 | Rome Colosseum Reviews | Tips 11 - 20 of 613 |  |
I took this photograph while touring the Colosseum. It shows the underbelly of the Colosseum where the animals were kept (the ones who fought with the Gladiators).
Back then, there was a moveable wooden floor that was covered in sand to soak up the blood! This subterranean area hid the animals and the mechanical lifts. Also, a net encircled the area so that the wild animals could not escape.
There were two gates at the Colosseum: one gate was for the victors, and it was called the Gate of Life. The other gate was for the losers, and it was called the Gate of Death. How morbid.
Although anyone could view the combat in the Colosseum, the seating arrangements were by social class and power.
Of course, the poor people sat on the wooden seats at the top; whereas, the emperor and other politicians sat on the podium, which was on the lowest level.
I've often read and also heard a tour guide say that there is an 8th Century Prophecy that said, "While the Colosseum stands, Rome shall stand; when the Colosseum falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, the world shall fall."
One guide that I heard talking to a tour group told them, "This quote was truly believed, so the often- neglected and plundered Colosseum was finally restored." From the looks on the tour member's faces, they were amazed, as was I.
Don't get the idea that the Colosseum is exactly the way it used to be. From what was left, they restored that part. I visited the last time in 1999, and I've been told that it has been restored even more since then. Leave a Comment Address: At the end of the Via dei Fori Imperiali
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Today, in Rome, the Coliseum is one of its most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. Although it survives only as a ruin, it still rates as one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering.
With eighty entrances, the Coliseum could hold upwards of 50,000 spectators. Public events such as gladiator fights, mock naval battles and wild animal hunts were held at the Coliseum. During the staged fights as many as 10,000 people were killed. Fighters were slaves, prisoners or volunteers. Spectators saw persecuted Christians killed by lions.
It's the postcard of Rome and though you will have to wait in a long line to get the tickets and enter, you will feel brought back in time to the Roman times once you're in! Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del Colosseo
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Maybe you’ll find the explanation to the less friendly atmosphere in Rome, just by thinking that one of the most famous monuments in Rome is the Coliseum, where people went in thousands and other thousands, just to see people get killed, or to kill…?
The incredibile theater was built 72-80 after Christ, by 20 000 slaves and people who had been captured during the Roman wars.
At it’s maximum it held a crowd of 50 000 people, as big as almost any big football-stadium nowadays!
The crowd were placed in the theater of blood, after their social status. Not sure which seats that were seen as the best, but Emperor always had his own place from where he decided everything.
From the beginning it was criminals and war-prisoners that had to make the fights in the arena. Later on also free men were fighting, hoping to be famous and win the golden prizes.
Many people say that also the first Christian people were thrown to the lions in the Coliseum, but that isn’t sure, and could just be a legend.
In 1999 the arena was heavily re-built, which made sure to make it more easy to visit and enter the theater. There are guided tours several times every day, and you could also enter just by yourself, which costs a lot less money.
According to me Coliseum still looks really fresh, and it’s hard to believe that it’s actually almost 2000 years old. Leave a Comment Directions: Take the metro B to Coloseum, or just follow any big street down from the trainstation Termini, and you should find it.
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Colosseum to me didn't look that special after seeing El Jem a few years ago in Tunisia. wether the weather and the dark dingy colour of the Ampitheatre - I don't know. Knowing me i t was the queues that put me off. In the end we waited and went to see the Colosseum and 11 Euros gets you entry to the Colosseum AND the Palatine, because we was in such a large group, we decided to do it this way. We found it easier and cheaper this way, plus being a big group we managed to haggle on a price which in the end worked out cheaper for us than paying singally. If you buy your tickets at the Palatine Hill you can walk straight down the reserved tickets aisle at the Colosseum which should save some time. We took about 10 minutes to get through security at the Colosseum. The queue to the ticket office after that looked about another 45-60 minutes. If you want an official Colosseum guided tour (3,50E each) or an audio tour (4,50E each), we never had one as one of our teachers knew everything and he was pointing out major artifacts throughtout the whole trip - therefore I can't comment on the quality if these tours. After my doubts I have to say that I was impressed with the Colosseum but I still believe El Jem is better though.
