Circus Maximus and Aventine Self-Guided Audio Walk: Mouth of Truth, Orange Garden and Keyhole





Duration
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
Audio guide
Guided tour
- Walk the long lawn of the Circus Maximus, then climb the quiet Aventine through a garden of orange trees.
- See the Mouth of Truth, two Roman temples, the Orange Garden terrace, Santa Sabina and the Knights of Malta keyhole.
- Discover how a racetrack became a lawn, temples became churches and a medieval fortress became a public garden.
- End at the famous keyhole that frames the dome of Saint Peter's between garden hedges.
- 9 stops over 1.5 km, about 60 minutes, with English audio you start whenever you like.
- Self-guided audio tour in English
- Route with 9 stops, 1.5 km, 1-hour walk
- Stops at Mouth of Truth, two temples, and the Orange Garden terrace
- GPS map and walking directions provided
- Lifetime access, flexible start and replay
- Live guide
- Fixed start time
- Museum and monument tickets
- Food and drinks
- Tips or gratuities
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
In this corner of Rome almost nothing is what it was built to be. A valley was shaped into the Circus Maximus, the chariot track, and is now a lawn. Two temples by the river became churches. A medieval fortress became a public garden of orange trees.
Start at the curved end of the Circus Maximus beside a medieval mill tower, see the whole track from above, and picture the twelve starting gates. Visit the square of the Mouth of Truth, with its round marble temple and seven-story bell tower. Climb a cobbled lane under the fortress wall into the Orange Garden and its terrace over the Tiber, pass the fifth-century basilica of Santa Sabina, and end at the Knights of Malta square, where a keyhole frames the dome of Saint Peter's.
Nine stops, about 1.5 km and an hour, at your own pace, in English. One gentle climb, no entry tickets needed.
What to bring
- Phone and audio: Bring a fully charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided tour.
- Mobile data: Use mobile data for GPS; if you do not have data, open the tour on Wi-Fi before you set off.
- Clothing: Cover your shoulders and knees if you choose to enter churches along the route.
- Footwear: Wear comfortable walking shoes as the 1.5 km route includes steps, cobbles, and unpaved park tracks.
Accessibility
- Steps on route: Expect about ten steps with no handrail near Clivo di Rocca Savella and about twenty more without a handrail into the Orange Garden.
- Terrace access: There are three steps with a handrail up to the Orange Garden terrace.
- Step-free hill route: Use the Clivo dei Publicii for a step-free way from the Mouth of Truth square to Santa Sabina.
- Terrain: Be prepared for cobblestones and unpaved park tracks in the Circus Maximus area.
Additional information
- Tour format: This is a self-guided audio walk, so there is no live guide and you set your own pace.
- Start time: You have lifetime access, so you can start any day, at any hour, and replay the tour.
- Best visiting time: Aim for a weekday morning or early afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday for a smoother experience.
- Orange Garden hours: The Orange Garden is free and open daily, from 7:00 to 18:00 in October to February and later in spring and summer.
- Orange Garden timing tip: From October to February, start the walk by about 16:30 so you reach the Orange Garden before it closes at 18:00.
- Circo Massimo Experience: The Circo Massimo Experience is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
- Circus excavation: The Circus's ticketed excavation is closed on Mondays.
- Mouth of Truth hours: Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Mouth of Truth porch are open daily from 09:30 to 17:50.
- Santa Sabina access: Santa Sabina is free, needs no booking, and its porch opens later on Sundays and Mondays.
- Sant'Alessio garden: The garden of Sant'Alessio is open from dawn to sunset.
- Keyhole access: You can look through the famous keyhole at any hour, and queues are usually shortest early in the day.
- Metro access: Metro line B's Circo Massimo station is about 300 metres from the first stop of the walk.
- City rose garden: The city rose garden opens only for short seasons in spring and for about two weeks in October and November.
- Church visits: Churches on the route are not included in the walk; if you go in, avoid services and dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees.
- Please check your final voucher for the redemption details and specific instructions.
- Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
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