Semi-private Tour to Colosseum with Gladiator's Entrance and Arena Floor, Rome - 1050

The Colosseum has fascinated visitors throughout history, evoking images of fierce gladiators, roaring crowds, as well as wild lions and tigers springing from their cages. For the first time you can now access this awe-inspiring edifice's Arena Floor directly for a truly indelible imprint of the wonder that was ancient Rome. Highlights - Direct access to the arena - Put yourself in the shoes of the ancient gladiators and feel the roar of the bloodthirsty crowds - Ticket also valid for entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on your own Experience the immensity of ancient Rome’s most iconic symbol on this Express Colosseum tour with privileged direct access to the Arena Floor through the recently opened ‘Gladiator’s Entrance’, without the lines, crowding and long security checks that characterise the other entrances! Feel the glory and majesty of Rome at the height of its power as you walk on the very same stones as those who came to fight here in gladiatorial combat, treading in their footsteps out onto a partial reconstruction of the arena floor, looking up at the tiered ruins that were once filled with some 50,000-80,000 bloodthirsty spectators. You are sure to hear their echoes as your eyes are drawn upward, your body turns and your mind is boggled by the elegance and engineering prowess of what was once the largest structure of its kind in the world, all from this unique 360° view, as a local expert guide reminds you of its dramatic purpose in a narrative that goes beyond anything Hollywood could dream up. Home to the gladiatorial games, exotic staged hunts, theatrical executions and even mock sea-battles, this 1.5-hour Colosseum tour explores the Arena Floor with its awe-inspiring perspective, up-close views of the underground area where the spectacle was brought to life, and the panorama from where the Emperor’s box once stood, all special access areas that standard ticket holders don’t get to see. In addition, you will follow your guide up to the second level to see what the crowds saw, tracing the Colosseum’s circumference in an effort to understand what it must have been like when the stands were packed, the crowds were roaring and a gladiator’s destiny hung on their whims. No other itinerary allows you to see the Colosseum from the two most impressive above and below viewpoints in such a compact time frame. After the tour you will also have the option of staying inside the Colosseum to continue your exploration, or follow your guide for Skip the Line access to the Roman Forum. Here you will be taken to the best vantage point for a short introduction into its history and most famous monuments before visiting them on your own, enriched by your guide’s expert knowledge. You will also be able to hike to the top of the Palatine Hill for an exceptional bird’s-eye perspective over the Forum and Circus Maximus.