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Tour of Monte Testaccio and Tickets

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Monte testaccio tours, rome | official guided private tours of monte testaccio for small or large groups, tickets, reservations to visit the archaeological site in rome ..

TOUR SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN Tour of Monte Testaccio begins in Monte Testaccio, which is an artificial hill created between II° BC and III° AD entirely by the fragments (in Latin “testae” hence the name of Testaccio) of amphorae used to transport olives, oil, or wine that were unloaded from the ships in the nearby river port of Rome. The hill has a perimeter of about 3,330 feet and is 150 feet high. It constitutes an important source of historical documentation about the economic development of the Roman Empire, the commercial relations, and the food habits of the Romans. 

Many amphorae from Spain and North Africa have marks on their handles. Others are painted or with notes written indicating the exporter’s name, the contents, and other important information. Calculating the number of amphorae accumulated allowed us to know the amount of oil that reached Rome in this period. Our tour guides are professional licensed guides possessing solid historical, archaeological, and artistic backgrounds.

• Your hotel in Rome and Tel Number
• Your credit card information (nothing will be charged, it is only to guarantee your reservation)

You can send your credit card details in two different emails, not American Express. The total payment in cash will be made at your meeting with our Tour guide. The entrance fees are not included.

• citizens of the European Union between 6 and 25 years of age and over 65 years, and to residents in the city of Rome between 18 and 25 years of age;
• teachers with permanent contracts in state and municipal schools;
• members of the Municipal Library Association of Rome, in possession of the Bibliocard (library card);
• holders of the “C.T.S.” card, the Italian Youth Card Association, the International Student Card, and the members of F.A.I.;
• promotional initiatives aimed at tourist, cultural, and sports promotion;
• holders of the annual ATAC and Metrobus annual Cards;
• Roma Pass holders, from the third entrance onwards to the visited museums and/or archaeological sites.
• citizens enrolled at the People’s University of Rome (UPTER);
• Italian Police Personnel, under presentation of a personal badge.

Rates per person vary according to the number of participants in the guided tour and Include:

• Reservation Fees, tickets, Tour guide, Headsets, VAT, and Tax
• Guided Tour | Our tour guides are professional licensed guides possessing solid historical, archaeological, and artistic backgrounds

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Monte Testaccio Tour: the ceramic vases' dump in Imperiale Rome

Tour of Mount Testaccio: the massive trade of Imperial Rome and the stacked oil jars forming a hill.

• SPECIAL OPENING

Explore, on our tour, Monte Testaccio, the artificial hill over 50 meters high and with a diameter of 1 kilometer, created in Imperial Rome through the systematic accumulation of non-reusable terracotta vessels for transporting oil, thus reduced to fragments and properly stacked.

Where did so many terracotta jars come from, and why were they systematically disposed of in the largest landfill of ancient Rome?

Our knowledgeable and communicative guide will address this and other topics of great interest, such as widespread goods and the global economy in Imperial Rome, during your guided tour uncovering the details - the shapes and inscriptions - impressed on the jars and their ability to transport us to the time when those terracotta containers were transported, registered, archived, and disposed of.

On these traces of life, we will lead you into Imperial Rome, through the social and economic dynamics of the greatest metropolis of antiquity.

TOUR INCLUDES

Wonders discovered.

Did Imperial Rome truly develop the first global economy of antiquity?

Monte Testaccio is a remarkable archaeological evidence of the widespread commerce and decentralized agricultural production policies implemented in the Roman Empire, as well as the efficiency with which the Romans organized the influx and storage of these goods in Rome. This was done in the large imperial warehouses, located not far from the docking of ships near the Tiber Island.

In our Monte Testaccio tour, you will discover how goods from diverse provinces of the empire arrived at the port town of Ostia. Goods from the various provinces of the empire arrived at the port town of Ostia - today, it's possible to visit its streets, taverns, public and private buildings in the archaeological site of Ostia Antica - and were then transported up the Tiber River until reaching the port of Rome. There, they were registered and deposited in the large warehouses located in the area of present-day Testaccio.

