Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: Tickets

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - Tickets and Information

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• Colosseum Address: Colosseum, Piazzo del Colosseo, 1, Rome, 00184
• Opening Hours: 08:30 - 19:15

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Is the Colosseum Worth Visiting

• Its the Colosseum - absolutely!
• It you like historical buildings that are steeped in history, yes, definitely.

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What You See When Visiting the Colosseum:

• The Colosseum
• The Emperor's Box
• The Gladiator's Gate
• Different areas, depending on your ticket type, such as the arena floor and underground.

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About The Colosseum

The mighty Colosseum in the heart of Rome. One of Italy's most famous landmarks and an icon recognised worldwide. Constructed between 72-80 C.E. by Roman Emperors Vespasian and Titus, it was used as an amphitheatre to host thousands of spectators for gladiatorial combats, animal hunts, mock naval battles, and even public executions.

The Colosseum wasn’t actually known as the ‘Colosseum', the Romans called it the 'Flavian Amphitheatre,'. Had you asked for directions to the 'Colosseum', they wouldn’t have known what you were talking about!

The Colosseum now attracts around 6 million visitors annually, which stands it alongside Vatican City as one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions!

Historical records suggest it was actively used for around 500 years until the 6th century, and it now proudly holds the title of one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Modern World’ as well as being listed by UNESCO World Heritage Site under the 'Historic Centre of Rome' category.

Colosseum Architecture

• The Colosseum was built using concrete, sand, and travertine limestone in an elliptical shape with a grandiose façade, which is instantly recognisable.
• It could accommodate up to 80,000 spectators, which given how long ago it was built is a testament to Roman engineering brilliance.
• The exterior features three distinct orders of columns, ‘Doric’, ‘Ionic’, and ‘Corinthian’, highlighting the beauty of classical Roman architecture.
• Beneath the arena, where the gladiators and animals were housed, lies a network of ramps, tunnels, and elevators.
• Spectators were seated according to their social status and wealth, with premium views available at higher costs, much like modern concerts.
• Remarkably, some of the mechanical processes that were used to open trapdoors on the arena floor were advanced engineering feats, allowing dramatic entrances for gladiators and wild animals.

The Colosseum has suffered significant damage over the centuries, including major damage from an earthquake in the 1300s, water damage due to poor ground quality, and looting of stones. Multiple renovation projects have taken place over the years in order to preserve it for future generations. In 2017 after renovations, they reopened the 4th and 5th tiers of the Colosseum which hadn't been open for decades due to damage, and they now offer visitors views of the surrounding areas that hadn't been accessible for many years.

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About The Roman Forum

• The Roman Forum Address: Via della Salara Vecchia, 5/6, Rome, 00186.

The Roman Forum was originally built as a marketplace and the centre of political, commercial and social life in Rome. It would have been used for many purposes including elections, public meetings and speeches, as well as having shops, markets and stalls offering local goods and services. The Roman Forum was home to several important buildings such as the Senate House, called the 'Curia', and the Speaker's Platform (called the Rostra), and the local law courts, the 'Basilica Julia'.

Home to some incredible architecture including the 'Temple of Saturn', the 'Arch of Septimius Severus', the 'Temple of Vesta' and the 'Basilica of Maxentius'. Due to its importance, historical events such as the funeral of Julius Caesar would have also been held at the Roman Forum as well as the trail of apostle Saint Paul!

Incredibly the Roman Forum was buried for centuries and it wasn't recovered until the 18th century when excavation works took place.

‍Things to see at The Roman Forum: There are several temples to see plus other highlights include:

• Via Sacra
• Arch of Titus
• Arch of Septimus Severus
• Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
• Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine
• The Curia and Column of Phocas.

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‍About Palatine Hill

Although quite close to The Roman Forum and the Colosseum, Palatine Hill is a separate location and possibly a little less famous that its neighbours.

Palatine Hill is where the aristocrats and emperors used to live and would have actually been one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in the city. It was one of the Seven Hills of ancient Rome, and holds important historical and archaeological significance as it's believed to have been the birthplace of Rome itself, by Romulus, the mythical founder, in 753 BC.

Today Palatine Hill is an open-air museum which allows visitors to explore the ancient ruins and imagine how life was at the time!

Things to see at Palatine Hill:

• Ruins and a lot of them! But they are fascinating as you can picture what life used to be like when the emperors and aristocrats lived there with their imperial palaces and lavish gardens that would have been home to big statues and shows of wealth and power. We would suggest you try and find the ruins of Domus Flavia, House of Livia, House of Augustus, Farnese Gardens, Hippodrome of Domitian and Palatine Museum.