Colosseum

Guide 1 (archeological)
Starting at Piazza Venezia which is dominated by the Altare della Patria (or Vittoriano), go up the stairway to the Campidoglio.
In the square designed by Michelangelo towers the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the Capitoline Museum (on the left) offers an excellent collection of ancient art. Visiting the museum takes some time. It is also worth visiting the church of S. Maria in Aracoeili.
Going down to the Roman Forum you can visit the archeological area which leads up to the Colosseum and the arches of Constantine and Titus. For the more hardy walkers you can take the avenue in axis with the arch of Constantine to get to Circus Maximus.
Walking in the direction of the river it is possible to see another archeological site from ancient Rome considered the emblem of Rome, the Bocca della Verità (mouth of truth) in the portico of the church of S. Maria in Cosmedin (VI century). In front are the temples, the first mistakenly known as Vesta and of Fortuna Virilis. Next you will find the Arch of Janus in front of the church of S.Giorgio in Velabro (VI – VII century). Via Petroselli which runs along the side of Teatro Marcello, where up until a few decades ago the roman horse drawn carriages were kept, takes you back to the bottom of the Campidoglio, your starting point.

Guide 2 can also start from Piazza Venezia and takes in the Ghetto. Go down towards Teatro Marcello and turn right into Via Montanara arriving at Piazza Campitelli where Carlo Rinaldi (1662 – 67) had a church built in order to preserve the Madonna del Portico, a sacred image which was believed to have defeated the plague in 1656. On the left of the church take a lane which takes you to an extremely picturesque passage under the Porticus of Octavia ( built for Augustus in 23 b.c. and dedicated to his sister Octavia). This area has preserved medieval houses and the synagogue which faces Tiber Island. Walking through these streets and alleys you will find small squares and patrician buildings. From Largo Argentina, where the remains of the ancient Roman city are below street level you can see the church of Gesù (1568 –1575) with a frescoed ceiling by Baciccia. Continuing along Via del Plebiscito you walk along side Palazzo Venezia with the famous balcony where Benito Mussolini spoke to the people.

Guide 3
The Colosseum area is in a part of the city that has grown from the Colosseum in the opposite direction of the centre. Via San Giovanni in Laterano takes you to the church of the same name. There you will find the church of San Clemente (pre 385) which has developed on three different levels.The very unusual church of SS.Quattro Coronati (IV century), which you will find going towards San Giovanni in Laterano, with its cloisters is possibly the most beautiful in Rome and is definitely worth a visit. On the side square is a small building which contains the Holy Stairway. On the other side of the roman walls is the metro A (San Giovanni) stop which will take you to the centre of Rome in a few minutes.