Piramide Cestia
Piramide Cestia
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Neighborhood: Aventine
Contrary to the chaos of the city, the Aventine is Rome’s oasis. A neighborhood made up of a patchwork of ancient churches, hidden gardens, private homes and embassies, peace and quiet is top priority and the vibe definitely friends and family. Take a walk around the Aventine and you’ll find a treasure hunt of surprises like the clever little keyhole at the Knights of Malta entrance (the only place you’ll find a line) along with Parco Savello (Giardino degli Aranci) next to the ancient Santa Sabina church. Keep your eyes on the 1960s architecture, several modern buildings are built atop Rome’s original 4th century BC wall.
How to get there
- Piramide • 2 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
607 reviews
Excellent
169
Very good
259
Average
160
Poor
12
Terrible
7
Marko M
Hollola, Finland292 contributions
Feb 2020
Pyramid is a tomb for Gaius Cestius and it has been built about 18-12 BC. It isn't huge, but still worth to see. It's easy to reach with subway, because it's located just couple of hundreds metres outside of Piramide station (B line).
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chloe Nottingham
Wakefield, UK45 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
Really rough area, it was full of people off their head on drugs and did not feel safe. Got approached by strange men as soon as we left the metro station. I would not recommend, takes 2 minutes to see the pyramid so a waste of time.
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LittleDan500
Liverpool, UK331 contributions
May 2022
First check to see if its open before visiting as it is temporarily closed at the moment apparently. You can still see it from outside and its a bizarre sight in Rome. There isn't much around the site.
Bear in mind its a way out from the centre of Rome and if you decide to see it then maybe continue south to see the Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura which is arguably more impressive.
Bear in mind its a way out from the centre of Rome and if you decide to see it then maybe continue south to see the Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura which is arguably more impressive.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans
Kwadendamme, The Netherlands4,184 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
A piramid built for a wealthy Roman, called Cestius in 12 BC. In later times the building was incorporated in the Aurelian Wall. Located next to the Porta Ostiense. It can be visited but we did not had that pleasure. Maybe next time.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuela L
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg6,638 contributions
Dec 2018
The pyramid of Caius Cestius, built between 18 and 12 BC is a symbol of a funerary monument and has so a fascination of its perfect geometric form, and is in centrum of Rome; it's like the pyramid as the one of Saqqara in Egypte; situated at the crossroads of two major ancient roads Ostiensis and the Vicus Portae and was built in the ancient Rome during the Augustian period and only the pyramid of Caius Cestius has survived and intact and the inscription Caius Cestius is to see on the facade; he was a priest of a prestigious college in charge of organising ritual sacrificial banquets for the gods and he was inspired by Oriental model of tombs; it's a large travertine stone podium and all the pyramid is constructed with white marble stones. Rome has only this one pyramid and it's a stunning monument to see in center of the city
Written November 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChiefGuru
Decatur, IN3,300 contributions
Jun 2019
Egyptomania gripped Rome in the wake of the conquest of Egypt in 30 B.C. by Octavian (the future Roman emperor Augustus), who defeated his rival Mark Antony, deposed Pharaoh Cleopatra, and annexed the Ptolemaic Kingdom (most of modern-day Egypt) to the Roman Empire. The pyramid was built (18 B.C. to 12 B.C.) during the reign of Emperor Augustus, the adopted son of Gaius Julius Caesar. The reason that such a major tomb was constructed for a Roman nobleman, Gaius Cestius, is unknown. Some speculation is that he was a ranking military man of Caesar's, who traveled with him to Egypt and enjoyed the view of the pyramids? An inscription on the southeast side of the pyramid reads: “Gaius Cestius Epulo, son of Lucius, of the Poblilian district, praetor, tribune of the people, official of the public banquets. According to his will, this work was completed in three hundred and thirty days; it was executed by his heirs L. Pontus Mela, son of Publius, of the Claudian district, and his freedman Pothus” The Pyramid of Cestius is constructed of brick and cement, covered in white Carrara marble. Between 271 and 275 it was built into the fortifications of the Aurelian walls, which likely helped it survive the centuries. Actually, a second pyramid also once existed. The second larger pyramid built in Rome during the Egyptian craze, was located near the Castel Sant’Angelo between the Mausoleum of Hadrian and the Vatican. It was known as the "Pyramid of Romulus." In the 16th century, Pope Alexander VI decided to destroy it and use the marble to create the steps of the St. Peter's Basilica. Today, the Pyramid of Caius Cestius' foundations rest below street level near a heavily trafficked intersection. The pyramid is actually ~121 feet tall and its base is ~97 feet on each side. The Pyramid of Caius Cestius is across the street from the Porta San Paolo - a City Gate of the Aurelian Walls. The Pyramid of Caius Cestius is another wonderful building remaining from ancient Rome that should definitely be seen when visiting the city.
