Begin your tour at the Colosseum, meeting next to the Ludus Magnus, where gladiators once lived and trained. Drive past the Arch of Constantine and head toward the Circus Maximus, with views of the Palatine Hill and ancient palaces. Stop for a photo at the top, where you can see four of Rome’s seven hills.
Visit the Aventine Hill, a quiet, green, and elegant area. Explore the Orange Garden and Santa Sabina Basilica, home to a nearly 1,700-year-old wooden door. Stop at the Mouth of Truth for a photo, then turn around to see two ancient temples, including the oldest surviving one in Rome.
Roll into the Jewish Ghetto, one of the most moving and beautiful corners of Rome. Continue to Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’s fountain. See the Pantheon, unchanged for 2,000 years, and climb Gianicolo Hill for a view that stretches forever. Pass through Trastevere, once poor, now the place to eat, stroll, and live.
Shift gears and head to Monte Testaccio, an ancient hill made of broken Roman pottery. Enter a 2,000-year-old cave carved into it, away from the crowds. Inside, taste five cheeses, five cured meats, local bread, and wine, all aged right there in the cave.
End your tour at the Pyramid, a 2,000-year-old structure standing at the city’s southern gate, where ancient roads meet.