Piazza Navona Underground Ruins Tour with Palazzo Altemps

See the Suicidal Gaul and Domitian's Stadium with your own expert guide and reserved entry

5.00 (1) Travel Flexibly 3h Max 20 guests Max 20 Rome, Italy

Beneath Piazza Navona, a 20,000-seat Roman stadium has been buried for centuries. This private Rome tour brings it into full view, starting with skip-the-line entry to Palazzo Altemps and its extraordinary Ludovisi sculpture collection. Your personal art historian guide walks you through the Suicidal Gaul and imperial busts before descending underground. See the Rome that most visitors never find

What You Get With This Tour

  • Discover Rome's best-kept secret
  • Skip-the-line entry to Palazzo Altemps
  • Private guided museum tour
  • Admission to Piazza Navona Underground
  • Tour of Domitian's Stadium
  • Expert art historian guide
  • Private experience
  • Guide tips

Tour Itinerary

  • 1

    Your tour begins at Palazzo Altemps

    Meet your private art historian guide outside the entrance to Palazzo Altemps, a Renaissance palace steps from Piazza Navona. Skip the ticket line and step into one of Rome's most overlooked treasures.
  • 2

    Explore the grand courtyard of Palazzo Altemps

    The palace courtyard opens onto a world of ancient marble. Admire the Athlete at Rest, the Statue of Demeter, and original imperial busts, including the notorious Nero, as your guide traces the palace's centuries of history.
  • 3

    Discover the Suicidal Gaul and Ludovisi Collection

    Inside the museum, your guide leads you through the Ludovisi Collection, assembled after a stunning 15th-century archaeological find near what is now Tiburtina station. The Suicidal Gaul stops most visitors cold: a Gallic soldier who killed his family and himself rather than accept Roman slavery.
  • 4

    Examine the Ludovico Sarcophagus

    Carved with a dramatic battle between Romans and Goths during the crisis-ridden 3rd century AD, this monumental burial piece likely held a general or emperor. Your guide unpacks the political upheaval frozen in stone.
  • 5

    Descend beneath Piazza Navona

    Step underground and leave the modern square behind. Below the cobblestones lies Domitian's Stadium, a 20,000-seat ancient arena opened in 86 AD where Romans gathered for track and field events long before the piazza above existed.
  • 6

    Your tour ends at Piazza Navona

    Back above ground, your guide says farewell amid the fountains of Piazza Navona, including Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain, leaving you free to linger in the square that was built on top of an empire.

Additional Information

Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.

Good to know:

  • Accessibility: This is a private tour and the itinerary can be accommodated to suit your needs. Please note that some areas of the underground ruins have limited accessibility due to the historical nature of the site. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about your mobility.

  • Please note: The itinerary of a private tour can be adjusted to your needs. Please reach out if you do not see a start time that fits your party. We would be happy to check with our ticketing team to see if we can accommodate you.

  • Underground conditions: The ruins beneath Piazza Navona can be cool and dimly lit. A light layer is recommended, particularly during cooler months.

  • ID requirement: Please bring a valid government-issued ID. The name on your ticket must match your ID or you may be refused entry.

  • Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.

Your tour includes:

  • Expert art historian guide (private)

  • Skip-the-line entry to Palazzo Altemps

  • Private guided tour of the museum and courtyard

  • Admission to the Piazza Navona Underground

  • Private guided tour of the Stadium of Domitian ruins

What to bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Camera

  • Water bottle

  • Valid government-issued ID

  • Light layer (recommended for the underground ruins)

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Customer Reviews

5.00 (1)
Leave a review
Couldn’t have been better.
Mickey D., 10 March 2024

Our tour with Pia was terrific. She provided information in a very easy to understand manner and when she expressed her opinion she identified it as opinion as opposed to fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Just some comfortable shoes and a passion for art and history!

What to bring?

Just some comfortable shoes and a passion for art and history!

Does the tour go inside without waiting in any lines?

Yes! Your guide will help you skip the line and start exploring straight away.

I have some doubts about my mobility. Is this tour right for me?

If you have any doubts about your mobility then a private tour is your best bet. Private Vatican tours are more easily customized to the needs of people with reduced mobility. Please be aware that these archaeological sites often have uneven floors and old stone stairways. Please get in touch if you are unsure.

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