The Colosseum/Coliseum Reviews (Rome, Italy)

Thumbs up for the Colosseum

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

November 26, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo The Colosseum is an amphitheatre and was started in 72 C.E. It was completed and opened in 80 C.E. under Emperor Titus. It was used for public spectacles and festivals and gladiator competitions but was probably not used to set the early Christians ...Read more The Colosseum is an amphitheatre and was started in 72 C.E. It was completed and opened in 80 C.E. under Emperor Titus. It was used for public spectacles and festivals and gladiator competitions but was probably not used to set the early Christians against the lions as is popularly thought. It is believed that it's name was taken from a statue of Nero erected nearby which in turn was modeled after the Colossus of Rhodes. It was covered in marble and was painted but after the fall of Rome, the stone was pinched over the centuries to be used to build other things in the city.

The Colosseum was generally opened to the public for 3 or 4 times a year, but for weeks each time as the spectacles and festivals would last that long. It's one of the top attractions in Rome so if you just turn up you will have to queue for tickets and it could be some time during the busiest times of the year. If you can, it's well worth booking tickets ahead of time online. You can then zip through a much shorter line.

We booked with Tickitaly.com and booked the tour that includes the dungeons/basement part which has only been open to the public for a couple of years as has the third level. You get to go into the dungeons with the guide who points out where the original floors and walls were, where the winches were to raise the props and cages etc. to the main arena, where the tunnels to the gladiator barracks probably were as well. You can't go right out into the various corridors as they have not been shored up but you get a unique view from where you are.

The tour started outside with some discussion on the construction of the building. We then climbed up two steep sets of stairs to the second level. There is also a museum up there with lots of things to look at as well as a little gift shop. The views are good but even better from the third level, up another steep set of uneven stairs. The hypogeum (basements) are down a proper set of stairs. There is a lift but they seem to be restricted to disabled and elderly people.

We really enjoyed the tour and had a good guide. They use radio devices similar to mobile phones so you can hear the guide without them having to shout. The ticket to the Colosseum even without the tour allows you entry to the roman Forums and Palatine Hill across the road though I think those two are free anyway. The basic cost for an adult is 12 euros, and is good for 2 days. The extra tour for just the Colosseum lasts a little over an hour and there are also 3 hour tours that include the Forums in the high season. We were there in November so the only thing available was the shorter tour and I don't know if we'd have had the energy for the full 3 hours anyway. Close

From journal Visiting Italy: Roma

Throwing them to the lions.

by Fiver29

Barrow in Furness, United Kingdom

August 22, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo The Colosseum was the first attraction we visited on our trip to Rome. When I booked the holiday with Expedia, I booked tickets for the Colosseum at the same time, and I'm so glad I did. The queue for entry was approximately an hour and a half ...Read more The Colosseum was the first attraction we visited on our trip to Rome. When I booked the holiday with Expedia, I booked tickets for the Colosseum at the same time, and I'm so glad I did. The queue for entry was approximately an hour and a half long, much of the queue being out in the heat of the sun. Anyone who has bought tickets in advance can bypass the queue, go straight to the reservations window and go straight inside. Even though we were a bit early (12 noon rather than 12:30) there was no problem with going in early.

For those who haven't bought tickets in advance there are plenty of people trying to sell you tours on the premise that they will get you in without waiting. This maybe true, but they are an awful lot more expensive than the normal price. I found out afterwards that children under 18 are free if they are EU citizens, but that was too late for us.

Once in the Colosseum you are free to wander, presuming you haven't booked at guided tour. However, there are signs for 'Visitor Route', which I would recommend following in order to ensure you see all the parts of the Colosseum.

For anyone who doesn't know, the Colosseum was a 'games' arena, where animals would be pitted against each other, gladiators fought to the death, or it was used for the persecution of Christians. The hypoguem is clear to see, this is the area under the Colosseum floor which was used to house the animals and the prisoners and gladiators.

Not so clear to see is the seating area where patrons of the Colosseum would sit. Most of this area has been destroyed, and only the uprights from the sides of the concrete steps (seats) is visible, the wooden area at the top was completely destroyed by fire. Much of the stonework is missing, a lot of it tumbled during an earthquake and was used elsewhere in the city.

