The Colosseum
The Colosseum – Rome
The Colosseum is one of the world’s most well known structures, as well as the largest tourist destination for those visiting Italy.
The structure of which began building in 70 AD and finished in 80 AD, through the rule of three different leaders of Italy, the amphitheater (originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater) was host to about 50,000 seats for visitors wishing to be entertained.
The Colosseum is slowly turning to ruin through earthquakes, and people who discreetly chip away at the stone and sell it to people who wish to own a piece of history. The stealing and selling of stone from monuments has been a practice carried out through history, even with parts of the Berlin Wall being sold.
Despite the ruin, the Colosseum was once a tremendous building that was used for all kinds of entertainment. The most common affair was that of gladiator events, in which incredibly strong men would battle and sometimes be forced to defeat animals of great strength, like lions.
Public executions, as well as mock sea battles also took place within the Colosseum, which were all just part of entertainment being provided to the public.
Unfortunately due to the state of the building, and naturally its heritage listed status, the rebuilding to its full prime is not going to happen any time soon. While it once held thousands of people, the Colosseum now can only hold a few hundred people, for events usually of extravagant pricing, and even then only on temporary plastic seating.
There are many tours that are carried out on a daily basis of the interior of the Colosseum. With the typical opening hours, and pre-booking an essential action before undertaking the tour, the depth of history and the beauty of the structure is almost unrivalled.
In tour groups (you can also book out an entire tour group if you’re traveling with many friends), your tour guide, who can speak a variety of languages, will inform you about the original naming of the building, its purpose and use in 70 AD, as well as the many events that happened after the construction of such an incredible feat of architecture.
The Colosseum has also recently been named one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. In order to recreate the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World list, a non-profit organization set about gathering detailed information and facts about the popularity of the tourist destinations, its contribution to the world of architecture and its legacy left within the world (and usually to society and/or religion). The Colosseum was selected for its incredible architecture that has stood for many centuries, its popularity as a tourist destination, and also its link with Christianity, and its inclusion in some ceremonies, including the Easter ceremony lead by the Pope.
The Colosseum is a piece of architecture that surely cannot be missed, or even avoided due to its large size and stature in the heart of Rome. It’s incredible history, and its ability to stand tall (for the most part) after hundreds of years, is reason enough why to visit this incredible monument.
