Rome Gladiator Walking Tour

Rome’s gladiatorial games began long before the Colosseum became their iconic stage. This self-guided Rome Gladiator Walking Tour follows eight centuries of combat, power, and spectacle through the city that transformed violence into public entertainment.

Start near the Arch of Constantine and walk from the Colosseum along the Palatine Hill toward Circus Maximus, where chariot racer Gaius Appuleius Diocles earned a fortune in prize money. At the Forum Boarium, discover the site of Rome’s first recorded gladiatorial combat in 264 BC, held as part of a funeral rite. Continue to Capitoline Hill for a terrace view of temples layered above the Forum, then pass Trajan’s Forum and the Basilica of Maxentius on the way back toward the Colosseum.

With GPS directions and offline audio, maps, and geodata, the Rome Gladiator Walking Tour lets you explore at your own pace. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the code from your confirmation ticket before setting out. Bring your smartphone and headphones, then follow the route through the stories behind Rome’s ancient spectacles.