The Colosseum is the world’s largest amphitheater and one of the best examples of Roman and world architecture. No trip to Rome is complete without seeing it. In ancient times, the Roman Empire held gladiator fights in the Colosseum to entertain the masses. At its peak, the Colosseum could hold about 70,000 people. And if that wasn’t enough, the Colosseum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
What can you do at the Coliseum?
When you walk into the place, it’s an awe-inspiring sight. It is a massive building with impressive architecture, but you don’t have to be an architect to appreciate it. The shape of the building is elliptical, and it is actually just a piece of the original building that was destroyed by earthquakes. Inside the building, you can get an idea of how big the spectator stands were, and from the fifth floor, you can see the whole building. The way it looks is impressive. What’s left of the stage used for the shows and the cages where the animals lived are in the lower part. Only guided tours, which can be booked in advance or on the spot, are allowed in these areas (for an additional fee).
The building is beautiful when lit up at night, so if you go there in the afternoon, it’s worth staying until dark to see it.
What do you need to know?
Because it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the lines at the entrance can be very long and take several hours. The best way to avoid waiting in line is to buy a ticket online ahead of time, preferably from Israel. You get the tickets by email, and you’ll need to print them out because you’ll need to show them at the door. Please remember that the tickets are only suitable for a specific date and time range. If you try to go to the Colosseum outside those times, you won’t be able to use the tickets you bought. When you get there and see how different the lines are for people who bought tickets in advance and people who bought them on the spot, you’ll realize how important this tip is:)
If you also want to go to the forum, you should buy a combined ticket, which is much cheaper. The tour of the Colosseum takes between two and a half and three hours, so it is essential to bring water, especially on hot days.
