25 Places to visit before you die: No. 11 The Coliseum Rome

Ah the Coliseum, Rome that spectacular and most distinctive landmark is a must for afterabc's list of 25 Places to visit before you die. Built in the centre of Rome, even the address, Piazzale del Colosseo, Via dei Fori Imperiali conjures up a vision of magnificent grandeur whether or not you understand the Italian language.

When first setting eyes on the Coliseum, your senses will be assaulted; the sheer size and magnitude of the building itself will impress, but more emotional is the atmosphere of the place, it's as though you are seeing through a window to the past glories of the Roman Empire.

It is not surprising that after nearly two centuries, the Coliseum is showing signs of age and perhaps some neglect and ransacking of the past. However, the Coliseum is far from a ruin and in a very real sense the areas of decay add to the majesty of the building; this is no theme park attraction, the Coliseum is a part of world history and it is no exaggeration to describe the building as; 'truly awesome'.

If you have seen the film "The Gladiator", (if not why not? Surly on everyone's top ten film lists) then it is impossible to stand looking at the arena and not think about the scene where 'The Gladiator', - Maximus, brilliantly portrayed by Russell Crowe, kills the baddy, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). It takes little imagination to see, hear (and smell) the crowds revelling in the battles of lions versus mortals.

When I visited the Coliseum I was the classic tourist - arriving upon a horse-drawn carriage. (The bobbing up and down over the dry cobbled streets under the heat of the scorching sun made me feel quite sick - not to be repeated or recommended). 

Don't be put off by the crowds that are ever present around the Coliseum, on my visit the atmosphere was rather like a street party with hordes of people taking photographs and exchanging cameras with complete strangers to try and get the best photos for their albums and to boast to their friends that they have seen the Coliseum.

Here are a few facts:-

The Coliseum was completed in 80 AD after the death of the emperor. The next heir to the throne, Emperor Titus, opened it to the public. It is said the inaugural ceremony lasted for more than 100 days.

The Coliseum was built near the giant statue of Colossus and occupied part of the Nero's park. The current name was derived from the statue of Colossus.

The Coliseum is an amphitheatre that has the capacity to hold 50,000 people at a time. Originally, it had four floors, where the first three had wide arched entrances and the fourth floor had rectangular doorways.

The Coliseum had 76 entrances and an additional 4 entrances reserved for the emperor, nobles and the gladiators.

The seats were arranged according to the social status of the spectators. The seats on the first three tiers from the top were usually reserved for the nobles while the common man used the seats on the fourth tier.

The floor or the arena had subterranean chambers where the gladiators rested before the performance. There were times when the wooden flooring of the Coliseum was removed and the entire ground that spans six acres of land was flooded with water & mock naval battles were enacted.

Let us not forget that when visiting the Coliseum you are also visiting Rome!

Rome the city of the 7 hills is a wondrous city and an absolute must; we all know about the amazing, fattening Italian food and ice-cream, but there are certain things in life that just have to be done, and sitting al fresco in a Rome square watching the Romans  is one of them. The girls have effortless style (and frustratingly long legs & large brown eyes & the guys have an air of confidence and a sense of fun that is quite intoxicating).  Rome is certainly a city of and for holiday romance.

I would recommend the smaller cafes in the side streets, but you know that all those tourists traps that you have heard of The Spanish Steps, The Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square and The Cistine Chapel are more then just tourist attractions, they, with the Coliseum are part of a tapestry of Rome that is an absolute must see for any traveller regardless of what you may have seen in other cities.

Rome will not disappoint.

Buon Viaggio. 

 

 

 

 

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