From blockbuster movies to new series on streaming services, gladiators are having a moment.
And guests of Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, perched atop the Eternal City, will find an immersive, historic—and incredibly photographable—experience, when they book the hotel’s unique Gladiator Training Experience.
The hotel partners with combat instructors from Rome’s Gladiator School and training takes place there on the grounds of Rome Cavalieri. Each participant dresses in full gladiator kit, wearing a traditional tunic, Roman sandals, a belt, and protective gloves, while wielding a wooden training sword. Experts teach the difference between different gladiator styles of combat, including Gallus, Thracian, and Provocatores.
Sneak a peek into the experience:
According to Instructor Sina Hamidy, who hosts classes for kids and adults, the gladiator experience is a real-life history lesson.
“It’s not only a practical course, we also provide explanations about the real history of Rome,” Hamidy said. “It is important to know how this city was born, how it came to be what it is today, and how we should preserve it. That is our main goal.”
According to Hamidy, the reality of gladiator fighting is often surprising to participants.
“We might know something about it thanks to movies and the media, but history is often more complex than portrayed. Through this activity, we try to provide a fresh and clearer understanding of who the gladiators truly were,” Hamidy said, adding, “they were regarded as superheroes.”
