Today, you will get to explorethe splendours of ancient Rome. Every city throughout the Empire had a forum atits heart and it goes without saying that the Forum of Rome itself was themightiest. It was the centre of public life, the culmination point fortriumphal processions, where courts would sit and senators debate. You will seethe Rostra from which Mark Anthony probably made the famous speech on the deathof Julius Caesar. You will get to walk along the Via Sacra (Sacred Way), themain street of ancient Rome and see the beautiful gardens of the House of theVestal Virgins, before wending your way up the Palatine Hill, the most centralof Rome’s seven hills. From here, you will get an incredible view of the CircusMaximus, where spectacular chariot races took place. The tour culminates at theColosseum, perhaps Rome’s most awe-inspiring ancient monument. Built by theEmperor Vespasian in 72AD, the Colosseum seated about 50,000 spectators andstaged all the most blood-thirsty games known to ancient Romans; gladiatorialcombat, man against beast, beast against beast, land battles, sea battles,executions, all designed to inspire and overawe the citizens at the heart of a mighty Empire.
