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The Colosseum (Colosseo) is the most visited tourist attraction in Rome and also its greatest amphitheatre. It was built in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian and was completed in AD 80 a year after his death. The majestic amphitheater was built on the grounds of Nero’s palace.

The Colosseum derives its name from the colossal statue of Nero that stood near the amphitheatre. It is an elliptical building with 80 arched entrances, 55,000 seats and measures 188m by 156m and is 48 m (159f) high. The Colosseum has 4 storeys above the ground and below the ground were the rooms where they kept the wild animals. The second and the third levels were decorated with marble statuettes. The upper level was covered with a canvas that protected the spectators. The cavea, or the seating area, had separate places for the knights, wealthy citizenry, and commons. The broad terrace, the podium, seated the ruling elite. The wooden floor of the arena was sanded to hold the gladiators firmly on the ground.

The amphitheatre was used for entertaining the crowds with free games and fights between gladiators. They fought each other to death and if a gladiator was badly wounded he would surrender to the crowds to determine his fate. The Gladiators also fought animals and wild beasts that were brought from Africa and the Middle East. The Gladiators were mostly men who were prisoners or criminals. In AD 80 a hundred days games were held at the Colosseum to celebrate the opening of the building by Titus, Vespasian’s son.

In AD 523 the fights with wild animals were banned. In AD 442 the Colosseum was damaged by an earthquake and in the Middle Ages ruins were used to build several palaces and parts of St.Peter’s Basilica.


Where is the Colosseum: Piazza del Colosseo

How to get to the Colosseum: By Subway/Metro to Colosseo Station on line B.

Opening hours: Daily - 9:00 AM to one hour before sunset.

Colosseum, Rome


Colosseum at night, Rome



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