Colosseum in Rome

Perhaps the history and culture of ancient Rome knew nothing more glorious than the Colosseum, also known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium.

Built during the extensive reconstruction of Rome, the Colosseo has been the most prestigious place of entertainment for residents of the capital and the empire for four centuries. The colossal arena on which captive soldiers and slaves displayed their martial prowess has, over time, become a trademark of Rome.

What to Know Before Visiting the Colosseum

Tickets – How to Visit the Colosseum?

A full ticket to enter the Colosseum costs a minimum of 18 EUR. The price includes entrance to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. The ticket is valid for 48 hours – one time for each attraction. Reservations cost an additional 2 EUR.
A discount ticket costs 7.5 EUR and is valid for EU citizens ages 18 to 25.

Tourists under 18 can get free tickets at the ticket office, provided the parents have a reservation.

Read detailed instructions for purchasing tickets to the Colosseum.

Opening Hours of the Colosseum in Rome

Opening hours:

• from 8:30 a.m. to sundown:
• 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – 2 January 2 until 15 February;
• 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. – 16 February until 15 March;
• 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – 16 March until the last Saturday in March;
• 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. – last Saturday in March until 31 August;
• 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. – during September;
• 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 1st to the last Sunday in October;
• 8:30 to 16:30 – the last Sunday in October until December 31.

History

It is interesting to note that the idea to build such a colossal structure came from Emperor Vespasian (Titus Flavius Vespasianus) against the background of his predecessor’s architectural excesses. Emperor Nero (Nero Clavdius Caesar), deposed in 68 AD, left behind an obscenely luxurious Golden Palace (“Golden House” of Nero (Domus Aurea)) and a number of no less expensive buildings. It took Vespasian and his companions several years to restore order to the imperial lands and fill the coffers devastated by the reckless Nero.

Building

In addition to the affairs of the state, the new emperor did not lose sight of the needs of the Romans for cultural entertainment.

Vespasian ordered the vast garden, with a pond in the capital, to be transformed into a new center of social life, a theater. The beginning of the construction work is considered to be the end of 71 – beginning of 72 AD. The flat area between Rome’s three hills, the Celio, the Esquilino, and the Palatino, was ideal for the purpose.

This massive undertaking would have required an enormous expenditure of human resources and money. However, the recent war with the Jews had provided Vespasian with over 100,000 captive slaves and the necessary funds. The captives worked to extract travertine and building stone 20 miles from Rome near Tivoli and toiled hard to bring the materials to the capital.
The theater was erected at the eastern end of the Roman Forum by AD 80. By this point, Emperor Vespasian had died, passing the reins to his son, Titus Flavius Vespasianus. The successor not only built the Colosseum in Rome but celebrated its completion with a lavish ceremony and consecrated it with his family name, the Flavius Amphitheatre.

Capacity and repertoire of Antic Colosseum

The building held between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, with an average of 65,000 visitors. “Its repertoire included gladiatorial fights, sea battles, battles involving wild animals, executions, a reenactment of historical battles, and even theatrical performances based on ancient myths.

Early Ages

The Colosseum quickly became a place of interest, so Titus, his brother Domitianus (lat. Titus Flavius Domitianus), and subsequent emperors of Rome were regularly engaged in improving the structure.

In the 3rd century AD, the amphitheater was too severely damaged by fire, so Alexander the North (Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexandrus) restored the structure.

In the 5th century AD, the great Rome renounced the Pantheon of pagan gods to finally convert to Christianity. Immediately, Emperor Honorius Augustus (Latin: Flavius Honorius Augustus) issued a ban on gladiatorial fights contrary to the new religion’s commandments. However, the Colosseum retained its status as an entertainment venue, offering spectators the torture of wild animals. In the 5th century, Italy fell under the domination of the Visigoths, which led to the gradual destruction of the Flavian amphitheater.

Middle Ages

At the end of the 6th century, a small sanctuary was built inside the Colosseum, the arena began to serve as a cemetery, and the niches and arches of the amphitheater housed shops and workshops.

In 1200, the aristocratic Frangipane family took full possession of the building and began to fortify it.

In the mid-14th century, Rome was shaken by a massive earthquake that caused the southern outer wall of the Colosseum to collapse. The building that had begun to crumble was actively used to construct medieval churches, castles, villas, and hospitals. Medieval architects were exceedingly zealous in breaking out the bronze masonry partitions. Without additional reinforcement, the walls of the giant arena began to crumble many times over.

Modern times

Beginning in the 16th century, the church gained significant influence over the Colosseum. Pope Sixtus V planned to build a wool processing plant there. And in the 17th century, a new entertainment appeared in the amphitheater: bullfighting. In the middle of the 18th century, Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed the Colosseum a sacred site for the Catholic Church, an early Christian shrine.

Subsequently, the pontificate made repeated attempts to restore the historical monument. During the XIX century, extensive work was carried out to excavate the amphitheater arena and strengthen the damaged facade. The structures acquired their present appearance during the reign of Benito Mussolini, the Duce of Mussolini.

