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July 25th, 2016

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The Colosseum in Rome is an iconic symbol of the Roman Empire. It’s a grand structure that was testament to Rome’s prowess in terms of architecture and engineering.

History of the Colosseum in Rome ​

The activities that were held at the Colosseum were an indication of Ancient Rome’s fierce reputation. With Avventure Bellissime – the Italian tour experts – you can explore the Colosseum in Rome and travel back in time to find out what it was like to be in this imposing amphitheatre in Roman times.

Experience the grandeur of ancient Rome with a private guided tour Day Tour of Rome who'll bring the Colosseum's stories to life - perfect for travelers who want to maximize their time in the Eternal City

Who Commissioned the Colosseum and How Old Is the Roman Colosseum​? 

The Colosseum was originally commissioned in 70-72 AD by Emperor Vespasian. It was a gift to the people of Rome. Perhaps a sign that he wanted to put public welfare back on the agenda, following Nero’s rule. Nero’s rule and the years directly after his death had been dominated by misrule and fighting. Vespasian and his sons, who became known as the Flavian Emperors, wanted to restore the authority of the Senate and prioritise public welfare.

The site of the Colosseum is symbolic too. It sits just east of the Roman Forum and on the site of a grand golden palace that Nero had built himself. Vespasian returned this land to the people of Rome by building the Colosseum upon it. He was motivated by the fact that he’d won his title in the civil wars that preceded and followed Nero’s death and so wanted strengthen his position with the public.

When Did the Roman Colosseum Open? The Spectacular 100-Day Inauguration

So, the Colosseum was a gesture and was completed by AD 80 – which was a relatively short space of time for such a magnificent building. Titus, who had by then succeeded his father, Vespasian, marked its opening with 100 days of games which included gladiatorial battles and animal fights.

Blood and Water: The Famous Naval Battles of the Roman Colosseum

The spectacular opening games of the Colosseum included naumachiae - staged naval battles that were among Rome's most impressive shows. While larger naval battles were held in specially-built lakes around Rome, some historical records suggest that Titus included these water spectacles in the Colosseum's inaugural games. The amphitheater's advanced hydraulic system and underground chambers remain a testament to Roman engineering ingenuity.

How Many People Could the Ancient Roman Colosseum Hold?

The Colosseum was, and remains an imposing structure, measuring 190 metres by 155 metres. In its day, it could hold around 50,000 people. They were crammed in and potentially sat in spaces according to their social class to watch gladiatorial battles, wild animal fights, or mock naval battles – where the lower part of the amphitheatre was flooded with water. The people who fought there – the gladiators were usually criminals, slaves or prisoners of war. They were men, and some women, who were condemned.

The Roman Colosseum Through History: From Glory to Abandonment

The Colosseum of Rome was used for around 400 years until the status of the Roman Empire changed along with the tastes of the public who perhaps no longer wanted to watch such savagery. At that stage the structure had also suffered some damage from natural phenomena like lightening and earthquakes.

From then onwards the Colosseum was more or less abandoned. Some of the materials in its structure were stripped out used for building churches, Palazzo Venezia and fortifications against the river Tiber that regularly flooded the city.

Then in the 1700s the Colosseum became a focus once more, mainly of the Popes of the age. One wanted to turn it into a wool factory to give prostitutes work. Then, later Popes of that period began to try to conserve the area as they saw it as a sacred site.

How Many People Visit the Colosseum Each Year?

Now the Colosseum is a focus of continuing restoration work. The site remains an atmospheric and unrivalled window into Ancient Rome with over 5 million tourists visiting this unique structure each year.

Guided Tours of the Colosseum: Skip the Line with Expert Guides

If you’d like to visit the Colosseum Rome, Avventure Bellissime would be delighted to be your guide. We are Italian tour and holiday experts and have been helping visitors to Italy and Rome get the best possible experience. Our choice of tours include:

- Private Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Ancient Forum – which includes skip the line tickets to the Colosseum, Constantine’s Arch, Ancient Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

- Vatican and Ancient Rome tour – which includes the same as the tour above, along with skip the line tickets for the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St, Peter’s Basilica.

- We also have a private version of our Vatican and Ancient Rome tour if you prefer, where you can be picked up from your hotel.

- And we offer a Private Ancient Rome Walking Tour, also.

We also offer Italian holiday packages where we’ll organise your stay in Italy.

Our 8 day Rome to Venice Essence of Italy holiday takes in the Colosseum and the Vatican as well as Florence, David and beautiful Venice. It’s perfect for the first time visitor to Italy and includes stays in four-star hotels and first class travel around Italy’s unforgettable highlights.

And our Italy highlights transfer and tour package features small group tours in Rome, Florence and Venice. Taking in the key sights of each city, private transfers and travel on high speed trains. It offers a degree of flexibility on the itinerary to suit you and your fellow travellers needs.

Plan Your Visit to Rome's Colosseum: Essential Travel Tips and Resources

If you are thinking of organising your holidays to Italy, please do visit our website at tours-italy.com to find out more about our tours of the Colosseum Rome and other parts of Italy as well as our holidays in Italy.

Also, if you are looking for some travel inspiration, be sure to check out our other blog posts at tours-italy.com/blog/ It’s a great read about all things to do with Italian holidays– including advice on other sights in Rome like the Spanish Steps, how to save money when visiting Italy and the must see sights in Venice. It’s a great read about all things Italian.