This pyramid was built the years 18 and 12 BC as a sepulchre for Caio Cestio, a magistrate, representative of the plebeians and member of the College of Septemviri Epulones. 

Taking inspiration from the Egyptian pyramids, quite fashionable in Rome during the Augustan age, that of Caio Cestio is the only surviving example of Roman pyramids. The pyramid itself is enclosed in the Aurelian Walls. On one face of the pyramid is an inscription which states that it took 330 days to complete the construction.

Measuring some 36 metres in height, 29.6 in width, its current size seems smaller because of the raising of the road on which it stands. The structure is clad in marble from Carrara and, thanks to recent restoration work, the interior can now be visited and where one can see the refined frescoes painted onto white backgrounds.