Day 1: Colosseum
Think of Rome and Colosseum would be one of the monuments that would come to mind. Colosseum is also one of the most visit places in Rome. The movie Gladiator comes to mind. In fact I learned that The Colosseum was called Flavian Amphitheater. It was built during the reign of the Flavian emperors as a gift to the Roman people. Before the trip, we hyped up our kids on how grand Colosseum would be. They have seen it on TV and my son just completed the chapter on Roman History in school. However visiting the Colosseum needs a bit of planning as I will explain below
Tickets
I would suggest that you plan your trip to Rome around Colosseum tickets. Just before we went, they changed the system so our planning was a bit chaotic as we have no references. Tickets are limited so you may need to be flexible on which day you go. Most important is to get Tickets early. We logged in to the system a couple of months before to see how far out they would sell. Last we checked, they were selling tickets one month away and they start selling around 8am Ireland time. This is the time our “kiasu-ness” comes in handy. You need to buy tickets for the day you want to go and also the timeslot for your visit.
We then put reminders on the day we think that the tickets will be on sale, we even logged in a few days before to make sure their scheduling has changed. We bought the 24h – COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM, PALATINE tickets on the morning it was open. There were some issues logging in to the system from some laptops but we finally managed. This feels like buying Air Asia tickets during discount or booking for COVID vaccination. The ticket allows you access to Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. So 2 places for one ticket.
Children under 18 is free, but you still need to buy them tickets. Remember to print out the tickets and bring it along. When you are at the gates, the staff will ask you to go to a special counter to collect their tickets.
Getting There
The easiest way to get to the Colosseum is through the metro. The Metro Colosseum station will bring you straight to the entrance of the Colosseum. Since my Colosseum ticket is early in the morning, we decided to take a taxi. It costs 30 Euro from our hotel to the doorstep of Colosseum. We would have taken the train had the metro station near our hotel is not closed.
Entering the Colosseum
The journey begins at the entrance, where you pass through security and scan your ticket. The anticipation builds as you walk through the arches, each step echoing with the history of gladiators, emperors, and roaring crowds. The sunlight filters through the ancient stone, casting shadows that seem to whisper stories of the past.
You will join the crowd outside the Colosseum where they will check your tickets. A printed ticket will help you to get through the queue fast. After that, there’s an airport type scanner where you need to put your bags through. They recommend in the ticket that you should not bring backpack. However we saw many people brining backpack and being let through the gates.
The Arena Floor
The crowd of people and guides will funnel you to the steps leading to the Colosseum Arena Floor. In my case, we were told to take the tickets for the children just after the xray machines. There is another point where they will check your tickets, to make sure you have the right ticket for the various exhibits, so keep your tickets handy. There is a steep step leading up to the Arena Floor. My parents were asked if they wanted to use an elevator, so that is an option for those who have limited walking ability.
As you step onto the arena floor is really surreal, you can almost hear the roar of the crowd and the clash of swords. The central area, once covered in sand to absorb blood, now offers a clear view of the underground chambers where gladiators and animals awaited their fate. Standing here, you can imagine the intense battles and the sheer spectacle that once captivated thousands.
There are few places in the Arena floor that you can take pictures of the Arena. That is you have to fight through the “Instagram posers” who will hog the whole area. Just need a bit of patience and wait for them to get off the perch.
The Upper Levels
We continued to walk along the path. The Colosseum is a one direction walk, therefore you follow the arrows and guide to the next exhibits. There is no coming back so the time to take the picture you need. We stopped at almost all the viewing area to take pictures. Ultimately the walk will lead you to another staircase up a level.
Climbing to the upper levels, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Colosseum and the surrounding city. The higher you go, the more you can appreciate the architectural genius that allowed this structure to stand the test of time. From here, you can see the seating arrangements that once separated the social classes, with the best seats reserved for the elite. One of the area is reserved for the Emperor. While the overall structure is intact, it is hard to imagine the grand details that were part of Colosseum in it’s heydays.
Here, you will get more opportunities for pictures. It is more spacious in the upper levels, more breathing space. Can finally enjoy the view and relax.
At the end
I am going to repeat this a few times in the coming post. August is HOT. It’s like Malaysia on a hot day. A day that we would normally hide out under the air condition but this time we are out in the open. For all the trouble, Colosseum is one of the hallmarks of Rome, definitely have to visit. If not inside, surely need a picture outside.
It is surreal, we saw the movies, read it in history books and watched documentaries about it. Finally get to see it in person and walk through the belly of this great monument. Definitely a memorable event.
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