Roman Colosseum Today

Today the Colosseum has become one of the most famous landmarks of Rome. Every day thousands of tourists visit the ancient Roman amphitheater and its surroundings, and the annual flow of visitors is several million.
Tip: To enjoy the Colosseum’s splendor, you can meet the dawn during an extraordinary individual excursion of the team GID.ITALY4.ME – we sincerely recommend falling in love with Rome in the right company.

Structure of the Colosseum

The appearance of the Colosseum has been borrowed from the theatres typical of late Roman times.

In plan, the amphitheater is elliptical in size: 189 m by 156 m, with a base area of about 24,000 m2. The height of the outer wall was 48-50 m, and the perimeter was 545 m. The arena itself is an oval with a width of 55 m and a length of 87 m. From the spectators, the arena was fenced with a wall five meters high.

Appearance

It took about 100,000 m3 of travertine to build the outer wall. The stones, laid without cement, were bolted together with metal piles, weighing 300 tons in total. The past centuries and a major earthquake had robbed the Colosseum of its former luster. Only the northern segment was left. The rest dispersed to building materials for the medieval inhabitants of Rome. And only in the 19th century, the authorities decided to restore the Colosseum.

The surviving part of the theatre is three tiers of arches, one on top of the other. The whole construction is crowned by the attic, decorated with pilasters of the Corinthian order. In the times of Ancient Rome, each arch of the second and the third tier was surrounded by a statue, representing one of the divine patrons of the Latins.

Inside the Original Version of the Roman Colosseum

The architects of antiquity had the difficult task of granting easy access to visitors. 80 entrances were built on the underground floor of the building. Seventy-six were intended for ordinary people – the remaining four were for nobles. The main northern entrance was reserved for the emperor and his entourage. The four “elite” gates were decorated in artificial marble and differed favorably from the standard portals.

To visit the amphitheater, the ancient spectators bought tickets on which their row and seat number were engraved. Visitors could get to their seats through passageways under the tribunes. The vomitorium was also used as emergency exit.

According to historical records from the 4th century AD, the capacity of the Colosseum was 87 thousand spectators. The visitors were seated according to their social status. Separate boxes were provided for the emperor and the vestal virgins to the north and south of the Colosseum, respectively. These boxes offered the best view of the arena.

Slightly higher were the boxes of the nobility, the seats were personalized and engraved with their names. Still higher were the tribunes of the Roman warriors – the maenianum primum. The next level, the maenianum secundum, was for the wealthy Romans, followed by seats for ordinary people. Another category of seats was for different citizens: boys with teachers, soldiers on leave, foreign guests, priests, etc.

In the time of Domitian, a gallery was added on the roof of the Colosseum. Since then, slaves, women, and the poorest spectators could visit performances. It was supposed to be all standing room only.

The arena

The arena was based on a dense wooden platform 83 by 43 meters, generously sanded on top – the Latin word for “harena.”

This planking is concealed underneath a deep dungeon called the hypogeum. Today little remains of the original Roman arena, but the hypogeum can be seen in detail. It consists of a system of two-level tunnels and cages located under the arena. This is where gladiators and wild animals were kept before they came out to battle.

Eighty vertical elevators lifted animals, including elephants. Such complicated mechanisms required constant repair and renewal. The hypogeum was connected by a chain of underground tunnels and had passages outside it. Warriors and animals were brought to the place of performance from nearby barracks and cowsheds. There was also a certain passage in the dungeon for the needs of the emperor and the vestals.

Many mechanisms of various types were located in the dungeon. For example, the forerunners of elevators and structures that opened the cages of particularly dangerous predators. Researchers have also discovered the remains of an ancient hydraulic system that allowed the entire arena to be lowered or raised quickly!

Several auxiliary institutions were close to the Colosseum. The Ludus Magnus (“Great Polygon”), known as the Gladiator School. One of the 4 great gladiatorial schools delivered warriors to the rally ground by means of a unique underground tunnel. There was also the Ludus Matutinus school nearby. Here warriors trained, who specialized in battles with animals.

Interesting Facts about the Roman Colosseum

Remember some of these amazing facts and surprise your friends when you visit the Colosseum.

