The Roman Colosseum is a typical stop for all tourists of Rome, as is the Pantheon, the Forum and the Spanish Steps. Entering the street from underground, the ruins are immediately visible once exiting the Colosseo metro station. It overshadows an entire city block at 157 feet in height with its base at 615 feet by 510 feet. Originally the facility was named the Flavian Amphitheatre, where it was used for its infamous gladiatorial contests. When visiting the interior of the Colosseum, the remnants of its 50,000+ seating capacity are visible within stone walls. A slight morose feeling wells up when looking at the floor of the arena, where the surface has been taken away to reveal the underground holding cells, which were used for the impending prisoners.
I visited Rome in October of 2010. I was impressed immediately by the sheer size of the amphitheater, as well as the apparent age of the stone. The Colosseum was beyond larger than I had imagined, and even though it’s an obvious tourist attraction, I would recommend every person who visits Rome to take some time to tour the ruins and to walk around the grounds. Just outside of the Colosseum sits the Arch of Constantine, which is brilliant, of course. It reminded me of the world-renowned Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, which I saw ten days prior. If you ever visit Rome, plan a walking day through the city, as old Roman Empire’s ruins are a must see - plus, the Roman Forum is only a ten minute walk from the Colosseum.
(Photos by Trey Ratcliff - cover image, edited)
(Photos by Trey Ratcliff - cover image, edited)
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