Thanks to the engaging narration of our licensed guide, you will explore Monte Testaccio, or the hill of potsherds, as the Romans call it: an artificial hill that formed over the course of nearly three centuries (from the end of the 1st century BC to the middle of the 3rd century AD) from the systematic accumulation, in this designated dumping area, of emptied and shattered vases (as they were not reusable) and properly piled up here.

The amphorae, not surprisingly, were those used for transporting olive oil to Rome, mainly coming from the area of present-day Andalusia in southern Spain, where vast hills were cultivated with olive trees for olive oil production. Anyone who has had the opportunity to use oil containers to transfer traditionally produced olive oil from certain regions of Italy into the cities - such as, in the case of the writer, from the olive mills of Sicily to Rome - knows that removing oil leftovers is not easy, and cleaning would have been even more challenging for pottery containers, which are porous and easily soaked with the viscosity of oil. This is why the Romans chose to discard them; the cost and effort of cleaning the amphorae were evidently too high, and it made more sense to use new ones.

But what were the key factors behind the economic power of the Roman Empire? Let's examine three decisive ones.

The extent of Imperial Rome was immense and never reached before by other empires. During its peak, from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire, thanks also to a certain political stability, dominated a vast territories of three continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. Morever all the regions surrounding the Mediterranean were under the dominion of Rome, so much so that the Romans - not without propagandistic intentions - called the Mediterranean "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea). From Spain to Egypt, from North Africa to present-day France (the Roman Gaul), from Syria to Romania, the official language was Latin, the laws were those of Rome, the power was in the hands of Rome, the eternal city, a myth, and a certainty.

Such a domain facilitated extensive trade networks and economic interactions, making it a global economic powerhouse of its time.

The Romans are famous for their remarkable engineering skills and related infrastructure development. In fact, they conveniently linked the various regions of the empire, not only for military, land control and border defence purposes, developing a series of roads, including the famous "Roman roads" still existing, which greatly facilitated trade and transportation of local goods even between distant provinces far from each other. But this primarily happened through migrations of peoples, an exchange of cultures among men and women with diverse customs, enticed or conquered by Roman culture, whose immense spread is still evidenced today by archaeological findings existing from Morocco to Turkey, from France to Egypt.

The third relevant factor was the adoption of a unified currency system: the Romans indeed adopted their currency - the sestertius - as the sole currency throughout the empire, thereby generating strong economic stability. Roman coins, accepted in the most diverse regions of the empire - as confirmed by numerous archaeological findings scattered all over - fostered a solid economic integration.

Nonetheless, the Roman economy remained fundamentally agrarian, but the Romans initiated policies to optimize agricultural cultivation, which inevitable led, for example, to a predominant production of wheat in Egypt, oil from Spain, and wine from Gaul.

But Italy and above alla Rome, the metropolis with over a million inhabitants in the 1st century AD, remained the main reference market where goods produced in various regions of the empire, and even beyond, flowed and found wealthy buyers for both common and exotic delights.

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From € 24

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Reviews [5.0]

We greatly enjoyed our tour with Yevgen to Mount Testaccio. He was very competent, charming and we had a very good time! Tour date: 6 February 2024

Robert S. 02/10/2024

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Visiting monte testaccio – monte dei cocci.

When you’re looking for ancient architecture in Rome, the first things that come to mind are: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Forum. Maybe even in that order.

But the early Romans weren’t just great at putting together tall, majestic buildings. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to discover a (literally) hidden relic, check out Monte Testaccio: a man-made hill built with smashed clay urns. 

History of Monte Testaccio

In the heyday of the Roman empire, local olive production couldn’t keep up with the demand. Hence the Romans began importing olive oil from other places like Spain, Tunisia, and Libya. The oil was stored in massive clay jars called amphorae, some of which were as tall as half a person and required two people to lift. The amphorae had stubby feet for its long journey overseas via ship, and sturdy handles for efficient transport. 

