Colosseum - Rome, Italy

The Arch of Constantine

left over marble

This is the biggest and most prominent structure in the Roman world, but is also the most famous monument in Rome and is known as the Colosseum. Started by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavia family, it was opened by his son Titus in 80 A.D.

The opening ceremony lasted one hundred days during which people saw great fights, shows and hunts involving the killing of thousands of animals. The Colosseum is one of the most prominent ancient structures. Imagine it all completely covered in splendid white travertine stone slabs. It had four floors; the first three had eighty arches each; the arches on the second and third floors were decorated with huge statues. 

What we see nowadays is just the skeleton of what was the greatest arena in the ancient world. Three-fifths of the outer surrounding brick wall are missing. In the Middle Ages, when no longer in use, the Colosseum was transformed into an enormous marble, lead and iron quarry used by Popes to build Barberini Palace, Piazza Venezia and even St. Peter's. The holes still seen in many columns are just the holes made to extract the lead and iron used by the Romans for the nails inside the marble blocks.

The amphitheater could hold up to seventy thousand spectators. Entry was free for all Roman citizens, but places were divided according to social status, similar to seating divisions in today’s theatres; the seats at the top were for the common people, but with distinct sections for men and women, the nearer you got to the arena the higher your social status; in the front row were senators, vestals, priests and - naturally - the emperor.

I manage to avoid the long dwindling bee line and enter right away with my printed online ticket at hand.

Travel Tips: Buy ticket online here to skip the queuing line, the online ticket entitle you 2 days validity to roam between the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

If you feel the need to save some money and make a bee line queue with the rest of the budge visitors. Every first Sunday of the month free admission for all visitors to the site during the ordinary opening time.

Pictures by MSW

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