Colosseum

The core of ancient Rome occupies an area contained by the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, the Capitoline Hill and the Imperial Forums. While the important sites of historic interests are covered in the above mentioned area, others are throughout the city.A tour of ancient Rome usually starts with the Colosseum and the adjacent Imperial Forum.
This elliptical amphitheatre is in the centre of Rome and is one of the greatest works of Roman engineering. It withstood many earthquakes and still remains an iconic symbol of ancient Rome.It was commissioned by Vespasian late in 70 AD, opened during the reign of his son Titus in 80 AD. It was then an immense oval-shaped building, nearly two football fields long, over 16 stories high and equipped with 80 entrance/exits, which helped to fill it and flush it very quickly when events ended. The Colosseum was originally equipped with a movable velarium that provided relief from the sun, so the citizens of the Empire could watch in comfort as people. In addition, the Colosseum was constructed in a manner that allowed the stadium floor to be flooded and used to recreate mock naval battles.

The Colosseum was used to host gladiator shows and many other events. One of them is the animal hunt. This involved wild animals such as rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, elephants, Barbary lions, panthers, leopards, bears, Caspian tigers and crocodiles. Facing them sometimes would be animals and sometimes humans. The men who fought these animals were either prisoners or thirsty for fame.

Advice: Please be patient as there will be large lines in front of the ticket counters.

Getting there: It is about 2km from Roma Termini. You can always walk or there is a metro station just below the termini and one outside the Colosseum.

Timings: Buy your tickets at the palatine hill ticket booth to avoid the lines to the Colosseum. This is a combo ticket that will get you into the Colosseum, palatine hill and the forums. The Colosseum is open every day of the year, excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and opens at 08.30 AM; closing times are as follows:

Last Sunday of March to end August, 07.15 PM
September, 07.00 PM
October, 06.30 PM
November to February 15th, 04.30 PM
February 16th to March 15th, 05.00 PM
March 16th to last Saturday of March, 05.30 PM