These amphorae were carefully crafted and marked with the date and origin of the olive oil inside, but because oil turns the clay rancid over time, the jars couldn’t be reused. Instead, the Romans systematically smashed the pots and stacked them to create Monte Testaccio.

In fact, the name of Testaccio neighborhood’s eponymous mountain comes from a combination of the words testae,   which means shards of earthenware jars, and coccio, which describes a rough terracotta.

Archaeologists believe that the hill (formerly a dumpsite) started around 140 BC to 250 AD, but that’s only based on excavations of the top levels. It’s possible the bottommost pots have been there since the first century BC! Experts estimate that the hill is made up of an astounding 53 million discarded pots.

What to Look For

Today, Monte Testaccio – also known as Monte dei Cocci- stands 35 meters (115 ft) high and 3330 meters (10925 ft) across the base. When you first enter, you’re welcomed by some steps an a wide, tree-lined avenue. Upon closer look at the ground, you’ll see that what you’re stepping on isn’t just dirt, but bits and pieces of pottery. 

You can pick up pieces of pottery from the floor, and observe how each is slightly curved. If you find non-planar pieces, these were the handles and foots of jars. Each jar of olive oil was inscribed with its place of origin and date–providing precious information for archaeologists– so try to find those special pieces too. (Our group had no luck.)

At the top of the hill you’ll get vast, panoramic views of Rome. You can see everything from St. Peter’s Basilica to the cylindrical gasometers where Rome used to store natural gas in its pre-electricity days. 

How to Visit

Monte Testaccio is an important archaeological site that has been covered by various documentaries. Admission requires a phone reservation by calling +39 060608, but the unique history and easy transportation options make the extra effort worth it. 

Plus, it’s located in the heart of Testaccio, so you can stop by Testaccio market afterwards for a delicious lunch of local Roman specialties and affordable shopping!

You can find more info about admission here . And if you can’t quite plan a visit to walk on top of Monte Testaccio, you can get an idea of how the mountain is constructed by eating in the dining room at Flavio al Velavevodetto . The Roman restaurant is one of several carved into the side of Monte Testaccio, but it has installed glass windows inside that offer a glimpse at the ancient, broken and stacked olive oil pots.

Sources: 1 , 2 , 3

Raya is a Taiwanese-American in Rome, studying abroad from UC Berkeley as an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. She's discovering the peoples, places, and stories of Italy. She enjoys <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rayacooks/"> painting and cooking</a>, and thinks out loud on her <a href="https://ristrettos.wordpress.com/"> personal blog. </a> Contact her at [email protected]

8 thoughts on “ Visiting Monte Testaccio – Monte Dei Cocci ”

That’s absolutely fascinating! I can’t even begin to imagine how much oil that must have been to leave all those pots! xxx Lucy @ La Lingua | Food, Travel, Italy

Such a cool place with a cool history! I love that oil was like gold even then, and the pots? Disposable!

I’ve always been fascinated by Monte Testaccio, but have not been to mainland Europe yet. Thanks for the vicarious visit. Neat stuff!

I hope you have a chance to visit one day soon!

I teach history–I guess I was luckier than I knew–I visited Tesstacio FORTY years ago, as a college student– history major even then… and back then, nobody gave a damn… NO fences, gates, signs, etc… and no one around… quiet, peaceful… ignored… and it was LEGAL.. Took a couple of little pieces home which I still have. Figured–since it was legal at the time– I’m not exactly “looting” under the circumstances…. with millions of broken pieces around…but I can see why they would restrict things now….

What an incredible way to visit the site!

Great article, and thank you for the Ketumbar guided tour and lunch trip (they still do it).

So glad to hear that! Hope you enjoyed the unique trip up the hill!

