The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine
The Colosseum
An emblematic monument of the city, the Colosseum (Colosseo) stands at the end of the ancient Roman Forum.
Getting there: Colosseo metro station, or many bus lines
Address: Piazza del Colosseo
Opening hours: open every day except 1 January and 25 December.
From the last Sunday in March to 31 August: 9:00 – 19:15
From 1 to 30 September: 9:00 – 19:00
From 1 October to the last Saturday in October: 9:00 – 18:30
From the last Sunday in October to 15 February: 9:00 – 16:30
From 16 February to 15 March: 9:00 – 17:00
From 16 March to the last Sunday in March: 8:30 – 17:30
Good Friday: closed (a partial opening is possible in some years; check the official website)
Last entry about one hour before closing.
Ticket prices: Combined ticket for the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum: €16 full price, audioguide €4. Free for under-18s, reduced price of €2 for young people aged 18 to 25 who are citizens of the European Union.
Buying tickets online in advance is strongly recommended if you want to get into the Colosseum: Official ticket office
Official website: Colosseum website
Construction of this amphitheatre, the largest in Rome, began in AD 72 at the request of the emperor Vespasian. His two sons, Titus and Domitian, continued the work, which was completed in AD 82. At the time the Colosseum was called the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the dynasty of these emperors. The name Colosseum appears only in the Middle Ages, in reference to the gigantic 35-metre statue of Nero (called the colossus) that stood beside the amphitheatre.
At 187 metres long, 155 metres wide and 50 metres high, the Colosseum could hold 55,000 spectators eager for shows such as animal fights or gladiator combats, and perhaps even naval battles.
The Colosseum has four storeys. The first three are carried by columns of the different orders — Doric, Ionic and Corinthian — and the fourth is a wall pierced with windows. At the top, projections that are still visible made it possible to stretch a canvas awning over the Colosseum to protect spectators from the sun. This awning was worked by a detachment of sailors.
The Colosseum keeps this appearance on only half of its circumference. The rest has suffered the damage of time, earthquakes and the reuse of its stone for other monuments.
Inside, the tiers of seats were arranged so as to distinguish the social classes. The first level was reserved for the emperor and the Senate, the second for the aristocrats, and the third, itself divided, held the rest of the population.
The arena was made of a wooden floor covered with sand. Beneath it, many galleries housed the menageries and the various equipment needed to run the Colosseum.
The Arch of Constantine
Standing beside the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine was built in 315 to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius. This very fine triumphal arch, with three archways, is richly decorated, and most of the decoration comes from other monuments.
