Colosseum

The Colosseum, known in antiquity as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is the largest amphitheatre ever built and the defining monument of Ancient Rome. Emperor Vespasian began construction around AD 72 on the drained lake of Nero's private palace, and his son Titus inaugurated it in AD 80 with one hundred days of games. At its peak the arena held tens of thousands of spectators, who entered through 80 numbered arches in a crowd-flow system so efficient that modern stadiums still copy it.

Inside, the great elliptical bowl reveals the hypogeum: the two-level underground network of tunnels, cells and lift shafts where gladiators, stage sets and wild animals waited beneath a wooden arena floor covered in sand. A partial arena floor has been reconstructed above it, and walking across it through the Gladiator's Gate remains the single most memorable way to experience the building. The upper tiers, called the Belvedere, add sweeping views over the Roman Forum and the Arch of Constantine.

Every Colosseum ticket is combined with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so plan three to four unhurried hours to see all three sites. Visit early in the morning at opening or in the late afternoon: midday brings the heaviest crowds and, in summer, the strongest sun. The travertine facade is at its most photogenic at golden hour, when the stone glows amber.

Getting there is simple: the Colosseo stop on Metro Line B leaves you directly in front of the monument, and trams and buses stop along Via dei Fori Imperiali. Entry is by timed slot and the site regularly sells out weeks ahead in high season, so book a hosted-entry tour or reserved ticket well in advance.

Questions about tickets, dress codes or timings? Our Rome FAQ answers the questions we hear most.