Walking around the Colosseum is hot, there are only a few shaded areas, and these are generally quite full. There is a water fountain for filling bottles or drinking water, but there was a long queue here. However, this served to make the water taste even better when we got there.

There were toilets, although pitifully few for the amount of tourists visiting, and directions weren't really necessary as you can find them by following your nose. I recommend mouth breathing when you get close though.

Up the first set of steps is a small gallery showing fallen decorative masonry, such as stone heads, mosaics and bird frescos.

Just outside the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, which fits in with the architecture in the area, but seems a bit of an odd structure just to be there by itself. Also you'll find a few souvenir stalls and ice-cream/drink stalls. At night there are a few street hawkers who can be quite persistent if you accidentally make eye contact.

I really enjoyed the visit, despite the large number of people there, it was easy to imagine how the Colosseum would have looked and to imagine the baying crowds chanting during the fights.

Definitely a must see if you are in Rome. Close

From journal Roma in August

A must do in Rome!

by linzeeloulabelle

Grimsby, England, United Kingdom

July 1, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo Although there were other things that I wanted to see while I was in Rome, the Colosseum was definitely at the very top of my list. The Colosseum is probably the best known attraction in Rome, next to maybe The Vatican, and I couldn’t wait to see it ...Read more Although there were other things that I wanted to see while I was in Rome, the Colosseum was definitely at the very top of my list. The Colosseum is probably the best known attraction in Rome, next to maybe The Vatican, and I couldn’t wait to see it up close.

As this was something that my boyfriend and I was so excited to see, we booked tickets for a tour well in advance with www.tickitaly.com. Our tickets cost around £30 each and they consisted of a three hour tour with added access to lower and upper levels which you cannot see with a regular ticket. Our tour guide met us across the road from the Colosseum and soon began our tour. Deborah, the guide, spoke really good English and was extremely knowledgeable so I couldn’t recommend using this tour service highly enough.

== Getting There ==
Getting to the Colosseum is incredibly easy. Right across the street from the building itself is the Colosseo Metro stop which is on the blue B line. We had to use the red A line first and swap over at Termini but this wasn’t a problem at all. Using the metro is super simple and easy to follow. From the Termini stop, it will only take about 5 minutes to get to the Colosseum. There are also bus stops outside and taxis will be able to take you there although they will be extremely expensive in comparison to the bus or metro.

== Opening Times and Prices ==
The Colosseum is open from 9am each day apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Closing times vary depending on the time of the year but from March to October, closing times are roughly somewhere between 6 and 7:30pm. If you don’t want to go in the soaring heat then going later in the day is a good choice. General admission will cost €15.50 although this does not grant you access to any of the extra areas. If you have a Roma Pass, this attraction is free and you can skip the queues completely by using a machine at the front of the entrance. Also, if you visit Palatine Hill and The Roman Forum first, paying €12 for a ticket, this will also gain you admission to the Colosseum.

== History ==
Something that I didn’t know before the tour was that before the Colosseum was built, the area used to be an artificial lake which housed sea and naval battles. The original name of the Colosseum is the Flavian Amphitheatre but was changed due to locals associating it with the huge statue placed outside. The actual construction of the Colosseum began in 72AD and was completed in only 8 short years. The Colosseum was originally used for Gladiator games, animal hunts, public executions and for performing dramas. Once the building had been completed with the four different seating levels, it could hold 73,000 spectators.

== My Experience ==
As soon as I got even close to this building, I was completely blown away. The sheer size of the building was extremely impressive, even with large chunks of the walls being missing. From standing outside, I was able to get some really amazing photos which I was so pleased about and it only made me more excited to see the inside.

I think that if we hadn’t have gone on a guided tour, I wouldn’t have had a clue about what I was looking at or experiencing. Inside the Colosseum really does look just like a bunch of old ruins. As you enter the building, you first come to the small stage. The original stage has been destroyed and a small one has been put in its place so that you can get a feel for what it would have been like and also so that you can see down into the lower levels. Here, our guide explained all about the four levels of seating and who was allowed to sit where. I would have loved to have been able to see the building when it was whole and to be able to imaging so many people sitting in the seats.

