A day in Rome inspired by ancient Egypt is a fascinating journey through the centuries, where the legacy of the Nile intertwines with the heart of the Eternal City.


Starting from Piazza Navona—a symbol of Roman Baroque and a place rich in references to the Egyptian world—you are immediately immersed in the atmosphere of the Grand Tour and the exotic fascinations that so captivated artists and intellectuals. The first point of contact is at the center of the square: Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. The towering obelisk above it, known as the Agonalis Obelisk, comes from the Temple of Isis in the Campus Martius. Though created in Roman times, it imitates the pharaonic style and stands as testimony to the ancient Egyptian cult that spread throughout the capital of the Empire.

From the square, the path continues to Santa Maria sopra Minerva, just steps from the Pantheon. In front of the church stands the whimsical "Pulcino della Minerva", Bernini’s little elephant carrying a small Egyptian obelisk—also from a temple dedicated to Isis. This charming combination of an exotic animal and a sacred Egyptian symbol reflects the cultural fusion of Baroque Rome, where ancient Egypt was reinterpreted with both irony and sophistication.

A short walk away is Via di Pie’ di Marmo, where a colossal Egyptian foot—all that remains of a grand statue—can be seen. This area was once home to the Iseum Campense, the largest Roman sanctuary dedicated to Egyptian cults. Built in the Republican era and expanded under Caligula and Domitian, the complex spanned an enormous area adorned with authentic sphinxes, statues, and obelisks. Some, like the obelisk in Piazza Navona, came directly from here. Remains of the Iseum can still be seen near Via di San Stefano del Cacco and in the recently reopened Iseum Museum, included in this tour.

Continuing toward Piazza Venezia, you reach one of the key locations of the itinerary: the area where the Iseum once stood. Though no longer visible on the surface, its presence is echoed by numerous archaeological finds—Egyptian statues, sphinxes, and obelisk fragments. Nearby stands one of Rome’s “talking statues”: Madama Lucrezia. Likely part of a statue of Egyptian or Hellenistic cult origin, she later became a satirical symbol in Roman street culture yet still retains the mysterious aura of her origins.

From here, crossing the Capitoline Hill and descending toward the Circus Maximus, you may take a short detour to the Forum Boarium to admire the Temple of Hercules Victor. Though not Egyptian, its circular form and ancient aura evoke Eastern architectural styles, fitting seamlessly into the day’s exotic theme.

The itinerary concludes at the Pyramid of Cestius, an authentic Egyptian-style pyramid built in the 1st century BCE as the tomb of Gaius Cestius. Standing about 36 meters high and entirely clad in white marble, the pyramid is a striking example of the Egyptian craze that swept Rome’s elite following the conquest of Egypt. Located next to the Aurelian Walls, beside Porta San Paolo, this monument is remarkable for its preservation and visual impact. Here, the connection to Egypt becomes tangible—no longer filtered through artistic reinterpretation, but expressed in an authentic architectural form, unique in all of Europe.