A lot of historical curiosities will attract your attention during this visit. We’ll start with the Coliseum, also known as the Flavian amphitheater after its iniator Vespasian, first of the Flavian emperors who had it built in the 1 st century A.D. It is the largest amphitheater of the ancient world. Fifty thousand spectators could be seated in the stands to watch the hunts (venationes) and the gladiator fights (ludi gladiatorii). The excursion will go on visiting the Palatine Hill. The ancient “palatium”, historical residence of the Caesars, from whose name is derived the use of the term “Palace”, to indicate a seat of official power. An extended archeological area of the edifices built by Domitian and rediscovered by archaeologists in the 20 th century. Inside this area the Palatine Antiquarium: the history of the Palatine Hill testified through ritual objects and the decorations of the Imperial edifices that occupied the area from the time of Augustus to late Antiquity. In addition there are protohistorical findings from the first villages and the shepherds’ huts that gives testimony to the legend the city’s foundation by Romulus. At the end of the excursion the Loggia Mattei will astonish you: a little Renaissance jewel, the work of Baldassare Peruzzi and his pupils, set among the ancient imperial ruins of the Palace of Domitian on the Palatine Hill.

A striking visit trough the ruins of the Roman Forum: public life in ancient Rome was carried out here, between the closed spaces of the Basilicas and the open ones of the square itself, between the Senate and the temples honoring the origins of Rome and its mythical founders. Our trip trough the centuries will go on visiting the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill): in the Republican Age the sacred temples dedicated to the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva) were located on this acropolis. The square now appears in the splendid Renaissance style designed by Michelangelo in middle of the 16 th century. The visit to the Capitoline Museums will let a indelible impression. These museums contain marble and bronze statues, paintings and artistic works, the original bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius (substituted by a copy in the centre of the square) and a precious collection of Imperial portraits. Finally we’ll reach the Caffarelli Terrace: a place for relaxation and contemplation, directly over-looking the Roman Forum and the right bank of the Tiber towards the Gianicolo hill. Perhaps the most exclusive panorama in Rome.