I would love to give this place five stars, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. Our tour was supposed to be in English, but it was only conducted in Italian, which made it less meaningful. There doesn't seem to be much left of the original mausoleum aside from the brick walls. While I'm glad I managed to enter, I think many visitors could pass on this one. I hope to return to see the new square they are constructing outside.
I booked a tour through a website, which was a bit complicated. It was only in Italian, so I couldn't understand anything about the language options. We had to walk around the block to find the tour entrance, which wasn't even located near the street opposite the Ara Pacis. The tour was also in Italian, but there were helpful signs explaining a lot of what we were observing. The tour lasted about 35 to 45 minutes, allowing us some time to wander the premises. The building is said to be mostly original, though renovation work is ongoing to enhance its structural integrity. I imagine it will be quite a sight when fully restored. The only downside was that I wished to explore around the outer walls. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful location. Be sure to visit the Ara Pacis if you stop by to see the resting site of Rome's first emperor.
This historical building in Rome is utterly captivating, having served countless purposes over the centuries. From its origin as a mausoleum to a garden, a bullfighting arena, a theater, and Mussolini's grand historical revision that unfortunately destroyed many historical layers. It's temporarily open after years of being closed; make sure to visit before it closes again. However, don't expect to see a lot. The archaeologists providing the tours offer interesting explanations.
After waiting several months, I finally visited the mausoleum! This location is rich in history, yet not much is visible. The guided tour is good but, regrettably, only in Italian. You must prepare well and educate yourself beforehand to make the most of this one-hour visit. Nonetheless, it is incredible to see what Augustus built 2000 years ago as his eternal resting place and monument. You should also visit the Castel del Angelo, which is the mausoleum of Hadrian built a century later.
I was super excited to finally get to see this landmark from the inside after it had been closed since my childhood! The interior is expansive (45m tall x 90m diameter), which is hard to tell from the exterior. I can't wait to see how the square will look once all the renovations are complete on both the mausoleum and the new Bulgari hotel.
