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Facts To Know Before You Go To The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is a massive oval amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy.
The Colosseum is one of the 7 wonders of the world and the most popular tourist attraction in the world.

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The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
Splendid view of the Colosseum in the evening time.
The Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people.

Purpose of Colosseum

The Roman Colosseum was used for the activities like exhibitions of exotic animals, executions of prisoners, recreations of battles and gladiator fights.
The Colosseum was a freestanding structure made of stone and concrete.
The distinctive exterior had three stories of arched entrances supported by semi-circular columns. Each story contained columns of a different order.
This massive 4 story Colosseum structure has 8 entrances to the amphitheater, 76 for the patrons, 2 for participants of events and 2 exclusively for emperor to use.
The Roman Colosseum allowed more than 50,000 people to enjoy its finest spectacles.
The Colosseum remained active for over 500 years before 6th century.
Since the 6th century the Colosseum had suffered damaged due to lootings, natural phenomena such as lightning and earthquakes.
By the 20th century, the Colosseum had destroyed nearly two-thirds of the original Colosseum, including all of the arena’s marble seats and its decorative elements.
Restoration efforts began in the 1990s. At present, the Colosseum continues to be a leading attraction for tourists from all over the world.
Spectators were shielded from the sun through a canvas-covered ceiling. During the spectacles, a metallic net was disposed around the arena, to prevent animals from getting out.
The arena comprised a wooden floor covered by sand, covering a large underground structure called the hypogeum.

Some Facts About The Colosseum:

  • The original name "Flavian Amphitheatre" was changed to the Colosseum due to the great statue of Nero that was located at the entrance of the Domus Aurea.
  • There are some theories that the Colosseum was filled with water for naval battle recreations.
  • Every Good Friday the Pope leads the Way of the Cross procession in the Colosseum.