The 2,000-year-old Colosseum is an architectural masterpiece of the ancient world and a must-visit on any trip to Rome.
Work on the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world, was started under the rule of the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD and completed ten years later by his successor and heir, Titus. In its day, it could hold a crowd of 50,000 rowdy Romans who would cheer and hurl abuse at the gladiators performing in the bloody entertainments down below. Although the thronging masses are now a distant memory, the physical building is very much still in existence despite being rocked by earthquakes, ransacked by stone thieves and eroded by air pollution.Canny travellers can book in advance, avoiding the lengthy queues, and gain access to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum on a single ticket. Audio guides are available and provide a more in-depth experience, but joining a special tour is the best way of making the most of this unique attraction.Once inside, you can explore the labyrinthine warren of tunnels and shafts that make up the hypogeum, the area underneath the original floor of the arena. From here you can get a real feeling of what it must have been like for a gladiator waiting to enter the arena. The re-enactments of battles and spectacular events that were held there would have involved sophisticated scenery and all manner of beasts from all over the Empire, including rhinos, elephants, tigers and even crocodiles. The upper levels and outer sections of the amphitheatre are also accessible and provide a fascinating insight into how the whole building was put together, including the different tiers of arches and supporting walls.Even though the gladiators, wild animals and bloodshed are a thing of the past, the complex is still used to this day for musical and theatrical events of a more leisurely nature.
The Colosseum is located in the centre of Rome and is served by buses and the nearby Colosseo Metro station.
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