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Monte Testaccio Hill

Written by: Kate Zusmann

Monte Testaccio hill and the neighboring Testaccio district got their name from Monte Testaccio – the most prominent artificial mounds of Ancient Rome. It is definitely for those tourists who want to see another Rome. This picturesque area, of which many of you have not heard, is located within 2km walking distance from Colosseum .

Here you can see the true Roman life, visit the only Egyptian pyramid in Rome and stop by the most beautiful Protestant cemetery in the world. Little did you know that the typical Roman dish – trippa alla Romana (tripe), was invented in Testaccio.

Moreover, the first ever football much of beloved Roman team ROMA also took place here

During Ancient times Testaccio neighborhood hosted a river port called Emporium through which the city of Rome was supplied by goods from Ostia – sea and trade gates of Rome. The most popular interest was olive oil, shipped in amphorae, ancient Roman pottery. These amphorae were saturated with oil within a certain period and exuded an unpleasant smell. Such amphorae were not suited to be reused and therefore were collected together outside of the city. Piled together, shards of amphorae were sprinkled with lime to neutralize the smell of rancid oil. Thus, the remnants eventually created an artificial hill called Monte Testaccio.

Centuries later, the hill was overgrown with grass and bushes, and people eventually forgot that it used to be the most considerable amphorae city dumpster. During the Middle Ages, some even claimed that the hill comprised remains of city buildings diminished by the Great Fire of Rome.

Today, Monte Testaccio is an excellent source of information on the trade relations of the Roman Empire and its economic power. Moreover, Monte Testaccio is another proof of Rome’s historical richness, as even the city dumpster has its history.

What to see

Following is the list of must-visit places and instructions on how to get to Monte Testaccio.

Pyramid of Cestius

Pyramid of Cestius (Piramide di Caio Cestio/ Piramide Cestia): there are 8 Egyptian obelisks in Rome (together with 5 Roman replicas), and their appearance does not surprise tourists. During Ancient times, obelisks were mainly placed on hippodromes, and only later, during the rule of Pope Sixtus V, were obelisks placed on the church squares to show the way for pilgrims. However, the Pyramid of Cestius is only one of its kind.

The pyramid was built around 12-18 BC. It was constructed as a tomb of Gaius Cestius – a magistrate and member of one of Rome’s four great religious corporations. It is believed that he commissioned the tomb’s construction after Egypt became part of the Roman Empire and Egyptian architecture was at its peak.

The best look to the Pyramid of Cestius opens up from the green zone with benches (from the entrance of Protestant cemetery). Inside of the tomb is embellished with 16-century frescoes

• Address: Via Raffaele Persichetti, 00153

Protestant cemetery

The Protestant cemetery (Cimitero Acattolico) is located in the Testaccio district, next to the Aurelian wall and Pyramid of Cestius. You will be surprised to hear that this cemetery is considered quite a charming place despite its purpose. With graceful sculptures and gravestones, and well-groomed lawns, the Protestant cemetery is not a typical tourist spot. However, the most famous people buried there are English poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelly, American poet Gregory Corso, and Goethe’s son Augustus. 

• Address: Via Caio Cestio, 6, 00158
• Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9 am – 4:30 pm, Sun 9 am -12:30 pm
• Entrance: free

9 amtaccio market

If you want a shopping experience in a truly local Roman market , you must visit Testaccio market (Mercato Testaccio). Numerous stands sell  fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish. Moreover, you can also find clothes, bags, and leather goods from local production.

In addition, Testaccio market has its food court right inside it. There, you can sit comfortably and have a lunch break. The menu offers a range from Roman-style pizza and plates of pasta to typical street food – suppli (fried rice balls usually stuffed with mozzarella) and panini (sandwimozzarellau can also find a wide range of home-made wine and prosecco, which can be brought back home as a souvenir.

• Address: Via Beniamino Franklin, 00153
• Opening hours: Mon – Sat 7 am – 3.30 pm
• Website: mercatoditestaccio.it

How to get to Testaccio

• Metro: line B Pyramide
• Train: Roma Ostiense
• Tram: N3 – Porta S. Paolo

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

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