Domitian Stadium Tickets with Audio Guide

Step back in time

Take a captivating journey into the Roman Empire’s subterranean past as you see what remains of the Stadium of Domitian. As you descend the steps to the undergrounds of Piazza Navona, first opened to the public in 2014, you will be transported back 2 millennia. Here, the ruins of the stadium lie about 4.50 meters below the street level. As you explore the historic recesses, you will get an insight into the ambitious vision of Emperor Domitian, who not only beautified Rome with grand structures but also sought to promote non-violent sports among the Romans.

Unveiling the underground

Aided by an audio guide available in 9 different languages, uncover the ancient stadium, once reverberating with the cheers of spectators celebrating athletic prowess. Be sure to listen closely as the audio guide provides a vivid account of the sporting culture in Ancient Rome.

Interestingly, the Greek Olympic games were not popular among Romans due to their perceived lack of violence, so Domitian's stadium was an attempt to ‘Romanize’ these games. The stadium was a brick structure adorned with colored stucco and travertine pillars, capable of holding around 30,000 spectators. The games held were called 'agones', which is believed to have influenced the eventual naming of the square as 'Navona'.