After three years of construction work and closure, the Cestius Pyramid in Rome is ready to display its full splendor and does so with some free dates: with a sunset opening and daily visits, free guided tours are offered to a limited number of participants. Here is what you need to know.
The Cestius Pyramid in Rome Reopens
We resume on Friday, September 4 with free visits to the monument of the Cestius Pyramid in Rome, which after three years of closure will attract many visitors to Ostiense Square. The tomb, which was shaped like a pyramid for a political figure, was not a random design; following Rome’s conquest of Egypt, art and architecture influenced the era significantly, and in the capital you can still see several funerary monuments echoing those forms, with the Pyramid of Gaius Cestius being one of the most visible examples today.
The site becomes accessible again under an extraordinary program prepared by the Superintendence. For now, the announced openings run through October 31. The peculiarity of this first phase is that entry will be free. Note, however, that available spots are limited, so booking in advance for your preferred dates is advised.
The Updates to the Cestius Pyramid
The most noticeable change is the lighting. The external scenic system and the burial chamber’s illumination have been entirely rebuilt, one of the most intriguing spaces of the visit. Evening visits will be among September’s most appealing opportunities. Watching the Pyramid glow from the outside has long been part of the area’s urban landscape, but entering the monument in the evening will allow visitors to observe the project’s results inside the sepulchral chamber as well.
A new route has been created to improve accessibility, with improvements to the paving and to the elements guiding the entrance. The main gate at Ostiense Square has also been redesigned, adding a handrail along the staircase. The greenery around the Pyramid has undergone changes too, with the garden redesigned and the irrigation system rebuilt: new information panels will accompany the visit and the fencing has been upgraded. Part of the project also involved reorganizing areas occupied by the feline colony on-site, integrated into the overall site arrangement.
How to visit the Cestius Pyramid for free
The Cestius Pyramid reopens to free visits with a calendar spanning September and October. Several evening openings are planned, in addition to afternoon entries; plus a rich program is anticipated for the European Heritage Days. Access remains free, but there is one condition: you must reserve. Places are limited, and you cannot simply show up without a reservation.
Here are the scheduled dates:
- Friday, September 4, 11, 18 and 25: evening guided visits at 7, 8 and 9 PM. Each session lasts about 45 minutes, with a maximum of 30 people per slot.
- Saturday, September 5, 12 and 19: free visits at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 PM, up to 50 participants per entry.
- Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27: special opening for the European Heritage Days. Seven entries per day, at 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3 and 4 PM. In this case too, visits are free, with a maximum of 50 people per slot.
- Saturday, October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31: three afternoon openings, at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 PM, with availability up to 50 places.
