Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Audio Guide

The Roman Forum is a treasure trove filled with triumphal arches, temples, and basilicas from Ancient Rome. On this walking tour with Livia Galante, a PhD archaeologist and Context Travel expert, you'll see these impressive sites from a new perspective and learn about the history of the central marketplace where ancient Romans went about their daily business. 

The tour starts near the Colosseum at Portale Vignole (the Vignole Gate). From there, you'll enter the Forum and walk up Palatine Hill, one of the city's founding sites which goes all the way back to Emperor Romulus in 753 BC. You'll see Flavian Palace and enjoy breathtaking views from Terrazza Belvedere del Palatino observation deck before making your way back to the Arch of Titus. Along the way, you'll travel back in time and put yourselves in the shoes of a Roman citizen and uncover archeological gems and treasures that demonstrate just how many transformations the site has undergone.

You'll then visit the Forum and hear the hidden stories behind its iconic sites starting with the Arch of Titus. At the Temple of Venus and Rome, built by Emperor Hadrian, you'll see the iconic Colosseum from a hidden spot that most tourists miss. As you stroll along the same streets where ancient Romans once marched, you'll also get the chance to visit the grand Basilica of Maxentius, the Temple of the Divine Caesar and the Temple of Vesta. Along the way, you'll learn about the various Roman emperors and the influence they had over the ancient city, and you'll hear the famous legend of the founding of Rome.

On this 90-minute Roman Forum audio tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Hear the legend of the twins Romulus and Remus

• Spot several prominent arches, including the Arch of Titus and Septimius Severus Arch

• See the burial place of Giacomo Boni, the first to scientifically survey the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill in the 1800s

• Stroll past several ancient temples and their remains, including the Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Vesta, Temple of Minerva, and the Antoninus and Faustina Temple

• Gaze upon the still-impressive Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana and the site where Basilica Giulia once stood  

• Take in the remnants of aristocrats' and emperors‘ homes on Palatine Hill

By the end of this tour, you'll come away with a deeper knowledge of one of history‘s most pivotal empires and the many historical figures who once walked the streets of Rome.

Please Note: This tour doesn't include entry into the Forum and the starting point for this tour is at the foot of Capitoline Hill, in front of a set of large stairs called Campidoglio, leading up to a square. You can buy your tickets to enter the Forum online here.