The Colosseum travel, tours and Vacation packages

A short guide about The Colosseum

Depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin is The Colosseum (or the Roman Coliseum), originally called the ‘Flavian Amphitheatre’ – derived from both the emperor Vespasian and Titus's family name. The amphitheatre is in the centre of the city of Rome, and being one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering, it is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire.

With the capability to seat around 80,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles; such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, re-enactments of famous battles, dramas based on Classical mythology and executions. It has been estimated that about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games.

The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era, and was later reused for; housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine. It has now become one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church – as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession to the amphitheatre.

Tourabout has categorised some amazing tours via our travel partners – so you have no excuse not to grab a gelato and take to the streets to explore Italy's captivating capital. The Colosseum is a good place to start, and then maybe visit the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. Stop for a pizza and a coffee at the Piazza Navona and throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to make a wish.