Colosseum, Rome

By far the #1 must-visit destination in Rome. We booked an early ticket with Skip-the-line and saved heaps of time waiting in the queue to get in. For places like these, I've always appreciated the extra insight and information a tour provides about where you are and the history of the place. The Colosseum is one of these places.

We started the tour and were shown the difference between the 3 walls that make up the outer, middle and inner rings. It was explained how an earthquake was to blame for bringing down one side of the outer wall. From there we went out onto the reconstruction of the arena floor. A wooden platform has been built to cover a small segment of the original arena. What is often unknown is that below the arena floor is a labyrinth underground of the rooms and spaces they once housed the gladiators, prisoners and wild animals used in the “games”.

This place is a must-see destination. It's hard to convey the sheer size and magnitude of what this place is. Without actually standing on the arena floor and strolling the different levels of the spectator's seating arena it's hard to fathom the history that surrounds you. Especially considering the gruesomeness of what unfolded here. Having done some research into it I guess it also portrays the varying periods of rise and fall of the Roman Empire. From a time that Rome could build such a magnificent display of power to seeing it become abandoned and used as a graveyard and fall to disrepair. I guess like the rest of Rome and the wider region it is an example of an age once strong and now left ruined.Läs mer