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The Colosseum is probably the most famous of all Roman landmarks. And that's no wonder really. In 8 years time 15000 people worked to complete the Flavian Amphitheatre as it was called back then. Vespasian started the construction works in 72AD. The theatre was inaugurated by Titus in 80AD. The theatre had seats for 50000 people and they all came to watch the bloody gladiator fights and wild beast shows. The inaugural games lasted 100 days in which 5000 animals were slaughtered.
In 217AD the Coliseum was repeatedly struck by lightning and all the wooden structures, which included the floor of the arena were destroyed. The city's seven fire fighting battalions and sailors from the fleet failed to quell the flames. After 6 years of renovation the Emperor Alexander Severus restored it to its ancient splendour.Despite the efforts of Constantine and his successors to abolish gladiatorial combats they were finally banned in 404 by Honorius.
For over a century therafter the only entertainments were combats with wild animals. The last spectacle was presented in 523. This led to progressive decay and alteration. Various parts of the structre were stripped of and used for building material. In the 19th century excavation works began.
Open: 9:00-19:00 (in winter untill 16:00)
Buy a Roma Archaeologia Card so you also have free acces to other museums and sites.
Price 20 EUR or discounted for 10 EUR (for EU residents between 18 and 24). Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del ColosseoDirections: Take the metro to Colosseo.
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The Colosseum when it was first built was known as the Flavian Amphitheater and was opened in 80 A.D by Titus (Roman emperor). There are 80 arches on the ground level, which were used as entrances into the colosseum - each arch is numbered (not in todays roman numerals though e.g IV is written as IIII on the colosseum). However today these entrances have bars across them to limit how people can enter the colosseum.
The amphitheater could hold approximately 70,000 people. The citizens would mainly have been men as the only women that were allowed in the theatre were usually 'working women' or vestal virgins. The emperor would have his own special seat and watch over all the fights deciding whether battles would be to the death or not (as you no doubt would have seen in the movie 'Gladiator').
You will notice when you go to the colosseum (as I recommend you do) that there are two main entrances into the interior of the amphitheater, one is larger than the other - this was the entrance of the gladiators, and the other smaller one, was the 'exit' for the gladiators that were killed. There were many different kinds of combats, man against man, man against animal and animal against animal. Animals were brought here from all over the world - like elephants, lions and even hippotamus.
A large portion of the colosseum still stands today, remarkable considering it is almost two millenia old. The reason why one side of the theatre has collapsed and not the other is because for hundreds of years one side had been in the sun and the other in the shade, the material of the side in the sun was weakened by the heat and caused it to fall apart (with the aid of an earthquake).
The colosseum is a very impressive structure, I went around the theatre with a guide (from Romaround tours) and found the information very helpful in understanding the context of the colosseums place in Roman history. It is an unbelievable place to see and I suggest that you check it out for yourself! Leave a Comment
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The Colosseum is at the top of most peoples lists to visit, when they come to Rome, and i was no different....... once i laid my eyes upon it i was stung by its powerful, towering presence.
It was originally commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72, and emperors would often use it to throw up great gladitorial combats and bloody animal fights for the thousands, in order to gain popularity.
The capacity of the Colossum was around 55,000, and the hoards would be seated in sections according to rank.
Once inside you can get an audio tour, but far better to wander around this awesome ampitheatre at your own pace, to truly understand what went on inside its walls, and to imagine what a packed Colosseum ready for a battle would have felt like.......
You'll also find dozens of men outside dressed in gladiators costumes, so if you have a little extra money to burn then you can have your Colosseum experience 'heightened' by having your picture taken with an 'ancient' warrior.
