Capitoline Museums and Origins of Rome Walking Tour

This walking tour of Rome's mythic origins and legendary beginnings up to its modern grandeur encompasses the center of the civilization created and cultivated by the Romans leaving any visitor in awe of the humble beginnings which evolved into the most famous of empires.

This walking tour of Rome's mythic origins and legendary beginnings up to its modern grandeur encompasses the center of the civilization created and cultivated by the Romans leaving any visitor in awe of the humble beginnings which evolved into the most famous of empires.

From Trajan's Column in the Imperial Fora your guide will put the Capitoline into context with the modern Victor Emmanuel II Monument (Il Vittoriano), a major monument of Italy commemorating the Italian Revolution and unification. From the Vittoriano you will walk Michelangelo's Renaissance staircase to Piazza Campidoglio atop the Capitoline Hill where the ancient bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius awaits you.  One of the seven hills of Rome the Capitoline's history characterizes it as the first capitol of the Roman World and in fact it is from this very hill that we derive the word "capitol".

With a thorough tour inside the Capitoline Museums (including entrance tickets!) you will explore the oldest public museum collection in the world. Founded originally by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471 the Capitoline Museums now house some of the most famous and definitive pieces of art such as the Dying Gaul, Capitoline Venus, original colossal bronze sculpture of Marcus Aurelius, Capitoline She-Wolf, Bernini's Medusa, and the colossal statue remains of Constantine.

Enjoy one of the best views of the Roman Forum from the Tabularium underneath the Capitoline Museums before re-emerging to Michelangelo's Piazza Campidoglio. You will end your visit of the Capitoline Hill overlooking the skyline of Rome upon the terraces of the Victor Emmanual Monument - the modern tribute to the Italian Republic and memory of the Italian Risorgimento. Read more information about the Capitoline Museums and Origins of Rome Walking Tour »