Gladiator Show & Museum
Book on GetYourGuideAn authentic show by Gruppo Storico Romano on the Via Appia Antica. 1.5 hours of history to watch — perfect when you want to experience the spectacle without training yourself.
See ticketsFor this product you book directly on GetYourGuide. Tiqets does not offer the show-only variant — only the active training.
Gladiator Show & Museum
Book on GetYourGuideThe Show & Museum variant combines two elements: a staged performance by members of Gruppo Storico Romano and a tour of the gladiator museum right next to the training ground.
Members of the association fight in faithfully reconstructed armour and demonstrate sword-fighting techniques that have been researched and recreated for more than 20 years. This is not a theatre troupe but a re-enactment community with real depth — and that is exactly what makes the difference. You sit close enough to hear the wooden swords clash.
In the museum you will see reconstructions of armour, helmets and weapons of the different gladiator classes: Murmillo, Retiarius, Thraex, Secutor. You learn who fought whom, how a gladiator's career unfolded, and why the games meant so much more to ancient Rome than just entertainment.
The official evening live show runs on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. between 24 May and 27 September. The museum option is available year-round — usually in the morning and afternoon, and daily in high season. You can see exact availability and times directly on GetYourGuide.
In short: If you want action and hands-on involvement → training. If you want to watch, take it in and enjoy → Show & Museum. Both take place at the same address: Via Appia Antica 18.
Address
Via Appia Antica 18, 00179 Rome
Getting there
Bus 118 or 218 — stop "Appia Antica/Travicella"
Show time
Fri 8:30 p.m. (24 May–27 Sep) · Museum year-round
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before
No, not at all. That is exactly the difference from the training: you sit in the audience while members of Gruppo Storico Romano perform the fights. Afterwards you walk through the museum.
Yes. The fights are performed authentically but in a child-friendly way — wooden swords, choreographed movements, no real injuries. For very small children, the noise can feel intense; from about age 4 it usually works well.
About 1.5 hours: around 45 minutes of show plus the museum tour. Including travel from the city center, plan a total of 3 hours.
Yes. Unlike the training, everyone who attends the show needs a ticket — companions included.
GetYourGuide will notify you of any short-notice changes. You can also cancel yourself free of charge up to 24 hours before the event — the amount is then refunded automatically.
The Show & Museum is 1.5 hours of watching plus a museum visit. The training is 2 hours of actively joining in with sword-fighting lessons, costume and a closing tournament. Both options take place at Gruppo Storico Romano at the same location.
… ★ · … reviews · Free cancellation up to 24 hours before