Colosseum, Rome

Favorite thing: This photos shows a map.

One of three found a few hundred feet from the coliseum.

It depicts how Rome took over the territories it conquered.. and shows its power in its heyday.

Very interesting from a historical point of view!

Favorite thing: Before going on holiday, we always do a lot of researching and homework prior to our trip.

Since being on VT, we naturally look for advice and tips on this site.

We like to know a certain amount about the area we are going to, the culture, the history etc. It puts one on the right footing I think, and can be very handy.

One example was the coliseum.

What one learns at school can hardly do it justice.

We did research on the history of it, the timeline.. and it changed over the years and had different uses. How it has been built and rebuilt and the stone, wood and other materials used. And why.

There is always a reason why things get made the way they do, and I would rather know why. It helps one appreciate the craftmanship and skill of those times.

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Favorite thing: This was amazing, seeing it no television is nothing compared to walking around inside of it! We had a really nice time here and got some great pictures too. It is 11 euros each to get in and we paid an extra 3.50 euros each for a guided tour and for immediate entry. We ended up skipping the guided tour and walking around by ourselves and the line seemed to be moving quite slow so the extra money was worth avoiding the line. I don't know what else to say about it other than it was simply amazing.

Fondest memory: I would have to say the whole trip, it was a really nice weekend.

Favorite thing: Once you`ve seen these amazing historic sites you will have already travelled over the manic cobbled streets and passed many fountains. Get next flight home cos the rest is repetitive and boring.

Fondest memory: Taxi ride to airport from hotel - Wacky races travelling 80 mph in traffic 4 vehicles wide in only 3 lanes of road!!!!!

Favorite thing: When you're standing in the queue and tour touts are shouting "You'll be in this queue for 40 minutes if you don't come with us" - ignore them, you'll end up in a huge group struggling to hear.
Instead check the times of the official tours - they're on lists in the window of the ticket office and only cost about 3-4 euro on top of your admission price. We ended up in a group of about 8 people, it was excellent.

Favorite thing: I suggest a walk around the colusseum at night. It is beautiful to see it lit up!!

And if you are interested, there is a bar crawl that meets in the park above the Colluseum metro stop almost every night. You'll hear them before you see them. All are welcome to join.

Favorite thing: Of course, a visit to Rome is not complete without makin a trip to the Colossuem coz...

1. it's one of my absolute fav buidling on earth, despite friends commentin that I'm inhumane for loving a place which had took the lives of so many

2. It's jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring structure.. Although work started on it back in AD 72, the artchitects clearly had the foresight to build in contingency plans.. which till to-date can still be considered as somewhat modern... eg, the adjustable roofing, in case of rain, the loos.... etc etc

Anyway, the movie Gladiator, was thoroughtly researched and seemed to have reflected the Colosseum as it was back in its days of glory... hence can be watched as reference... :P Cheers to Russell Crowe! heheheh

BUT.... a word of caution oh..

DO NOT BE SHOCKED if you're going to the colosseum via the metro..... This is coz, the huge monument is right smacked outside the metro station... so, there u were, happily getting ur tickets punched, turn around and PWOAH!!!!

Also, lots of muscly half naked dudes walkin about pretending to be gladiators and offering to pose in your photos... clicked away if u must, but be sure to haggle for the fees..... :P.

Oh.. thirdly... I personally don't think it's necessary to join one of those Imperial Tour or something something. Joined one and it bored us tremendously as the "tour" did not cover for entrance fee into the Colosseum, and no time was allowed for those interested, to enter without risking the whole "tour" abandoning them behind.

Favorite thing: When you go to Rome, the very first thing one must, must, must do is to visit the magnificent COLISEUM, once the scene of brutal spectacles before a 50,000 strong crowd!

This ancient Roman amphitheater was inaugerated in 80 A.D. and remains today a major tourist attraction.

Yes, the magic is still there....

Fondest memory: I don't know about you... but standing here at the Coliseum made me feel like Xena, the Warrior Princess. Yeah, coming to a city like Rome... well, it tends to bring out the other side of you.