Known formally as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum stands as one of Rome's most iconic and enduring landmarks. Its name derives from the colossal statue of Emperor Nero that once towered nearby, casting a long shadow over the historical heart of Rome. This architectural feat was initiated by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and later brought to completion by his son Domitian in the 80s.
Upon its completion, the Colosseum boasted impressive dimensions: 48 meters high, with a length of 188 meters and width of 156 meters. Inside, the wooden arena floor spanned 86 by 54 meters and was blanketed with sand to absorb the blood spilled during its notorious spectacles. With a capacity to seat around 50,000 spectators, it became the theater of thrilling animal fights and gladiatorial contests, capturing the imaginations of those in attendance.
A visit to the Colosseum today can still evoke the grandiosity of its heyday, but first-time visitors may find the queues daunting. Fortunately, there are savvy ways to sidestep the wait and make the most out of your Roman adventure. While guided tours are a popular choice to jump the line, there are alternative strategies if you're keen on exploring independently.
An insider's tip is to purchase tickets at the nearby Roman Forum entrance, which allows you to bypass the main entrance queues. Tickets are also available online, providing another convenient option to save time. Just outside the Colosseum, numerous guides offer tours in English, ready to enrich your visit with fascinating insights.
Once inside, guided tours are available every 30 minutes or so in English, Spanish, or German, at an additional cost. These tours, led by experienced archaeologists, provide a deeper understanding of the amphitheater's rich history, even though they cover areas accessible to general visitors. Their expertise can indeed illuminate intriguing facets of Roman history, enhancing your appreciation of this ancient marvel.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum
This is the attractive park on the hillside directly west of the Colosseum. Visible ruins in the area come from the Baths of Trajan. These baths were built on the top of the ruins of Domus Aurea - the Golden House of Nero (the Colosseum was built on the drained site of Nero's lake). The area underneath the park contains an enormous area from Nero's villa. It was restored at great expense in the 1980s and 1990s, opened to the public, and then closed again after a few years when it began to leak!
The enormous building at the southeast end of the Circus Maximus is the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). From its roof are undoubtedly the best views of Rome, but you will need to know someone who works there to get past the strict security.
Erected in 203. You can see it close up from Via della Curia also (without entering the Forum).
On the site of the Roman baths, this museum houses an enormous collection of statues, etc.
According to the legendary passio, two brothers, John and Paul, who were officials at the imperial court, suffered martyrdom in 362 in their home on the Caelian hill, during the reign of emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus. This basilica dedicated to these two Roman officers was erected starting from 398 and was used first as a domus ecclesiae by the Christian community.
This museum is built on top of the excavation site of the Balbi Crypt, a building from the first century A.D. which underwent considerable modifications in the following centuries. Through the building's history, the museum gives us glimpses of what Roman life across the ages was like. Free visits of the ruins are possible. The Essedra ruins are only accessible on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 14:45 and 15:45.
Built after 1631, the crypt of the church contains a macabre display - a series of chapels decorated with the bones of 3700 dead friars. The bones are glued to the walls and ceilings in bizarre and striking decorations.
Underground burial place of an ancient Roman family and of seven early popes.
Regular shows plus an excellent astronomical museum.
Perhaps most famous for a large model of imperial Rome, but also has a large display of various aspects of ancient Rome, using plaster casts, models and reconstructions of works found in museums throughout the world.
Contains the tomb of Pope Hadrian IV, the last non-Italian pope before Pope John Paul I.
The two museums are on opposite sides of the Piazza del Campidoglio, It is recommended to book tickets online Built in the 17th century to a design based on an architectural sketch by Michelangelo. Highlights include the ancient Colossus of Constantine statue (the Colosseum was probably named for another giant statue, the Colossus of Nero which stood near the Flavian Amphitheatre as the Colosseum was originally known), The Dying Gaul, a magnificent marble sculpture that copies a bronze Greek original of the 3rd century BC and the Capitoline Venus. It also contains the remarkable original gilt bronze equestrian statue of emperor Marcus Aurelius (the one in the piazza is a replica). Also based on a Michelangelo architectural plan, this compact gallery is well endowed in classical sculpture and paintings. Highlights include the small 1st-century-BC bronze Lo Spinario, a Greek statue of a little boy picking a thorn from his foot; the Lupa Capitolina (Capitoline Wolf), a rare Etruscan bronze statue probably dating from the 5th century BC; and (in the entrance courtyard), the massive head, hands, foot and kneecap from a colossal statue of Constantine the Great. The palace also contains a Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery) with paintings mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries - highlights include: Caravaggio's Fortune-Teller and his curious John the Baptist; The Holy Family, by Dosso Dossi; Romulus and Remus, by Rubens; and Titian's Baptism of Christ.