Mausoleum of Augustus

On your right is the Mausoleum of Augustus. It’s one of the most important monuments of Roman Antiquity; you can find out more about that time period in our first tour. It was built at the behest of Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar and the first Roman emperor, to serve as a tomb for the imperial family. It was completed in 23 BC and its dimensions befitted the emperor’s power. It has a round base, 87 meters in diameter, with the burial chamber at its center. Back then, the roof was covered with cypress trees and topped by a 45-metre-high statue of Augustus. The two obelisks that marked the entrance have been moved, one to Piazza dell’Esquilino, the other to Piazza del Quirinale. It is said that Augustus drew inspiration from the tomb of Alexander the Great in Egypt. The mausoleum was in use until the 1st century, after which it was transformed and repurposed, notably in the Middle Ages, when a wealthy family turned it into a fortress and settled there. Thanks to extensive restoration works that began in 2007, you can now visit this impressive vestige of a bygone era. To your right, the glass-walled museum is home to yet another monument from the time of Emperor Augustus. It’s the Altar of Peace, commemorating the time of peace following the Emperor’s battles in Gaul and Hispania.