Small-Group Tour: Colosseum Underground
Rome, Italy
Rating: 
Trip Type: Historical & Heritage Tours
Duration: 4 hours
The Underground Level of the Colosseum has not been used for 1700 years. Now it is open and you can visit the very place where gladiators prepared for their thrilling games, and where lions, wolves, ostriches and other wild animals were kept before they were lifted up from the bowels of the Colosseum and disgorged into the arena. We’ll explore the Colosseum, highlighting the Underground Level, the Arena Level and the Third Tier–areas. From the Third Tier, you’ll have a panoramic view of Ancient Rome before we walk down through the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the very center of the ancient city with its magnificent buildings. This is a 4-hour small-group tour with a maximum of 12 people for all its duration.
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The Underground Level of the Colosseum has not been used for 1700 years. Now it is open and you can visit the very place where gladiators prepared for their thrilling games, and where lions, wolves, ostriches and other wild animals were kept before they were lifted up from the bowels of the Colosseum and disgorged into the arena. We’ll explore the Colosseum, highlighting the Underground Level, the Arena Level and the Third Tier–areas. From the Third Tier, you’ll have a panoramic view of Ancient Rome before we walk down through the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the very center of the ancient city with its magnificent buildings. This is a 4-hour small-group tour with a maximum of 12 people for all its duration.On this tour, you will have access to the dark heart of the Colosseum, where the gladiators could hear the cheering of the crowd awaiting them, or the roar of a lion about to be lifted from the dark dangerous underneath the floor to the blinding light of the Arena. Here, perfectly synchronized scenery changes were engineered from the Underground. You’ll be able to see a newly constructed timber elevator, recreated by experts, which demonstrates how the Romans hoisted animals up to the arena level. There were 28 of these elevators in the Colosseum, each powered by eight slaves.
In addition to the Underground, you’ll be able to see the Colosseum from the Third Tier, its highest level, where you can admire the Colosseum itself as well the commanding views of the Ancient Rome. We’ll then proceed on our tour to explore the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. The Roman Forum was the very center of life in Ancient Rome. It is here that people conducted business, sought justice, and discussed politics and philosophy. The Forum is divided into two by the Via Sacra, Ancient Rome’s most important street. Off the Via Sacra, we’ll visit the altar where Caesar was cremated. We’ll visit the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, where Virgins tended the eternal flame, insuring the fortune and glory of Rome. Another of the highlights is the Senate building, the place where key decisions that have influenced the course of history were made. We’ll visit two magnificent arches: the white marble Arch of Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine. Constantine’s arch marks the emperor’s victory over the pagans and the moment when Christianity became the religion of the Empire. The Palatine Hill is where the She-Wolf Lupa nursed the twin founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus. It is the oldest part of Rome and the one favoured later by Rome’s richest and most powerful families. It is here where they built their vast palaces; and the English words “palace” harks back to the Palatine.
This 4-hour “Skip the Line” tour includes: Colosseum / Colosseum Underground Level — Hypogeum / Arena Floor / Third Tier / Roman Senate / House of the Vestal Virgins / Arch of Septimius Severus / Via Nova, built by Nero / Via Sacra / Arch of Constantine / Palatine Hill
Useful Information
This Small Group Tour of the Underground Colosseum is limited to 12 participants maximum, including the visit to the lower chambers of the Colosseum and the third tier.
In addition to the Underground, you’ll be able to see the Colosseum from the Third Tier, its highest level, where you can admire the Colosseum itself as well the commanding views of the Ancient Rome. We’ll then proceed on our tour to explore the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. The Roman Forum was the very center of life in Ancient Rome. It is here that people conducted business, sought justice, and discussed politics and philosophy. The Forum is divided into two by the Via Sacra, Ancient Rome’s most important street. Off the Via Sacra, we’ll visit the altar where Caesar was cremated. We’ll visit the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, where Virgins tended the eternal flame, insuring the fortune and glory of Rome. Another of the highlights is the Senate building, the place where key decisions that have influenced the course of history were made. We’ll visit two magnificent arches: the white marble Arch of Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine. Constantine’s arch marks the emperor’s victory over the pagans and the moment when Christianity became the religion of the Empire. The Palatine Hill is where the She-Wolf Lupa nursed the twin founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus. It is the oldest part of Rome and the one favoured later by Rome’s richest and most powerful families. It is here where they built their vast palaces; and the English words “palace” harks back to the Palatine.
This 4-hour “Skip the Line” tour includes: Colosseum / Colosseum Underground Level — Hypogeum / Arena Floor / Third Tier / Roman Senate / House of the Vestal Virgins / Arch of Septimius Severus / Via Nova, built by Nero / Via Sacra / Arch of Constantine / Palatine Hill
Useful Information
This Small Group Tour of the Underground Colosseum is limited to 12 participants maximum, including the visit to the lower chambers of the Colosseum and the third tier.
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