Roman-Colosseum

Going to Rome implies entering the city in which history, art, and myth merge to create one huge open-air museum. The core of the world of archaeology of the Eternal City is the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. Visiting them allows you to follow the footsteps of the emperors, gladiators and ordinary Romans and plunge into the stories that have formed Western human civilization.

The size of the empire is reflected in the Colosseum of Rome. It was constructed almost 2000 years ago and hosted over 50000 people in gladiatorial fights, animal hunts, and spectacles. To come into the modern world is to understand the immense scale and construction of the greatest amphitheater of the world. You are standing where the fighters used to stand as you get a peep of the arena floor and the Colosseum underground tours make you discover the underground corridors, lifts and holding areas where the shows were run.

The Roman Forum was the civic center of ancient Rome standing next to the amphitheater. It was the meeting of politics, religion and day to day life here- senators argued, generals marched and crowds crowded the squares. The transition between temples, basilicas, arches such as the Temple of Saturn and the Arch of Titus makes the history of the empire to take a clear picture. Each building adds a chapter to a story of power, culture and tradition.

The Palatine hill elevates itself above the forum which gives the trip its depth. It was the seat of the emperors, and is said by legend to be the birthplace of Rome in 753 BC, in later centuries. Archaeological artifacts like the ruins of the palaces of the Domus Flavia and the Domus Augustana, surrounded by gardens and terraces, are a mixture of myth and history. It is here that the views extend over the Colosseum, the Forum and the Circus Maximus.

The combined tickets and passes are simple to plan. The majority of Colosseum tickets include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill so that you have a full tour of ancient Rome. To explore even more, city tickets such as the Rome Tourist Card or with Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are included will assist you in visiting as many as possible highlights saving money and time. Advance booking not only provides a time slot to enter but also allows you to avoid masses of people during busy times of the year; guided tours give you a bit of background information and may allow you access to places not accessible through a general ticket.

The colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill are located in central Rome, Piazza Venezia and Via dei Fori Imperiali. The entrances are well identified; the very main entrance to the Colosseum is at Piazza del Colosseo through the Arch of Constantine. Hours are counted between the morning and sunset, and are varying with the season. During the warmer seasons, remember to wear good shoes and carry water and sun protection so that you can maximize on your visit.

It is not really a mere sightseeing itinerary but a trip into the history of the city and the foundations of our culture. The process of obtaining Colosseum tickets online, visiting with a guide, or a city pass will minimize logistics and add more to the experience of tours of the most iconic Rome sights.