Next on our tour was the lower levels. This, for me, was the most impressive part of the Colosseum and the reason why I paid for a tour. This section is off limits for people with regular tickets so another staff member followed us around unlocking gates and doors for us as we went. Down in the lower levels, it was explained that this was where the Gladiators, animals and slaves were kept. We were shown all about how the cages and trap doors were used back in the day and how they were the Roman’s versions of elevators which was extremely impressive. The lower levels were dark, a little damp and quite crowded so I can only imagine what it would have been like with so many people being down there at one time.

After the lower levels, we were taken up to the second level, then the third level of the seating areas. The fourth level is nearly non-existent now so it wasn’t possible for us to go up there. However, the third levels give insane views of the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine and the interior of the Colosseum itself. From here, you could see so much and really get a feel for what it would have felt like to have been sat up there watching the games. Our tour guide gave us as much history and information as she could along the way, even explaining to us how Gladiators would have been killed if they were granted mercy. Some parts of the tour were a bit gory because of pictures and descriptions but I loved this.

== Overall ==
Although the Colosseum can be expensive if you pay for a tour, the extra money spent is well worth it. With our tour, we also got a small guided tour of the Roman Forum which was a nice extra that I didn’t know about. This is one of the most impressive buildings that I have ever seen and is definitely a must see if you are in Rome. If you don’t visit this, you must be mad! Close

From journal Rome pt. 1

Not to be missed.

by Red Mezz

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

January 6, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo In every city there are things on the list that really must be seen. Even if you're not a fan of the tourist trail - or like to see things that are more out of the way...you really can't visit the likes of Paris without making an attempt to see the ...Read more In every city there are things on the list that really must be seen. Even if you're not a fan of the tourist trail - or like to see things that are more out of the way...you really can't visit the likes of Paris without making an attempt to see the Eiffel Tower. Rome is a city of many wonders - and it would be hard to narrow it down to one, single fundamental 'Must See' attraction. But for me - if I had to do that - I think it would probably have to be the Colosseum. Few sights instantly bring more awe - or say 'Rome' in quite the same way as this magnificent ruin. You never know what to expect with these ancient sites in modern cities - and I admit I had half expected to find a crumbling old Colosseum crammed in between crumbling houses and covered in graffiti. But nothing could be further from the truth. Though not in the direct centre of the city, the Colosseum is easily reached either on foot or the metro if you want to have that little adventure. (I recommend walking). If you do take the metro you will come out at the stop into the sunlight only to see the stunning, crumbling architecture of one of the most recognizable sights in Rome looming before you.

Of all the things I wanted to see in Rome - this one had beckoned me the most - and I braced myself for it to not be all that I had hoped. As it turns out - my efforts were utterly unnecessary. It was the last major site we visited - on our last full day in Rome, and I ended up spending an enormous amount of time just circling the structure for the best light, the best angle - and soaking in the atmosphere of being near such a historic place.

You can pay for a tour to go inside the ruin itself (like most of the other tourist sites in Rome it is pricey at around 15 euros) but it's not necessary to thoroughly enjoy it. You can walk right up to it from the outside, and enjoy the structure that has been standing in some form in Rome since 80 AD. It’s hard to fully appreciate that kind of age and grandeur until your standing at its feet.
While sitting and enjoying the view, you can also see (free of charge) the Arch of Constantine, which is actually in immaculate condition considering how long it has been standing (315 AD). This is one of my favourite places in Rome to photograph – and if you can catch it in the golden Italian sunlight of an October afternoon – all the better!
It was crowded in the middle of the day - though to my surprise it was nowhere near as crowded as all the other major sites we visited (Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps the Vatican). There were a lot of people but you could also move around and - at least while we were there - you didn't feel pushed or crowded like you did at the other sites. However - its best to visit right at dusk. Most of the visitors have filed away. There was a big weekend market of local produce happening on the street leading up to it while we were there, and we wandered back through just as they were closing up to buy some olives, grapes and cheese to snack on, while we watched the sun lower over the ruins. It was a glorious sight - and probably, well, arguably my favourite Roman moment. Don't leave the city with a visit to the Colosseum - it's worth the trip on its own.
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From journal The Golden, Eternal city...

