EASYROME

The Colosseum is a trade mark of the city, a symbol of its history and heritage, and whilst for some it may be considered "un-hip" a visit to Rome without understanding the wonders of this monument to culture and western civilization is simply a travesty.

The Colosseum did not have that name to being with, but rather is was known as the Flavian Amphitheater, named for it's builder Emperor Vespasian who began the Flavian Dynasty. Work got underway for this great building in 72 of the Common Era and it took 8 years to compete. Earlier in the century, Emperor Nero had created a park in this area of Rome which included an enormous statue of himself and a lake. Vespasian chose the location of the lake to build his huge amphitheater which was to be the venue of games and blood sports. The name of the Colosseum came about at a later date when it was identified because of it's vicinity to the Colossus the statue of Emperor Nero.

A common misconception is that permanent amphitheatres existed throughout the Roman Empire from the earliest of times, but this was not in fact the case. In actuality, gladiator troops would travel around, and take wooden collapsible arenas with them that they could set up at different locations. The Flavian Amphitheatre was in fact the first permanent amphitheatre of this type to be constructed. The building measures 188m by 156m and an enormous 48 meters in height; in it's heyday over 55,000 people could sit here, having entered through the 80 entrances and found seating on the 4 levels.

One of the elements that made this building so impressive except for its enormity was its ceiling. The huge arena was covered by an awning, or a velarium that would offer the spectators shade from the brutal Italian sun.

Today of course the building lies in relative ruins, but is none-the-less an incredibly impressive structure. Whilst in ancient days it was the role of the emperor to provide its people with free entertainment, this is no longer the case with the Roman officials. Entry to the Colosseum costs 10 euro and you can opt for a guided tour with an archaeologist for a few extra Euros.

If you are planning a last minute visit to Rome, it is highly advised to take a flight and hotel package together, as the city isn't as full of hotel rooms as one might expect from such a popular destination. The Italians, have a reputation for not being the most efficient and sometimes this reputation becomes reality when trying to find accommodation quickly.

An excellent option in Rome is to take a self catering apartment. Many of the medium priced hotels are not up to the level you might expect in other cities, and so for the same price you can find yourself a clean and central apartment which gives you the freedom and experience of living in the city for a couple of days.

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Article Source: ArticleSpan