Written October 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N02578845
Cortland, NY160 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
Hard to rate this. It is an Egyptian style pyramid in Rome because apparently there was a Roman emperor who just loved Egypt. It is a cat sanctuary now and only open for tours by appointment, so we didn't go in, just admired from outside. You are unlikely to just stumble upon it, it was a bit of a walk from the city center, but we walked along the river and it was nice. What you really want to see if the Protestant Cemetery behind the wall that intersects the pyramid. Take the side street before the pyramid, or else you will have to walk a long ways around the wall to get in.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob K
Fairfax, VA2,212 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The Pyramid of Cestius (Piramide Cestia) is an ancient pyramid near the Porta San Paolo and the Protestant Cemetery. It was built as a tomb for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. Due to its incorporation into the city's fortifications, it is today one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Rome. The pyramid measures 100 Roman ft2 at the base and stands 125 Roman ft high. Inside the pyramid is a simple barrel-vaulted burial chamber which is not open to the public; only the outside of the pyramid can be seen. The pyramid is located on a busy traffic square outside the Piramide metro station. Allow for 15 minutes for your visit.
Written January 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ady
Tehran, Iran549 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
The Pyramid of Caius Cestius was built around 12 BC by praetor Caius Cestius as his tomb. The pyramid was later integrated into the Aurelian Wall.
The pyramid, which was constructed in a mere 330 days, is more than 36 meters high and 29.5 meters wide . It was built of concrete and brick on a travertine foundation and covered with Carrara marble blocks. Thanks to the use of concrete it was possible to build a pyramid with a sharper angle - and relatively taller - than those in Egypt. Only three Egyptian pyramids - the main pyramids of Gizeh - are taller than this Roman imitation. It tells something about the wealth of Rome during the reign of Emperor Augustus, when a single citizen was able to build a pyramid worthy of Pharaohs.
On the east and west sides are inscriptions with the names and titles of Caius Cestius.
Opening hours:
Open on the the 2nd and the 4th Saturdays of the month.
The monument can only be visited on accompanied or guided tours, which leave, for individuals, at 11.00, and for groups, at 10.00 and 12.00. Booking is mandatory.
On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, the ticket of the Museum of the Ostian Way (Museo della Via Ostiense) also allows admission to the Pyramid, by means of an accompanied tour leaving at 10.30. Booking is mandatory.
Tickets:
Full price: Euro 5.50 + additional fee for mandatory booking (Euro 1.50)
Public transportation:
Metro: B Line, Piramide stop.
The pyramid, which was constructed in a mere 330 days, is more than 36 meters high and 29.5 meters wide . It was built of concrete and brick on a travertine foundation and covered with Carrara marble blocks. Thanks to the use of concrete it was possible to build a pyramid with a sharper angle - and relatively taller - than those in Egypt. Only three Egyptian pyramids - the main pyramids of Gizeh - are taller than this Roman imitation. It tells something about the wealth of Rome during the reign of Emperor Augustus, when a single citizen was able to build a pyramid worthy of Pharaohs.
On the east and west sides are inscriptions with the names and titles of Caius Cestius.
Opening hours:
Open on the the 2nd and the 4th Saturdays of the month.
The monument can only be visited on accompanied or guided tours, which leave, for individuals, at 11.00, and for groups, at 10.00 and 12.00. Booking is mandatory.
On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, the ticket of the Museum of the Ostian Way (Museo della Via Ostiense) also allows admission to the Pyramid, by means of an accompanied tour leaving at 10.30. Booking is mandatory.
Tickets:
Full price: Euro 5.50 + additional fee for mandatory booking (Euro 1.50)
Public transportation:
Metro: B Line, Piramide stop.
Written September 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rub'z Schmidt
Burnham, UK639 contributions
Sep 2020 • Friends
Although I have always wanted to visit this location, found it by pure accident while taking the wrong train into Rome from Ostia!!! Great for contemplating!!! Utterly mesmerising sight!!!
Written September 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi as you have been to this amazing pyramid how do you contact the right people to arrange to visit the interior to make prior arrangements to view this as the visiting times are restricted.
Written December 18, 2017
I didn't go inside. There is a posting on the gate outside with an email or phone number you can use to arrange something. You may also try googling COOP Culture Piramide Cestia visit. I think visits can be arranged through the COOP culture website.
Written December 18, 2017
do you have to pay to get inside the Piramide Cestia if so can you pay when you are there or is it best to go online
Written December 18, 2017
The Pyramid's interior is only open to the public at certain, limited times. Go to the coopculture website (the same website for the Colosseum, I'd paste it here TripAdvisor will not let me include the link) and search for the Piramide Cestia. I'd certainly try to book in advance to make sure there will be a tour and, if so, that you get a slot. Otherwise some private tour companies or groups will sometimes schedule a tour.
Written December 18, 2017
las figuras de hierro de personas encadenadas que hay en la acera de enfrente de la pirámide, que significan?
Written June 28, 2017
Headed to Rome in October - is the pyramid still covered with scaffolding?
Written August 25, 2015
There was no scaffolding when we were there in June. Apparently you can go into it every so often. Might be worth researching which days those are in case you happen to be there at that time.
Written August 26, 2015
There is a cemetery to the rear of the site which is very attractive and you can walk through to the site whilst it's under construction. I would recommend that you visit around midday (that's when we visited) hope this helps
Written January 27, 2015
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