the Mausoleum of Augustus and visit this monument from the outside and place it in historical context. Surrounded by Mussolini’s Fascist era architecture, it brings a deep and fascinating understanding of how the pieces of ancient Rome interconnect with the modern metropolis, drawing on Dimo’s deep love for the history and archeology of the Eternal City.
FAQ
For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where do we meet? Where does the tour end?
We meet in front of the Oppio Caffè, which is located at Via delle Terme di Tito #72 and ends in the Pantheon area or the Mausoleum of Augustus if there's time. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
Can I change the itinerary with Dimo?
The published itinerary represents Dimo’s favorite way to visit Rome. If you are looking for something different, please feel free to check out our other Rome offerings!
Is this tour suitable for children and/or clients with mobility challenges?
Yes. We can adapt the itinerary based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party.
What is included in the itinerary?
Rome private guide itineraries include the cost of your time with your expert and usually include museum or monument entrance tickets. Lunch and refreshments are at your expense. Accommodation is not included.
Do we buy children's passes?
We only buy adult tickets for our Colosseum tours because people with reduced tickets have to wait in a different line to go to the cash desk and show their ID. In order to save time, we purchase skip-the-line tickets so families may enter as quickly as possible.
Can Roma Passes be used?
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.
Do you reserve headsets for this tour?
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
During his university studies at “La Sapienza” in Rome, Dimosthenis participated in several national and international projects, such as the study of Latin epigraphy and Roman pottery as well as various archaeological excavations in different areas of Rome (Roman Forum, Palatine, Mausoleum of Augustus). His work as an archaeologist brought him to carry out research in classical art and architecture, exploring in particular the relationship between iconography and architecture as ancient Greek and Roman artistic expressions. Dimosthenis completed his Ph.D. with a thesis on temple architecture in the Italian peninsula during the Republican period. This topic became his area of expertise. His knowledge of archaeology, ancient art history and Roman architecture is the key that he uses to share his unique perspective on the Eternal City.
Maria Grazia, known as Grace, was born and raised in Rome. She studied Art History at the University La Sapienza, and became an official tour guide in 2009. In 2013, she was chosen as an official educational guide for the Vatican city. She is a travel lover who gives interesting and entertaining tours.
16 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Amazing tour. Deep knowledge, great pace, fantastic sights and the best guide we have ever had!
Barbara
Mar. 31, 2023
He was extremely knowledgeable of history, archaeology, and quite accommodating.
Judy
Mar. 19, 2023
Dimo is fantastic. Any questions we had about ancient, renaissance, or contemporary Rome, he had an answer for.
James
Mar. 17, 2023
Rome with Dimo
Get to know Dimo, Rome archaeologist
Meet Dimo
