The mighty Colosseum is definitely top of the list of our things to do on a school trip to Rome and the city’s most iconic and remarkable building and symbol.
Today we share a little bit of history about the Rome Colosseum:
- The Colosseum opened to the public in the year 80 and was the greatest Roman amphitheater in the Roman Empire and the world, hosting up to 50,000 spectators.
- Emperor Titus officially opened the Colosseum, known as Flavian Amphitheater, with 100 days of games including gladiator games and wild animal fights, which would take the lives of more than 2000 gladiators.
- From bloody gladiator fights to exotic animal exhibitions and even executions of prisoners, the nature of games and ‘entertainment’ in those days was very different to the present day…
- Rome Colosseum remained open and active for 500 years with the last games held there in the 6th century.
- From the 18th century various popes tried to preserve the area as a Christian site, as it was believed some early Christians had been martyred at the Colosseum.
- By the 20th century, almost two thirds of the Colosseum structure had been lost to neglect, natural events such as storms and earthquakes, World War II and also due to the fact that it was used as a source of building materials for other structures in the city, including St Peter’s Basilica.
- Restoration works began in the 1990s and the Colosseum would eventually become Rome’s most popular visitor attraction.
- The Colosseum is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and receives approximately 6 million visitors each year.
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Rome.net
Parco Colosseo
Rome Museum
Britannica
Trip itinerary: Best of Rome school trip
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