Emperors Behaving Badly
The most powerful men on Earth, and also the pettiest. Nero didn't fiddle, the Gladiator emperor died in his bathtub, and Caligula's horse got a marble bedroom. A tour of imperial Rome's worst behavior, where the truth is always pettier than the legend.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 25 min · ~0.9 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 8 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
8 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"You're standing in the part of Rome where the emperors lived, played, and behaved absolutely abominably. And most of what you think you know about them is either wrong, or somehow not as strange as the truth."
"Down in the Forum, look for a long courtyard lined with statues of women, with the remains of a large house behind it. This was the home of the Vestal Virgins, and their story is the strangest kind of power the Roman world produced."
"Time to sort the emperors' real crimes from the ones I pinned on them. And I did add a few. At Nero's Golden House — the rotating dining room, the perfume ceilings, the fire he didn't start but happi..."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionYou're standing in the part of Rome where the emperors lived, played, and behaved absolutely abominably.41.8906, 12.4954 Read this stop
- 22The Domus Aurea (Nero's Golden House)You're on the Oppian Hill, in a quiet park with pine trees and joggers. Underneath your feet, buried in the hillside, is what's left of the...41.8906, 12.4954 Read this stop
- 33The ColosseumThe Colosseum. And yes — the emperor from the movie Gladiator was a real man. His name was Commodus, and he genuinely did come down into...41.8902, 12.4922 Read this stop
- 44The Arch of ConstantineRight beside the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine — the biggest, grandest triumphal arch in Rome, built to celebrate the emperor...41.8898, 12.4905 Read this stop
- 55The House of the Vestals (Roman Forum)Down in the Forum, look for a long courtyard lined with statues of women, with the remains of a large house behind it.41.8916, 12.4867 Read this stop
- 66Palatine HillYou're up on the Palatine Hill, surrounded by the ruins of the imperial palaces. This is the ground the word "palace" comes from — and it's...41.8892, 12.4875 Read this stop
- 77Circus MaximusYou're looking at a long grassy field where people walk their dogs. This was the Circus Maximus, the chariot-racing track that held around a...41.8859, 12.4853 Read this stop
- 88The RevealTime to sort the emperors' real crimes from the ones I pinned on them. And I did add a few. At Nero's Golden House — the rotating dining...41.8859, 12.4853 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The Rome city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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Emperors Behaving Badly
$9.99 · one-time