The Colosseum
Colosseum History
The Colosseum was built to entertain people with various games, fighting, and gladiator games. Construction of the Colosseum began around 70 AD near the Palatine, Esquiline, and Caelian hills, which was where the seat of government was.
The Colosseum is also a marvel of modernity. The Romans invented tickets and assigned seating in this arena. Before each game, visitors would pick up a ticket that would have a number corresponding to one of the 79 entrance arches. The ticket also had a level and a seat number where the person would sit.
When the Colosseum was completed in 80 AD, it could hold more than 50,000 people. Its opening was celebrated with 100 days of games in which thousands of animals and gladiators were killed. Sometimes they would even flood the Colosseum to stage small naval battles. The emperor had his own entrance and from his private “box seat” he decided the fate of defeated gladiators with a thumbs up or down (like in the movie). The floor of the Colosseum was wood covered with sand. Beneath the floor, there was a maze of passageways for people, and temporary holding pens for the animals. A hand-operated crank was used to raise the animals from the basement up to the surface. The walls of the subterranean passageways can still be seen today when you visit the site.
The Colosseum was used for almost 400 years, and has survived earthquakes, years of neglect, and the pillaging of popes who took marble for their own buildings. It has only been preserved in the last century.
Colosseum Visitor Information
The Colosseum is open every day of the week. A full ticket costs €15.50 while a EU reduced ticket – €10.50 (only for European citizens aged between 18 and 25) and EU minors seniors ticket- €4.50 (only for EU citizens aged above 65 and under 18). The Rome archaeological card is also valid at the Colosseum. Moreover, you can also buy a joint ticket for a tour of Palatine hill, a worthwhile site where the old elite used to live.
The Colosseum is open until 4pm. However it has later hours during the summer months because of the increased number of tourists. You can also sign up for special tours that will take you to some areas underneath the Colosseum. Summer peak season see longer wait times- make sure you get there early to avoid most of the crowds. You can also hire guides outside the site. If you are staying at one of the many luxury hotels in rome, they can organize tours for you.
Colosseum Conservation Effort
When restoration of the Colosseum began in 1995, only 15 percent of the Colosseum was open to visitors. Now, up to 85% of the site is open to tourists. The Colosseum is constantly being renovated and cataloged. However, as with a lot of historical sites in Italy, renovation is often slow due to politics and corruption. The Colosseum needs much more work than it gets and as projects begin to slow, the site begins to deteriorate. Moreover, the pollution around the city also destroys the site.