Colosseum, Rome

Imagine the days of gladitorial fighting with the Christians thrown amongst the lions. If you've seen the film Gladiator, you can imagine the occurrences within the arena. The name came from its 'colossal' size. It's construction commenced in AD 72 under the supervison of the Emperor Vespasian. It's location was on the site excavated by Nero for a lake for his gardens.

It is constructed from travertine which came from the quarries of Tivoli. A road was built especially for the transportation of the blocks. The inspiration for the design came from the Teatro di Marcello. The columns in the lower levels are of Doric design and further up you find Ionic and Corinthian columns.

It had a capacity of around 50,000. The design of the arena at the bottom of the built up seats is still followed by many sports arenas these days (such as the Olympic Stadium ... though I am sure the Colosseum is cleaner to sit in!)

Entry: €8 and includes entrance to the Palatine. Ticket office closes 1 hour before closing time.

Open: Every day from 9am. Winter closing: 4.30pm, Summer closing: 7.30pm.

An architectual and engineering marvel, the Colosseum's arena has been the model for stadiums ever since. The name Coliseum probably comes from the big bronze statue of about 38 metres, known as the "Colosso" (giant), that Nerone wanted built on his image in the Domus Aurea.

The Colosseum (which is also referred to as the Flavian Amphitheater) was begun by Emperor Vespasian, inaugurated by his son Tito in 80 A.D. and completed by Domitian. Located on marshy land between the Esquiline and Caelian Hills, it was the first permanent amphitheater to be built in Rome.

The Colosseum was designed to hold 50,000 spectators, and it had approximately eighty entrances so crowds could arrive and leave easily and quickly. It was designed with four storeys. The upper storey contained seating for lower classes and women. The lowest storey was preserved for prominent citizens. Below the ground were rooms and cages containing wild animals and mechanical devices. The cages could be hoisted, enabling the animals to appear in the middle of the arena.

Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games. Those games were a symbol of prestige and power and they were a way for an emperor to increase his popularity.

Open Hours
9a-7:30p end Mar-end Aug, 9a-7p Sep, 9a-6:30p Oct, 9a-4:30p end Oct-mid Feb, 9a-5p mid Feb-end Mar

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Colosseum is an absolute must see, a true icon of Rome which looks even more impressive during the night (pic 1) when the lighted Colosseum looks beautiful no matter that it was used as a venue of brutality.

It’s a big elliptical amphitheatre located east of the Roman Forum. It was completed in 80AD after 10 years of construction and had a capacity of about 50,000 people. Of course the history of this huge structure is much more interesting than the building itself (which stays partially ruined in case you don’t know) because thousands of people and animals died during “sport games” of gladiator battles, lion or other animal hunts (guess who was the winner against the lions, panthers and tigers), executions (the fight against a lion of an unarmed man was an execution too but more impressive for the spectators that were thirsty for blood) and other events like theatrical plays!

You can take pictures from many different angles(pics 3-4) but don’t forget to walk in the corridors too (pic 5), the only way to be protected from the sun.

Outside the Colosseum people wearing gladiator costumes will pose with a picture with you if you give some euro but better save your money and get inside and admire the site.

It is open daily from 8.30 and the entrance fee is €12

The ticket is valid for Colosseo+Mostra+Palatino+Forum. There’s usually a long line waiting for a ticket at Colosseum but if you use the other entrances you’ll buy your ticket quickly. If you want to see only Colosseum the only way to skip the line is to book online or buy the Roma Pass or go with a guided group.

The Colosseo of Rome is magnificent to see. The size is larger in person than the pictures that show off the curves of the stadium. I know that there are a lot of pics and comments on the Colosseo on VT, but first time tourists should know that the best way to get there is the 110 open trambus.

The 110 Open Bus stops right in front of the Colosseo and you can get off, explore the ruins and get back on the 110 later. Twelve stops in all on the 110 gets you to all the major attractions of Rome.

Colosseum is the place where the Roman kings bring the slaves and their prisoners to fight to death this place is full of blood and toutoure souls and tourist visiting it for what? even the walls are very old and painted with the blood of poor people this place is abig sham for these
Abbey

What else can I say without repeating what everybody knows? It has nothing to add to what we saw in movies, TV, guides and books. Only the sensation of being there, the sense of proportions, the success of passing all lines and controls.

Reaching an high place, we have the opportunity to free your imagination and mentally replace the crowds with guides and cameras by thousands of nervous people, breeding the smell of blood from below, and the comfort of being out of the arena. Browsing the lower corridors, it's possible to feel the imprisonment of the fighters, waiting for their destination.

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The Colloseum is an ampitheater in the center of the city of Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such mock sea battles, animal hunts executions. The Colloseum is today one of Rome's popular tourist attractions, receiving millions of visitors annually. A major restoration programme was carried out between 1993 and 2000 at a cost of 40 billion Italian lire.

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This is where once gladiators fought among themselves or wild beasts to entertain the crowds. Fortunately, such a brutality stopped in the 15th century.

The huge amphitheatre was built on the site of an artificial lake in 72 AD and took 10 years to be completed. It got its name after the nearby giant statue of Nero.

Although it's in ruins, the Colosseum's still fascinating, with a rich history behind it.

Open daily from 9am-1 hour before sunset;

admission fee (entrance to Palatine Hill included)