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The Colosseum

1 Piazza del Colosseo, Roma, Lazio

Description

The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built; it still stands today in the centre of Rome. It was constructed under the reigns of emperor Vespasian and Titus in AD70-80 using travertine limestone, tuff and brick-faced concrete. It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators watching gladiator fights and other shows such as animal hunts or executions (!) until the 6th century after which it was given various uses (including that of cemetery and then religious ones). Repairs started in the 19th century. The Colosseum is a free-standing structure, unlike the traditional amphitheatres built into hillsides. It is elliptical in shape (189x156m) with an outer wall reaching 48m high. The tiered seating arrangement reflected the stratified Roman society with class divisions. The arena was 83x48m and made of wooden floor covered with sand and an elaborate underground structure underneath.

Access & Transport

The Colosseo is at the centre of Pizza del Colosseo... you can't miss it! There is a Colosseo metro station (MEB, MEB1), bus stops (51, 75, 85, 87, 111) and tram stop Colosseo/Salvi N. (8) For wheelchair users, the entrances to the monument located along Via Dei Fori Imperiali are equipped with ramps

Instructions & Recommendations

Advanced reservation is required (including for free tickets); online booking is easiest on: https://www.coopculture.it/en/products/ticket-colosseum-roman-forum-palatine_24h/ Note that the ticket also provides access to the Forum and Palatine Hill but those two have a common entry system so you cannot split your visit there (i.e. exit and then re-enter).

Meta review

The monument is not just iconic of Rome but of the entire country, a metaphor for the grandiose Roman Empire. This means visitors come up charged with high expectations and whilst they are certainly impressed with the exterior look, they are certainly less impressed with the security check and the long lines (with differing opinions on whether it is worth splurging on the various expensive express passes). There are many many comments stating that there is a lack of info inside and therefore it is better to invest in a guided tour to make sense of the ruins, but a lot of those feel "planted" there (by tour guides obviously). Finally, several reviewers have commented that taking on both the Colosseum and the Foro & Palatine is a lot of walking so think about wearing proper shoes and scheduling a break in between.

Environmental & Social

We deem this activity environmentally neutral and it helps preserve the city's historical and architectural heritage.

Conclusion

For many travellers, the Colosseum probably tops the short-list of places and monuments to see in Rome, rightly so in our opinion. The amphitheatre is truly unique with so much history surrounding it that no visit to the city is complete without stopping there. If you can afford, a guided tour is worth it but if you can't, make sure to look for additional info online or in good travel guidebooks.

Key positive

Spectacular

Central and easy to reach by public transport

Entrance fee not excessively priced

Key negative

Long lines and time-consuming security check

Suitability

Suitable for all ages. The ground and first floor of the monument are accessible to wheelchair users

About this Rating

TYPE

Onsite

RESEARCHED IN

April 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
Transport to/from
Includes entrance to Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Timing
Duration of visit
Closed on 01 Jan, 25 Dec.

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Apr, 01

Season 1

MONDAY08:30 - 18:30

TUESDAY08:30 - 18:30

WEDNESDAY08:30 - 18:30

THURSDAY08:30 - 18:30

FRIDAY08:30 - 18:30

SATURDAY08:30 - 18:30

SUNDAY08:30 - 18:30

Start of Season 2:Nov, 01

Season 2

MONDAY08:30 - 16:30

TUESDAY08:30 - 16:30

WEDNESDAY08:30 - 16:30

THURSDAY08:30 - 16:30

FRIDAY08:30 - 16:30

SATURDAY08:30 - 16:30

SUNDAY08:30 - 16:30

Pricing
Provides access to Colosseum (not the Arena), Roman Forum and Palatine
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
€18
Adult
18 - 64
€18
Child
3 - 17
€0
Infant
0 - 2
€0
Includes €2 online booking fee. Price for EU citizens aged 18-25 is €4

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