Gladiators & Saints: Colosseum Arena and St. Peter's Prison Tour
Description
Begin your exclusive journey through ancient Rome by visiting one of its hidden gems, the 7th-century BC Mamertine Prison, located just next to the Roman Forum. Show your PDF ticket and walk into the Prison with an enlightening audioguide. This historic site, according to early Christian tradition, is where Saints Peter and Paul were held before their executions. Afterwards, take a short break before meeting your guide near the Colosseum. Step through the legendary Gladiator's Gate onto the Arena floor. Feel the thrill as your guide vividly describes the gladiator contests, dispelling myths and highlighting the true stories behind these legendary battles. Your journey continues as you follow your guide into the Roman Forum, the vibrant heart of ancient Rome with structures dating back to the 7th century BC. This tour offers an exclusive glimpse into Rome's illustrious past, blending history, myth, and unparalleled access to some of the world's greatest ancient wonders.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The ancient subterranean prison cells where it is believed St. Peter was incarcerated in antiquity. Note the inverted cross, what does it actually mean?
The Arch of Constantine is located next to the Colosseum in Piazza del Colosseo to prepare for a fascinating trip back in the time to the realm of Emperors, Gladiators and beasts!
The heart and soul of ancient Rome.
Enter the Icon of Rome and understand what it really meant to kill or be killed as a gladiator in ancient Rome.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Due to the route covered and/or transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid. Please contact us to inquire about customized tour options for guests with mobility challenges.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking; a hat and sunblock during summer months
- The start time advertised is the start time for your guided Colosseum tour. Your visit to the Mamertine Prison will occur earlier in the day (approx. 1:30pm)
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
- Please note: This description is provided as a general example. Actual experiences may vary slightly depending on the season, local conditions, and other factors beyond our control
- Please note that essential travel documents and final itinerary details might be delivered electronically closer to the activity date.
Reviews(8)
We gained a lot of knowledge regarding the Colosseum and surrounding historic area
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the absolute highlights of our time in Rome. Entering the Colosseum through the Gladiator’s Gate felt incredibly powerful and immersive—exactly how the gladiators themselves once entered the arena. Antonio was an outstanding guide. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling brought ancient Rome vividly to life. He shared fascinating historical details while keeping the tour engaging, easy to follow, and perfectly paced. The small-group format made the experience better. BE SURE TO BRING IDENTIFICATION. A COUPLE WITH US WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T have an id. If you want a deeper, more meaningful way to experience the Colosseum beyond the standard visit, this tour with Antonio is absolutely worth it. Highly recommended!
Great experience! Francesca was very knowledgeable. Looking forward to coming back someday. The only thing I didn’t appreciate was that I didn’t feel welcome by some of the locals.
Our tour guide was very informative, It was such a wonderful experience. Each detail of the colosseum was clearly expressed by our tour guide. Very knowledgeable, patient and understanding. The tour company was Italian tours and would definitely recommend this to anyone and will be coming back! One thing to note is the Prison part of our tour was self-guided, would've been nice to also have a tour guide there to detail the events that took place. Otherwise very satisfied with the service!
Excellent tour. Self guided on the prison portion. Difficult to find our start point but with some effort we did it. You must do a skip the line into the Colosseum or you’ll wait all day and not get any of the finer points.
Our guide was indispensable! Giogia helped us navigate huge crowds and lines to make the most of the Colosseum tour. The Mamartine Prison is a must see for any Christian visiting Rome. To imagine Paul imprisoned there, praising God while in chains, writing 2 Timothy and waiting for his execution is quite an impactful experience.
Our guide, Chiara, was wonderful! Gave us insightful information, and answered all of our questions with humour 😂 Our tour ended ended up being just us, so she took extra time. She even took some wonderful photos of us! Highly recommend!
This was an awesome experience. Massimo was extremely knowledgeable about everything on the tour and really made this a fun tour. There is ample time at given spots to take photos and there is so much insight shared on the things we were looking at. The colosseum and forum were explained to us at length in a way that really brought good perspective. I am extremely glad we chose to visit these spots with a guide who could talk about what we were seeing rather than just showing up just seeing the sight. If you have the option, I might skip the prison portion. This is not a very insightful/interactive experience but that is not due to When In Rome Tours. This is just the nature of the site.