1. Did you know that the Colosseum in Rome, despite being ancient, still has about 1,500 seats that are functional today? Pretty impressive, considering how much it’s gone through over the centuries. And speaking of impressive, world-famous artists who have actually performed there! Ray Charles kicked things off in May 2002, followed by Paul McCartney in May 2003. Then came Elton John in September 2005 and Billy Joel in July 2006. Imagine enjoying a concert with such a historic backdrop.
2. The Colosseum has also made its mark in pop culture. If you’re into video games, you’ve probably seen it in Age of Empires, Civilization, or Assassin’s Creed. And if movies are more your thing, you might remember it from Roman Holiday (1953) or the epic Gladiator (2000). Even musicians like Bob Dylan and the Russian rock band Aria have paid homage to this iconic structure in their songs.
3. Let’s go back to its origins for a minute. The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was finished in 80 AD, and back then, it could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. In terms of size, it was gigantic, measuring 620 feet (189 meters) long and 512 feet (156 meters) wide, with a height of around 157 feet (48 meters). It wasn’t just the size, though. The design was way ahead of its time, with layers of seating, secret corridors, and even trapdoors to surprise the crowd during gladiator battles.
4. At its peak, the Colosseum hosted all sorts of wild events: gladiator fights, animal hunts, and even mock sea battles. Some historians believe that over the centuries, more than 500,000 people and over a million animals lost their lives in these brutal spectacles.
5. Fast-forward to the Middle Ages, and the Colosseum’s grandeur had faded. After the Roman Empire fell, it wasn’t used for games anymore. Instead, it became a fortress for powerful families. By the 12th century, people had started taking its stones to build other things in the city. And by the 16th century, it was basically a big grazing field for cattle! People even called it “The Cow Field.”
6. One of the coolest things about the Colosseum was its engineering. It had an underground maze called the Hypogeum, where animals and gladiators were kept before they made their dramatic appearances in the arena. Modern stadiums can’t compare when it comes to that kind of theatrical flair, though they do outdo the Colosseum in size. Take Michigan Stadium, for example—it can hold over 107,000 people, way more than the Colosseum ever could.
7. And get this, the Colosseum even had a retractable roof! Well, kind of. They used huge pieces of canvas to create a shade system called the velarium, which protected spectators from the sun and rain. Not bad for ancient engineering, right?
8. The Colosseum was so influential that its design inspired amphitheaters all over the Roman Empire. While today’s stadiums focus mostly on sports, the Colosseum was a stage for everything from violent battles to reenactments of mythological stories.
9. Another fascinating detail is that the Colosseum was once covered in marble and limestone. Its outer walls were clad in bright travertine marble, giving it a brilliant appearance. Unfortunately, a lot of that marble was later taken to help build St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
10. Despite suffering damage from several earthquakes, including a massive one in 1349 that caused part of it to collapse, the Colosseum remains a marvel of Roman engineering. In fact, the fallen stones were repurposed to build other structures around Rome.
11. Today, the Colosseum continues to captivate millions. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, drawing about 7 million visitors annually. It’s truly a living testament to Rome’s glorious past and a reminder of its enduring legacy.

Restoration – How Was the Colosseum Cleaned with Toothbrushes?

The Colosseum’s restoration project lasted for 2 years, from 2015 to 2016, and cost 25 million euros. The sponsor of the project was the Italian luxury shoe company Tod’s. You can read more on their page www.todsgroup.com/en/sustainability/colosseum.

Permission for the restoration was granted only several years after the offer was made by the owner of Tod’s, billionaire and Roman patriot Diego Della Valle. The delay was caused by bureaucratic procedures and the involvement of various heritage preservation organizations.

On the scaffolding surrounding Rome’s most iconic symbol, specialists meticulously cleaned the dirt and soot that had accumulated on the building’s walls over the centuries. Since the Colosseum’s official opening in 80 AD, this was the first cleaning of the walls.

Their tools were simple but effective – toothbrushes. These were perfect for cleaning the small cracks and crevices that had formed in the originally creamy-white travertine (a type of limestone) used to build the Colosseum. Larger brushes were used to clean the giant stone blocks forming the 50-meter-high walls of the Flavian Amphitheater.

To soften the stone, a system of pipes and nozzles sprayed fine mists of water over the dirty areas. After several hours of water exposure, specialists wearing rubber boots, waterproof suits, gloves, and armed with brushes would begin their work.

Restorers scraped off the thick layer of black grime and streaks of green mold that covered the walls of the historic monument, leaving behind a clean surface with a pinkish tint, which naturally forms on the creamy-white travertine. This patina is a kind of oxidation that doesn’t harm the stone blocks but actually protects them from urban pollution.

The cleaning also covered the 80 giant arched entrances leading to the arena, as well as the facade. The total surface area that experts painstakingly cleaned amounted to about 13,000 square meters.

Hotel With a View of the Colosseum

The closest hotel to the Colosseum is the Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo hotel.

4-star hotel, renovated in 2013, offers its guests comfortable rooms, considering their personal preferences (rooms for smokers, non-smokers, children, and people with disabilities). The terrace overlooks Rome and the Flavio Amphitheatre. The swimming pool on the roof is an excellent addition to it!

• Address: Via Labicana 144
• Price per room: 150 Euros.
• Web site: www.booking.com

How to Get to the Colosseum

The Colosseum is located in the historic center of Rome, near the Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia. See a step-by-step guide to reach any Roman tourist attraction.

• Address: Piazza del Colosseo
• Metro: line B (Colosseo station), line A (Manzoni), and then take tram No. 3.
• Buses: No. 60, 75, 85, 87, 271, 571, 175, 186, 810, C3, and e-minibus No. 117.
• Tram: No.3.