800 Years of Gladiators: A Self Guided Rome Walking Tour

1 h 30 min – 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

800 Years of Gladiators: A Self Guided Rome Walking Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Rome's gladiatorial games didn't begin at the Colosseum - they began in a cattle market, at a senator's funeral, with six fighters and no emperor in sight. This self-guided walking tour traces eight centuries of combat, power, and spectacle across the city that turned violence into a sophisticated entertainment system.

The route runs from the Colosseum along the Palatine Hill to the Circus Maximus, where chariot star Gaius Appuleius Diocles once earned a fortune in prize money. In the Forum Boarium, you'll stand where Rome's first recorded gladiatorial combat took place in 264 BC - a funeral rite, not entertainment. A terrace on the Capitoline Hill opens onto a thousand years of temples layered above the Forum. The walk closes past Trajan's Forum and the Basilica of Maxentius, back at the Colosseum.

Perfect for history lovers who want more than a photo stop. Install the free VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Architecture Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min – 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–20
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Transportation
Not included: An in-person guide

Itinerary

Colosseum

Passing by

Pass by the Colosseum, the Flavian Amphitheatre where gladiators once fought before roaring crowds. Learn how spectacle, imperial power, and architecture combined to stage Rome's most famous games. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 2

Passing by

Walk along the base of the Capitoline Hill, Rome's most sacred hill and civic center since antiquity. Learn about the Temple of Jupiter, triumphal processions, and the legend of Tarpeia's betrayal. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Arch of Constantine

Passing by

Pass by the Arch of Constantine, built to celebrate his victory over Maxentius in AD 312. Notice how its reliefs recycle imagery from earlier monuments to legitimize the new emperor's rule. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 4

Passing by

Stroll past the Circus Maximus, Rome's vast chariot-racing stadium stretching between the Palatine and Aventine hills. Imagine the roaring crowds, racing factions, and betting culture that once filled this valley. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Passing by

Pass by the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, a medieval church rooted in Rome's Greek-speaking community. Admire its portico, bell tower, and famous marble mask, the Mouth of Truth. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Mouth Of Truth

Passing by

Stroll past the Bocca della Verità, an ancient marble face legend says bites off the hands of liars. It gained lasting global fame after appearing in the film Roman Holiday. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Piazza del Campidoglio

Passing by

Walk along Piazza del Campidoglio, Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece atop the Capitoline Hill. Admire the trapezoidal design, star-patterned pavement, and statue of Marcus Aurelius at its center. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 8

Passing by

Pass by the Capitoline Museums, the world's oldest public museum complex, housing the original bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius and treasures spanning Rome's ancient and Renaissance history. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Roman Forum

Passing by

Walk along the edge of the Roman Forum, the civic, religious, and political heart of ancient Rome. Explore layered ruins of temples, arches, and basilicas spanning over a thousand years. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 10

Passing by

Pass by Imperial Forum Relais, a charming bed and breakfast tucked in the historic Monti district, steps from the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

The tour starts in the pedestrian area beside the Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading

End point

The tour starts in the pedestrian area beside the Arch of Constantine, near the Colosseum. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It's best to download before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you'll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]