The
Colosseum
Address: Piazza del Colosseum.
Colosseo (the Colosseum)
It was built in 72 AD on what had previously been an artificial
lake. The amphitheatre had a capacity of over 50,000 seats,
and originally, even had a sail-like roof covering to
protect spectators from the rain. Here, in the arena,
the gladiator fights took place; below ground level there
were walkways, changerooms, and the rooms in which the
gladiators prepared, as well as those in which wild animals
were kept before.
All of this underground area was, at
the time, covered by the earth from the arena above. Today,
the Colosseum boasts the largest collection of ancient
tools anywhere in the world.
Open
summer 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m., winter 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Underground
passage ways are open weekdays 9-12 a.m.
Tickets: L.6000, ground level passage ways free entrance.
Metro: Colosseo.