You may also be surprised, once inside, that the arena floor is no longer in place. What you can see now is a network of lifts and old cages for wild nimals. Leave a Comment Address: You cannot miss it........Phone: 06 39 96 77 00Directions: MTR to Colosseo, or the #3 tram to Piazza Colosseo. There are plenty of buses that stop here. The museum is open 9am-7pm daily, but closes earlier in winter.
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Building of the Roman Colosseum, or the Flavian Amphitheater, began by the Roman Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. It was inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 AD, though not completed untill the reign of Domitian (AD 81-96).
Its sole purpose was to hold Gladiatorial games to keep the Roman masses entertained. Free bread would keep them fed and therefore, it was hoped, they would not rise up or conspire against the Imperial government.
The building is elliptical and covers an area of about 6 acres. It has four levels the first three layers are in the three classical styles of architecture: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The top layer had square openings. The whole building was constructed out of stone, concrete, brick and marble, Most of the marble was stripped from the building in the middle ages and the stone used for the construction of St Peter and other prominent buildings.
The Colosseum over 80 entrances and could seat over 50 000 people, divided into four levels of seats. The lower levels were for emperors and the upper class.
Spectators could be sheltered by canvass in case the sun was to hot. The canvass was pulled over the top of the coloseum.
The arena was made from wood and covered in sand. Today yopu will only see the subterranean passages where prisoners, gladiators and animals were kept immediately before their appearance in the Games. Gladiators were expected to fight to the death before each performance they would salute the Emperor with the famous saying “Caesar those who are about to die salute you!”
The last Gladiatorial displays were banned in AD 438, the last animal show was in AD 523.
Much of the marble was looted, when the medieval Popes put classical buildings under their personal protection the Colosseum was saved from total destruction.
We visited the inside of the Coloseum, and were somewhat disappointed by the sights. Nothing indicated the former seats and there were a lot of scaffolding supporting the rubble. Nevertheless more pictures in our Coloseum travelogue. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del ColosseoPhone: 0639967700
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Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, it was the largest building of the era.
The emperor Vespasian started construction of the Colosseum in 72. It was completed in 80, the year after Vespasian's death.
The huge amphitheater was built on the site of an artificial lake, part of Nero's huge park in the center of Rome which also included the Golden House (Domus Aurea) and the nearby Colossus statue. This giant statue of Nero also gave the building its current name.
The elliptical building is immense, measuring 188m by 156m and reaching a height of more than 48 meter (159 ft). The Colosseum could accommodate some 55,000 spectators who could enter the building through no less than 80 entrances.
Above the ground are 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.
The Colosseum was covered with an ernormous awning known as the velarium. This protected the spectators from the sun. It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes. A team of some 1,000 men was used to install the awning.
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.
Games were held for a whole day or even several days in a row. They usually started with comical acts and displays of exotic animals and ended with fights to the death between animals and gladiators or between gladiators. These fighters were usually slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. Sometimes free Romans and even Emperors took part in the action.
Hundred-day games were held by Titus, Vespasian's successor, to mark the inauguration of the building in 80 A.D. In the process, some 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del Colosseo, Via dei Fori ImperialiPhone: 700 4261Directions: Metro: Colosseo Bus: 11, 13, 15, 27, 30b, 81, 85, 87, 118, 186, 673 to Piazza del Colosseo
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Get the tickets at the entrance of the Palatine Hill located on Via di San Gregorio, very close to the Colosseum itself.
There is also another ticket office in the middle of Via dei Fori Imperiali, on your right hand side going from Piazza Venezia towards the Colosseum. This would actually be the entrance to the Roman Forum.
With the same ticket(11 euro) you visit Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum. It opens always at 8.30am but the closing time varies during the year.
It will be closed on the following days:
December 25th
January 1st
May 1st Leave a Comment Address: Piazza del Colosseo N°1Phone: 06.7005469Directions: from Piazza Venezia take Via dei Fori Imperiali till the end.
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