No trip to Rome is complete without visiting the Colosseum. World-famous, helped along by the film Gladiator, the Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. A symbol of ancient Rome, a new Seven Wonder of the World and a World Heritage Site, the building is loved by most of the world’s population.
Whether you wander around yourself or listen to its complex history from a tour guide, if you take a second to soak in the atmosphere, you’ll find yourself transported back to 72 AD when it was built.
The Colosseum was built to entertain: gladiator battles, animal hunts, executions, and much more took place inside. It’s a place full of excitement and wonder.
Seating up to 70,000 people, the events this building’s walls have seen are astounding. Luckily, a lot of what happened here was recorded and fills the amphitheatre’s air in the chatter of the 6.4 million that visit each year.
Because of its immense popularity, you’re likely to be waiting a while in line if you don’t have advanced tickets. To save disappointment on the day, it’s best to be prepared.
8 years in total. Which is pretty good for saying the structure has been through a lot and is still standing.
It is estimated that 400,000 people and 1,000,000 animals died in the Colosseum.
One of Europe's most compelling archaeological sites; a town preserved by ash from almost 2,000 years ago.