The Colosseum – Visit the Largest Amphitheater Ever Built

If you are traveling to Rome, it would be no less than a crime to not visit the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built. Probably the main tourist attraction in Rome, the Colosseum is visited by about 4 million people every year. All the history buffs and fans of ancient architecture love it here. This building is a monument that will forever awe those who lay eyes upon it. A history that shares more than just gladiator battles within its walls, the Colosseum has been a pride of Rome for centuries and would continue to be so. It has earned its place as one of the seven wonders of the world for many reasons.

It is not just the structure of the magnificent building that keeps everyone tongue tied, the Colosseum was made to seat about 50,000 people within its structure. We can only imagine the roar of the crowd as animals and gladiators would fight in the arena. If you are in Italy, there is no excuse for you to not go to Rome and around this one of a kind amphitheater. Get the Colosseum Rome tickets and experience what cannot be put into words.

1- A Clear View of the Hypogeum

Before you get all excited to see the larger than life arena of the Colosseum, we are sorry to break it to you but it was completely removed in the 19th century by the archeologists trying to look for the secrets of the colosseum. But before you lose all your hopes, we want to tell you that something even better is on display now. While some of the arena is reconstructed so you can still walk on it and feel what it must have been like, the rest of the removed arena exposes the hypogeum beneath. These were kind of like backstage rooms of the colosseum with cages that were used to lock in the animals. Walking around this maze like hypogeum is truly a worthy experience.

2- Naumachia – The Naval Battles

You would not believe it when we tell you that in the ancient period, Romans used to fill the Colosseum’s arena with water, which basically turned it into the largest swimming pool. And in this swimming pool were held Naumachie which were basically mock naval battles. Sounds unbelievable right? Step into the Colosseum and you would realize by looking at its size that it is not that far of a stretch. But these mock naval battles came to an end in 1 AD when the arena was replaced by masonry walls and wooden supports after which it became impossible to flood the arena.

3- It Contains Magic

There was a time when the arena of the Colosseum turned into a giant garden. Medieval Romans believed that wizards and witches used these magical plants to make potions and cast spells. Botanical studies have been conducted on the arena for centuries and it is proven that there was a large variety of plants and flowers in the arena which belonged to some foreign place. Whether those seeds were somehow transported to the arena or if it was the work of witches, no one can say for sure. But if you take a closer look around the arena, you still might be able to spot a few of those small plants.

4- Statue of Nero Once Stood Here

If you read up a bit on the history here, you will find out that Emperor Nero built a really big palace for himself here, after 64 AD and named it the Golden House. This golden house had an artificial lake and next to it an enormous bronze statue of Emperor Nero himself. The artificial lake is where the Colosseum stands today. And as for the statue, the head of this statue changed many faces in the coming years under different rulers until one day, the whole statue disappeared into thin air. Some speculate an earthquake shattered it but no one knows for sure. But the base of that Statue still remains for you to see for yourself.

5- You Get a Museum Tour for Free

While you walk into the Colosseum expecting to see its enormous structure and ruins of the largest amphitheater ever built, on the second another surprise waits patiently for you. On the second floor of the Colosseum, is a museum that contains various artifacts that were excavated from the site in the past. Other than the real things you get to see from a different time, there are also multiple models which show what the Colosseum looked like in different periods. It really makes it easier for you to imagine this building’s glory days. And the best part is that you do not have to pay any extra money to enter this museum.