The Rise and Fall of an Empire 

Explore the most monumental elements of this majestic city with a tour guide who will bring to life the spirit of the ancient Roman world for you. Cover the most important historical points of the city in your own private tour group as you walk among the timeless statues, fountains, monuments, and ghosts of the old empire.

Visit the Colosseum, one of the largest structures of the ancient world, where Romans once gathered to watch the gladiator games, venationes - battles with wild beasts - and, as legend has it, naumachiae - sea battles. Discover how the Colosseum, a massive stone amphitheater which seated an estimated 50-60,000 spectators, was built in only 8 years. Your guide will explain the fascinating architecture of the building's Doric and Corinthian design, and also cover basic questions such as: What is an amphitheater? How was the Colosseum an amphitheater? And why was it originally named the Flavian Amphitheater? At the Colosseum you will have the opportunity to take photos with authentically dressed Gladiators.

We will then visit the Roman Imperial Forum where your tour guide will focus on mythology, the popular celebrations of the time, and the gods of ancient Rome, which are reflected in the star signs in contemporary astrology. Learn how the pagan holiday Saturnalia influenced the unfolding of Christmas on the 25th of December today. Listen to the story of the Lapis Niger, a black engraved stone - the most ancient Latin text ever discovered in the world - which is housed in the foundation of a column in the Forum. The engravings are written in a very old form of Latin, experts have several interpretations of the true meaning of the text.

We will discover the Temple of the Vestal Virgins - six young women taken from aristocratic families to serve as virgin female priests of Vesta. They worked in the temple for a period of 30 years under different emperors and were regarded almost as goddesses in status. Their foremost duty was maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta which represented the hearth of Rome. As legend had it - as long as the sacred flame burned, Rome would endure.

From the Forum we will take a pleasant stroll to Palatine Hill, where Rome is thought to have originated. We will walk among its beautiful hills and gardens and explore the Domus Augustus - Villa of Augustus - the partially excavated palace of Augustus and successive emperors. Your guide will discuss the legendary cave of Palatine Hill where, as myth has it, Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf who nurtured them through infancy.

With Eyes of Rome, you will receive a well-rounded tour covering the city's most important monuments as well as its most intriguing legends. Of course the "Ancient Rome" tour is only a sample of the city's multi-faceted beauty and history, it is the perfect way to whet your appetite for more fascinating aspects of this mesmerizing and romantic city.