Mausoleum of Augustus, Roman imperial mausoleum in Campo Marzio, Italy.
The Mausoleum of Augustus is a circular Roman burial structure in white travertine stone in Campo Marzio with a diameter of roughly 87 meters (285 feet) and originally three levels stacked one above the other. A straight corridor led from the outer edge to the center, where the burial chamber stood.
Emperor Augustus commissioned the construction of this tomb in 28 BC, shortly after he took sole power in Rome. Members of the imperial family were laid to rest here over several generations before the use ended in the second century.
The two obelisks that once stood beside the entrance came from Egypt and carried their original inscriptions. Visitors entering through the main portal would pass between these stone columns to see the written record of the emperor's deeds.
The site opens Tuesday through Sunday between 9 AM and 4 PM, closing on Monday for maintenance. Access is through a modern entrance door on the north side, leading to the preserved sections of the lower level.
Inside the central chamber stood three rectangular niches carved from white marble for the urns of the most important figures in the ruling family. The middle niche was likely reserved for the emperor's own ashes and thus set apart from the two on either side.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