An ultimate "must see" in Rome!

by Grundsu

Boston, Massachusetts

February 18, 2011

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What can be said about the Colosseum that hasn't already been said? Probably nothing. Do I really need to write a review to convince someone visiting Rome for the first time that they must go to the Colosseum? I certainly hope not! I feel an ...Read more

From journal Roma!

Iconic place

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

December 18, 2010

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Like all the other iconic places, the Coliseum is located right in the middle of busy streets and other buildings.Go better in the morning - then people are not so much. True, the mummers gladiators are already on the alert and invited to be ...Read more

From journal Rome is the 3rd Most Visited City in the EU

The Colosseum

by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

November 30, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The ColosseumWhen we went to Rome, we visited many monuments, Renaissance, Baroque, Medieval and of course the classics. You can not miss the Colosseum. We looked at a lot of information and photos and of course I also have seen many films about the ...Read more

From journal Going to Rome

A historic landmark you need to see.

by alanmack37

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

October 21, 2010

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I went to visit the Colleseum in 2005. You can journey to it quite easily from station Termini, where my then youth hostel was. I took an underground train from Termini to Il Colesseo stop, but i found out much later that i could have easily walked ...Read more I went to visit the Colleseum in 2005. You can journey to it quite easily from station Termini, where my then youth hostel was. I took an underground train from Termini to Il Colesseo stop, but i found out much later that i could have easily walked it. The beauty of Rome is, dispite having crazy drivers and non stop beeping cars you can walk along a beautiful route and see many of the sights free.

One very big tip, if youre coming here be prepared for queues and also bring water. The stalls outside sell water and gelatos for like 5 times the price. I simply refused to pay and i walked off to the hills to get a massive bottle of water for less than a euro. The queue to the Colesseum was massive. Outside there are several predators for the tourist trap, with the rip off gelato and refreshment vendors, good looking men dressed as gladiators looking for female attention and money. Also on the prowl will be thieves so watch out. I wore a money belt. In summer there is sweltering heat so important to remember the money.

Admission cost me about 15 euros and a wait of well over an hour. You can get the audio tour or just tag along to one of the many tour guides. The area inside is amazing, massive and you get a taste of what it used to be like. The sculpture is amazing and it takes brilliant photos. You get an insight into the gladiators, the blood-thirsty sports. It is amazing to see a building that is so full of history and was built almost 2000 years ago. The Colesseum is the size of Wembley stadium and can hold around 80,000 people, quite fantastic.

I was pleased to see the Colesseum and to take photos and be at such a historic and beautiful landmark. However i couldnt help but feel that once youre in there and walk around for a bit, there isnt much else to do but go. I found it very overpriced, for an Italian landmark, however if there are queues as long as an hours wait then they sure wont be reducing the price soon.

Please if youre hungry do not buy off the vendors. Walk up to the hills where there are a lot of cafes and sandwich bars, however even still there are cheaper options for those on budgets. Go back to the Termini area and get un etto de pizza for a couple of euros.

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From journal la dolce vita in roma

Walking in Rome

by Meggysmum

Oxford, United Kingdom

September 17, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo Visiting Rome, the Eternal City, is an amazing experience. Around every corner there is a sight to behold, ancient ruins sit side-by-side with more modern structures and the whole atmosphere is one of a bustling cosmopolitan city but the ancient ...Read more Visiting Rome, the Eternal City, is an amazing experience. Around every corner there is a sight to behold, ancient ruins sit side-by-side with more modern structures and the whole atmosphere is one of a bustling cosmopolitan city but the ancient backdrops make it unique.

Probably the best way to explore Rome is by foot as there is so much to see and most of it is in a fairly compact area. We only had one day in which to explore this vibrant city so we knew there would be a lot of walking involved. We visited in the middle of August and the weather was extremely hot and I would suggest you go armed with several bottles of water. Everywhere we went people were selling parasols to protect tourists from the unrelenting sun as there seemed little shade when leaving the narrow streets.
Rome was originally built on seven hills but these are actually quite hard to locate now as some have been flattened out and they have all been built over, we did not find it a particularly hilly city to walk around which we had worried about.

