The Coliseum, one of the world's 7 wonders in the middle of Rome

The Colosseum, the gladiator arena in the middle of Rome

The Colosseum is one of the most iconic and historic sights in Italy and one of the 7 wonders of the world. A relic from the heyday of the Roman Empire and seen in everything from history books and TV to Hollywood films such as Ridley Scott's masterpiece Gladiator and Bruce Lee - Way Of The Dragon. A truly unique amphitheater, rich in dramatic history.Here is the great travel intro to Italy

About the Colosseum as an amphitheater

The Colosseum is an architecturally impressive building where you can really feel the Roman history. When you visit the amphitheater you can imagine the roar of the spectators while the terrible entertainment, admittedly on life and death, was played out. A center for numerous bloody gladiatorial fights and, for lack of a better word, “inventive” fights with animals, which would have both human rights and animal welfare organizations in the red field today. In its time, the Colosseum had space for more than many of our modern football stadiums and has been a center for dramatic entertainment in Rome and the Roman Empire.

Short history:

60.000 Jewish slaves took part in the construction of this for its time unimaginably large amphitheater. They began construction in the year 72 under the Roman emperor Vespasian. The Colosseum itself was completed around the year 800 and had a capacity of about 50.000 seated spectators and about 5000 standing.The Colosseum is part of the 7 Wonders of the World, do you know the other six? It was the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire. How many of the other amphitheaters were dug into mountains or hillsides, the Colosseum was and is a free-standing building. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, but was later named after the great colossus that stood in the square in front. It was said to have been a statue of a Roman emperor. The Colosseum was originally built on a marshland and is and will remain no less than an architectural and structural marvel. It measures an impressive 188 meters x 156 meters and is approximately 50 meters high. Although ⅔ of the Colosseum has been destroyed over the years, the rest still stands as an exciting piece of Roman history. It is estimated that over 400.000 people and over 1 million animals had to give up their lives in the bloody battles to entertain the bloodthirsty spectators.

How to enter the Colosseum

To visit and walk around the Colosseum, you have to pay an entrance fee. This is done by buying a ticket that also gives access to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. One of Rome's 7 hills. Two places that first-time tourists in Rome should also see. Opening hours are approx. 8.30 am to an hour before sunset. As opening hours vary, it is recommended to check this website for exact times. You can book tickets online to avoid the long queues. These will be delivered via email. You can book tickets here.You can also access another side of the Colosseum via special tickets or a guided tour. This is called the underground tour. You have to go through the entrance that the gladiators themselves used many years ago. On this tour you can explore the tunnels and corridors where they prepared for battle, as well as the lions, tigers and other animals used in the performances. You must buy special tickets to access this extended experience or coordinate with one of the many tour guides. Guides and tours can also be found in front of the Colosseum. However, it is recommended that you book tickets from home for the underground tour via this website. Be prepared for a security check at the entrance. Bags and backpacks will be checked, and drinks are not allowed. Water is an exception. Very large bags are completely prohibited from being brought into the area. This queue can be long during high season and holidays, so plan some extra time for this. The Colosseum is visited by over 4 million people a year.You can book tickets here for a tour of the Colosseum.

Here is the Colosseum:

You can take the metro to the Colosseum which has its own stop called Colosseo. If you are going by bus or car you can see the address below and a map.Colosseum Piazza del Colosseo 1 00184 Roma RM Italy

Want to read more about Rome? 

Do you know the story of Trevi Fountain in Rome ? Otherwise, get the whole amazing history here, up to and including the major renovation recently. The Trevi Fountain has never been more beautiful.Discover-Italy's-most-beautiful-cities-and-culture/

Are you into city trips?

Read more about City trips in general, including: ParisThe trip to NaplesWhat to see in London on a weekend?BarcelonaWarsawBeijing and many moreTravel to Italy with Alitalia, do you know what the name means?

Top 10 attractions in Rome

• The famous fountain of Rome, Fontana di Trevi
• The Coliseum, the fate of the gladiators
• Pantheon – A historic and iconic beautiful temple
• St. Peter's Basilica – One of the most iconic and significant religious monuments in the world
• The Spanish Steps – One of Rome's most famous and visited attractions
• Piazza Navona – Known for its elegant Baroque architecture, impressive fountains and lively atmosphere.
• Roman Forum – One of the most significant archaeological sites in the world
• Vatican Museum – Home to an incredible amount of artwork and artifacts
• Castel Sant'Angelo – An unavoidable part of any visit to Rome.
• The Sistine Chapel – A journey through art, history and faith

Visit a living piece of history

Skip the line and get the most out of your visit with professional guides. You can buy tickets and exciting guided tours through our partner below.Powered by GetYourGuide