The best way to make an Ancient Rome tour is to start your visit with the iconic attractions, those that exude the timeless charm for which Rome is known throughout the world, those that you have always seen on postcards and in history books, precisely them: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. A Roman history tour that includes a full day dedicated to an itinerary between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
A visit to these two great monuments will allow you to start off on the right foot and discover where the nerve center of ancient Rome was. Walking on the paved streets dating back to the time of the ancient Romans will give you the feeling of immersing yourself in history. For your visit to these attractions and more generally to organize your trip to Rome well, we suggest you evaluate the Visit Rome Pass, a single all-inclusive card for admission to all the main attractions with unlimited access to public transport also included.
Ancient Rome and its Iconic Landmarks
Ancient Rome evokes an extraordinary charm, monumental and iconic works, which have defied the centuries and weather and have come down to us. Even today we can see that the ancient Romans were excellent engineers, who created majestic and functional architectural works, beautiful and superb such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
The origin of Rome begins on the Palatine Hill in the middle of the 8th century BC, it is there that the famous Capitoline Wolf found the twins Romulus and Remus and suckled them, as if they were her children. And always on the Palatine Hill, Romulus observing the flight of birds decided to found the city of Rome. And it is right there on the Palatine Hill that even today you can admire the well-preserved ruins of the residences of the emperors and the simple home that welcomed Romulus, founder of Rome. At the foot of the Palatine Hill the grandiose Colosseum and the evocative Roman Forums. It is no wonder then that the center of the world of Ancient Rome was right there and that is where we are taking you now. Come with us!
The Colosseum: History and Tips of the Largest Amphitheatre in the World
Symbol par excellence of Ancient Rome, considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Flavian Amphitheater is the largest Roman amphitheater ever built, known by all simply and amicably as the Colosseum. There are various legends about why it was called that, the most reliable is that it took its name from the colossal 35-meter-high bronze statue of the emperor Nero, which had been moved from the Domus Aurea to the Colosseum valley. Inside the Colosseum it is possible to visit the cavea, where the spectators sat, the arena where the shows took place with wild beasts, gladiators, but also tragedies, comedies and the naumachiae, the naval battles that so impressed the spectators.
Today you can also visit the underground of the Colosseum, the many tunnels where wild beasts were kept and where gladiators waited with fear and thrill to enter the scene. The Colosseum is open every day, from 8:30 until late afternoon. The best times to visit the Colosseum are early in the morning or in the evening, at these times you will find less crowds and suggestive views. Consider that for a complete visit you will have to count on at least two hours. If you follow our advice for visiting the Colosseum you will not encounter any obstacles.
Exploring the Roman Forum: What to See and Do
The Roman Forum is located near the Colosseum, in ancient Rome it was the nerve center of city life, inside it political, religious, commercial, judicial and even entertainment activities took place. The definitive arrangement of the Forums is due to the Imperial Period, it is under the emperor Augustus that the forums took the name of Imperial Forums. In later eras some pagan temples were transformed into churches, The charm of Rome is made up of layers like its historical eras and at the Roman Forum you can realize it.
Take some time to visit and walk in the large archaeological area of the Roman Forum. The entrance to the Forums is in Piazza Santa Maria di Loreto, near Trajan's Column, while the exit is on Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is interesting to observe the marble maps on the way out, which show the progressive enlargement of the Roman Empire.
Combining Colosseum and Roman Forum: Best Ways to Experience Both Sites in One Day
Given the proximity of the two archaeological sites and the close connection between these two great attractions that are symbols of Rome, we suggest you combine a visit to both on the same day. We suggest you leave early and start with a visit to the Colosseum, arrive as soon as the doors open, you will have the advantage of finding few people and being able to wander freely inside.
Before heading towards the Roman Forum, have a snack; then, start your visit to the Forums and stay until closing time, the Forums are large and so you will be able to dedicate the right amount of attention to each monument, from the Forums we suggest you venture towards the Palatine Hill, inside the Archaeological Park itself, from there you will be able to appreciate a wonderful panorama of the grandeur of ancient Rome, even more suggestive to make this passage at sunset.
How to Make the Most of Your Ancient Rome Adventure
To make the most of your adventure in Ancient Rome and your visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the suggestion is always to organize yourself in advance, plan the visit and the duration, book in advance, take advantage of the Visit Rome Pass, which allows you access to all the main attractions of Rome within a single card you will have, in which you will also have unlimited access to the public transport of Rome.
Rome, as is often said, is an open-air museum, it holds many riches. Our suggestion is to make the most of your time, wake up early and take advantage of the whole day to visit the attractions, comfortable shoes, backpack on your shoulder with a water bottle always available to be filled in the many fountains of Rome, which since ancient times had many water sources. Exploring Ancient Rome will be a great adventure!
