Sons of Empire - Discover the History of Ancient Roman Emperors

Overview

Begin at the Mausoleum of Augustus: the perfect place to start our tour, as it was home to the very first Emperor of Rome, Augustus! Learn about Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire with the death of Julius Caesar and the reign of Emperor Augustus.

Originally built in the 3rd century as part of the Via Flaminia, an ancient road linking Rome to the North and the Adriatic sea, Via del Corso is one of the city’s most famous streets. The ‘Corso’, in its current name, relates to the horse racecourse which ran through here, as part of the carnival celebrations.

On this very spot stood the Temple of Marcus Aurelius, erected by Commodus to deify his father and make people regard him as a God. Learn about ancient Roman architecture and the city’s melding of ancient and modern history.

The nasone is a great example of the advanced nature of Ancient Roman civilization. They were able to supply their citizens with clean drinking water, whereas many other western cities such as London didn’t achieve this on a wide scale until the Victorian era.

Visit the Pantheon, one of the most impressive structures still standing in the city which is a temple to every single Roman God! Originally built by Marcus Agrippa, a lieutenant of Augustus, in 27BC, it burnt down and was redesigned and reopened around 125AD, during the reign of Hadrian. Head inside this amazing structure, one of the most important relics of Imperial Rome standing today.

Visit the last surviving remnants of one of the great bath complexes in Rome. The ones in this location were the second largest in Rome and were originally built sometime around 60 AD, during the reign of the infamous Emperor Nero. See the merging of old and new in person.

Welcome to the beautiful, vibrant Piazza Navona. Spot the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Moor. The figures here represent the rivers from the four known continents at its time of unveiling in 1651- the Rio de la Plata for the Americas, the Danube for Europe, the Nile for Africa and the Ganges for Asia.

Cross Ponte Sant’ Angelo and arrive at the Castel Sant’Angelo. Then take a look to your left to see the breath-taking St Peter’s Basilica.

The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.

Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that are like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!