Although it is assumed that Rome was founded about 750BC it was Octavius Augustus (27B.C.), Rome’s first Emperor who presided over the construction of some of Rome’s most famous buildings. In the 4th Century Rome gradually became Christian and by the 5th Century the glory days of Rome were over. It wasn’t until the 15th century that Rome once again became buoyant and after a further turbulent period of history it became the Capital city of Italy in 1871. There also followed 20 years under the Fascist regime of Mussolini and occupation by Germany but now Italy is a Republic.
We started our tour at the enormous Trevi fountain and after throwing a coin in the water to guarantee ourselves another trip to Rome we set off in the direction of the Piazza Venezia. This required walking down some narrow streets which opened out occasionally into surprising squares, one of which was home to part of the Papal University. Gift shops in these streets were a little cheaper than those immediately surrounding the Trevi Fountain.

Piazza Venezia is almost exactly in the centre of Rome. Mussolini gave his speeches from the balcony of his residence in the square. This square is absolutely dominated by the enormous structure that is the Monument to Victorio Emmanuel II, the first king of the united Italy. The structure is 443ft wide and 230ft high. It was started in 1911 and finished about 25 years later. The whole columned design is in gleaming white marble and it is easy to see why the locals call it "The wedding Cake". It is visible from many points in Rome but somehow it does not seem in keeping with the other architecture and although magnificent and impressive it also looks a little tacky and out of place.
From here we took the Vai dei Fori Imperiali. This took us past the Roman Forum which was the centre of the business world of Ancient Rome and it would have been the communal heart of the city too. The entrance to the Forum is not on this rod and unfortunately we did not have time to visit and wander around the ruins but the viewing areas on the main road actually afford excellent views and you can easily see the road layouts. The high position also lets you see the building outlines and it is easy to make out the Temple of Vesta.

Walking further along brought us within sight of probably one of the most famous buildings in the world; the Colosseum. Built in around 72A.D this is the largest one of its kind ever built. It could set 50000 spectators to watch the games and the gladiators in the arena. The outside had 80 arched entrances to allow easy access for so many people, it was also thought to have had some sort of fabric roof that would have protected the spectators from the sun. The Romans had a great bloodlust for the massacres that occurred here in the name of entertainment but the advent of Christianity in the city put an end much of the sport. Visits cost about 15 euro but we did not arrive until quite late and the queues were huge so we decided we would have to save an internal visit for another day. We walked around the outside and by peering into all the shut off arches we were still able to see the cross which marks where the Emperor sat will his power of life or death for the combatants. The area is absolutely teeming with hawkers and pick-pockets are rife too so be careful, a lot of police seem to be on duty. There are many men dressed as roman gladiators who will pose with you for a photograph for a fee.

Next to the Colosseum is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine, built in 315A.D many of the stones were re-used from other sites.

We then took a turn towards the river and walked along the banks of the River Tiber. In the distance we could see the fortress which is Castel Sant’Angelo (as mentioned in Angels and Demons), a museum housing historical relics. However the heat had got to us so we had to call it a day and grab a taxi to end the day.

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From journals Historical Italy, Italian Delights

It's Colossal!

by Absy_Baby

Radlett, United Kingdom

October 16, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo The Colosseum in the centre of Rome - probably one of the most recognisable structures in the world. In 2007 the Colosseum was named one of the NEW seven wonders of the world. On a recent trip to Rome I visited the Colosseum, back when we booked the ...Read more

From journal When In Room

IgoUgo

The Colosseum/Coliseum

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Thumbs up for the Colosseum

Throwing them to the lions.

A must do in Rome!

Not to be missed.

An ultimate "must see" in Rome!

Iconic place

The Colosseum

A historic landmark you need to see.

Walking in Rome

It's Colossal!

The Colosseum/Coliseum

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Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Thumbs up for the Colosseum

Throwing them to the lions.

A must do in Rome!

Not to be missed.

An ultimate "must see" in Rome!

Iconic place

The Colosseum

A historic landmark you need to see.

Walking in Rome

It's Colossal!