Colosseum in Rome

It is the greatest remaining structure of once most powerful empire that the world has seen. It is a symbol of the city of Rome and the building that almost every person in the world knows about. It was a symbol of power where slaves and free men searched for fame and glory. Over time Colosseum lost its purpose till it finally became a tourist symbol showing just a glance of its former glory to the pilgrims from all over the world.

Colosseum is an amphitheatre, a structure that was used in Ancient Rome as a place for public spectacles. These spectacles varied from duels of gladiators, gladiators and animals (bears, crocodiles, lions, tigers ets.) to re-enactments of historical battles and executions. Colosseum was originally known as Flavian Amphitheatre (Aphitheatrum Flavium) because it was constructed by one of the dynasties of the Ancient Roman Imperators called the Flavian dynasty (ruled from 69 AD till 96 AD). The construction of this colossal building started in 70AD during the rule of the first member of the dynasty, Vespasian, and was finished by his son and successor Titus in 80AD. According to some sources, the funds needed for such a colossal project were gathered from the loots of war, even those from the Great Jewish Revolt in 70AD and the siege of Jerusalem.
Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre in the world and according to some estimates it could hold between 50 and 80 thousand people. The location chosen for the construction of the amphitheatre was quite particular. After the great fire in 68AD, the last member of Julio-Claudian dynasty seized the devastated area and built a huge palace “Domus Aurea” with gardens, occupying entire 1.2km². This complex even had an artificial lake, which was filled in after the death of Nero and on this spot the Colosseum was build. Some argue that this was even a symbolic gesture of returning to the people what Nero appropriated for his personal use. This is the reason why Roman Amphitheatre is situated in the city center and not on the outskirts of the city like everywhere else in the Empire.

In 217 AD, Colosseum was badly damaged by a fire probably caused by a lightning and it was not fully rebuilt until 240AD. The building went through a number of restorations until it finally lost its purpose. The latest gladiator fights were mentioned around 435AD, but the animal hunts continued till 523AD. In the 6^th century, a small church was built in the arena and the arena was also used as graveyard. Till the 12^th century, the huge empty space underneath the stands once used by spectators was converted into shops and housing. Afterwards, it was even used as a castle until the year 1349 when the building was severely damaged by a massive earthquake. At one point, a religious order moved in and kept occupied one part of the structure till as late as 19^th century. Over the time, once glorious Colosseum was stripped of building materials which were reused elsewhere. The façade of this monument was rebuilt in 1807 and 1827, the interior was repaired in 1831, 1846 and in 1930, while during the reign of Benito Mussolini the arena was fully excavated.

Ticket prices for Colosseum in Rome
The ticket is valid also for Roman Forum which is right next to the Colosseum.
Regular ticket price is 16 Euros (€). If you buy tickets online then there is additional booking charge 2 euros.
Free entrance: individuals younger than 18.
We advise you to check the ticket price before visiting on the official website of the Coliseum in Rome.

Working hours of Colosseum in Rome
From last Sunday in October to 15^th February working hours are: 8:30-16:30h (last entrance 15:30)
From February 16^th to March 15^th working hours are: 8:30-17:00h (last entrance 16:00)
From March 16^th to last Saturday of March working hours are: 8:30-17:30h (last entrance 16:30)
From Last Sunday in March to 31^st August working hours are: 8:30-19:15h (last entrance 18:15)
From September 1^stto September 30^th working hours are: 8:30-19:00h (last entrance 18:00)
From October 1^stto last Saturday of October working hours are: 8:30-18:30h (last entrance 17:30)
Closed: January 1^st, May 1^st, December 25^th.
(!) If the number of visitors reaches 3000, the rate of visitors entering the monument can be slowed down or even stopped for the security reasons.
We advise you to check the working hours before visiting on the official website of the Coliseum in Rome.

Interesting facts

The name of the Amphitheatre “Colosseum” most probably was derived from the name of the statue of Nero (the last member of Julio-Claudian dynasty) who died in 68AD. Nero ordered a bronze statue of himself to be made which was named Colossus of Nero after Colossus of Rhodes in Greece (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). During the reign of Hadrian, this statue was moved close to Colosseum, and from that point onwards associated with the amphitheatre.
After the death of Nero, Colossus of Nero was modified in order to represent Roman God of Sun Sol. It was moved to the position next to Colosseum by 24 elephants around 127AD. And according to the sources, it was between 30 and 37m high - as high as the Statue of Liberty.
The spectacles in the Colosseum could last for days, as it happened for the inauguration of Imperator Titus in 80AD, when it lasted for 100 days. For this occasion the central arena was even used as a pool for navel battles.
The admission was free of charge and the main and ultimate sponsor of the games was the Emperor; other eminent figures of Ancient Rome financed the spectacles only occasionally.
Colosseum, as the largest amphitheatre in the world, was an elliptical building, some 50 meters high, with long axis of 188 meters and short axes of 156 meters and with 80 entrances.
The stands of the Colosseum were divided into 5 sections. Seats closest to the arena “podium” were occupied by senators. Behind it there were other three section reserved for different social levels, while the final section, thus the furthest from the arena, was reserved for plebs. On top of the building there was a mechanism built of cloth and wood to shelter the public from the sun.
The arena was covered with wooden planks and sand, underneath which a complex system of winches was used in order to lift gladiators, animals and stenography to the scene. The part of the re-constructed arena and the remains of the underground level are nowadays visible inside the building.
Just a part of the original façade has remained till today, which is the higher northern part of the structure, while the smaller walls were actually the original interior walls of the structure. The exterior wall was made of stone which was placed without mortar, the stones were held together by 300 tons of iron clamps.
In 2013, more than 5.5 million people visited Colosseum, which accumulates to 40 million of Euros in revenue just from this tourist attraction of the city.