One of the most effective ways to understand an ancient city is to compare how life is lived today with how it was experienced in the past. This tour explores Ancient Rome through the lens of sexuality, power, and social norms, offering a deeper understanding of same-sex relationships in Roman society.

The tour begins on the Oppian Hill, one of the legendary Seven Hills of Rome, offering a striking panoramic view of the Colosseum. From here, you will enter the Colosseum itself, with skip-the-line access included.

As you explore this iconic monument, you will discover the history of the Colosseum and its protagonists: gladiators, soldiers, and emperors. Roman soldiers were expected to demonstrate strict self-discipline, not only on the battlefield but also in their private lives. Under Emperor Augustus, soldiers were forbidden to marry during their service. Their sexual lives were regulated rather than suppressed: sexual relations with prostitutes of any gender, enslaved people, and same-sex partners were socially accepted, while marriage was reserved for later life. Roman morality was shaped by status and roles, not by sexual identity as we understand it today.

Inside the Colosseum, your guide will recount the reality of gladiatorial combat, spectacle, and daily life within one of the most famous arenas in history. The tour then continues to the Arch of Constantine, erected by the Roman Senate to celebrate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius.

From here, you will reach the Palatine Hill, the most prestigious of Rome’s hills and the legendary birthplace of Romulus and Remus, according to Roman myth. From this vantage point, you will admire views over the Imperial Fora and the Circus Maximus, once the largest chariot-racing stadium in the Roman world.

The tour also explores the intimate lives of Roman emperors. Nero, the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, is frequently described by ancient writers such as Suetonius as engaging in same-sex relationships. Historical sources recount that Nero married the young man Sporus, treating him publicly as a wife, and maintained relationships with male partners such as Doryphorus, at times assuming the passive role—an act considered transgressive for a freeborn Roman male.

Walking along the Via Sacra, the main ceremonial street of Ancient Rome, you will reach the Temple of Caesar, built on the site of Julius Caesar’s cremation. Caesar himself was the subject of widespread rumors regarding his relationship with King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia, earning him the nickname “Queen of Bithynia.” Roman soldiers were said to mock him with verses such as: “Caesar conquered the Gauls, but Nicomedes conquered Caesar,” while he was famously described as “every woman’s man and every man’s woman.”

The tour also includes views of Piazza Venezia and the Pantheon, completing a journey through the political, social, and personal dimensions of Roman life.

To conclude the experience, we recommend lunch at Coming Out, a historic gay-friendly venue near the Colosseum, located in one of Rome’s most well-known LGBTQ+ areas.