Mausoleum of Augustus Tomb

Address: Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Website: https://www.mausoleodiaugusto.it

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-7:30pm, closed Mondays (hours may vary seasonally)

Admission: €10 (adult, approximate); reduced and free-entry times available

The Mausoleum of Augustus is an ancient Roman tomb in the Campus Martius area of Rome, built by the first Roman emperor, Augustus. Construction began in the late 1st century BCE as a dynastic burial monument for the imperial family.

The structure appears as a large circular tumulus composed of concentric rings and terraced levels; visitors can see the monument’s exterior masonry and the restored internal exhibition areas. Recent restorations have opened museum displays that present archaeological finds and allow access to upper terraces for views of the surrounding historic district.

Commissioned by Augustus during the late Republic and early Empire period, the mausoleum served as the burial place for members of the Julio-Claudian family and later imperial interments. Over the centuries it fell into disuse, suffered damage and underwent multiple alterations before 21st-century restoration work transformed parts of it into a museum.

Located on the northern edge of the ancient Campus Martius, the mausoleum sits near the Ara Pacis and Piazza Augusto Imperatore in central Rome, within walking distance of other major archaeological sites.

• Restoration and access: A panoramic walkway and museum spaces were added during recent restorations, giving public access to interpretive displays and views from the upper terraces.

What to See#

• Circular tumulus: A large circular tumulus built as an imperial tomb with concentric terraces and an internal core that originally contained burial chambers and monuments.
• Exhibition galleries: Museum exhibition spaces created during recent restorations that display finds and interpret the mausoleum’s imperial role.

From Rome’s Termini station take tram line 3 toward Valle Giulia and get off at Museo Nazionale/Argentina, then walk ~12 minutes southwest along Via dei Fori Imperiali. Alternatively take Metro Line A to Ottaviano and a 20-25 minute walk through the historic center (past the Roman Forum) to Piazza Augusto Imperatore.

• Enter from Piazza Augusto Imperatore and pause at the bronze statue of Augustus - the sculptor Angelo Zanelli's work (1921) marks the modern approach.
• Book tickets in advance; guided tours sometimes include the subterranean corridors and are limited to small groups.
• Look for the circular wear on the tufa steps and the copper-green buttresses - small details from the 1930s restoration that most guidebooks miss.