Sometimes I find it is hardest to write about the world’s best known tourist attractions, like the Colosseum or the Eiffel Tower. I could give you a history lesson, but you can get that from just about any other website or from any Rick Steve’s or Frommers guidebook. I could rattle off numbers about its size, how many spectators it held, and how many entrances it had, but you’ll hear all that no matter if you decide to visit on a guided tour or on your own with an audio guide. Instead, I thought I’d give you some fun facts about the Colosseum (followed by some practical tips for visiting, so be sure to read to the bottom):
1. Originally it was known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium and you can still see this name on the Colosseum today. Eventually, it just came to be called the Colosseum, referring to any large amphitheater used for sports and entertainment. Though the one in Rome is always capitalized and spelled differently than the generic coliseum.
2. The West Exit was called the Gate of Death because this was the exit that dead gladiators were carried out from.
3. The southern side of the Colosseum collapsed in a massive earthquake in 847.
4. The very first games at the Colosseum, held in 80AD by Emperor Titus, lasted for 100 days and there were over 3000 gladiator fights during them. The very last gladiatorial games were held in 435AD.
5. The Colosseum is a popular destination for botanists. As catalog began to be compiled of the the flora in 1643 and over 337 different species have taken root among the ruins.
6. The wooden floor of the Colosseum was removed and the lower cells would be filled with water for mock naval battles to take place. They weren’t quite as popular as the gladiator battles, so eventually were moved elsewhere and the wooden floor became permanent.
7. In ancient times, the Colosseum would have actually been located on the very outskirts of the city. Back then, the city was built around the banks of the river.
8. The Colosseum appears on the reverse of Italy’s five cent Euro coin. Bonus fun fact: Countries in the Euro Zone can mint their own coins and important monuments from their country of issue appear on their reverse.
9. The marble facade and some parts of the Colosseum were used in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
10. Even though director Ridley Scott made it through all the red tape and bureaucracy required to film the movie Gladiator at the Colosseum, he decided that there were too many restrictions and that the Colosseum just wasn’t big enough for Hollywood. Instead, he built a replica in Malta at the estimated cost of a cool $1 million.
Know Before You Go
- The Colosseum opens at 8:30am year round and the line begins forming around 8am. The Colosseum closes 1 hour before sunset and the times vary throughout the year.
- Avoid waiting in line with a Roma Pass.
- If you chose to wait in line, tickets are €12 per person and under 18 years of age are free. Tickets are valid for 2 days, though you can only enter once. The ticket is good for entry to the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.
- There is free admission for all on the first Sunday of every month.
The Walks of Italy’s ‘Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground & Arena Floor’ gives you VIP access after the Colosseum has closed to the general public and you’ll visit areas like the arena floor and underground that are only accessible on special guided tours.
You’ll get a gladiator’s view of the Colosseum when entering through the Gladiator’s Gate, which is only open on this special Gladiator’s Gate Colosseum Arena Floor Tour. This one offers excellent value for VIP access to areas not open to the public on a regular tikcet.
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Anita says
Those are all very interesting facts, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing them.
I didn’t know that the replica for the movie Gladiator was built in Malta!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Crazy, right? Glad I could introduce you to some new fun facts, Anita!
Dawson says
It is pretty cool.
Kay says
Interesting facts, Jennifer. I didn’t know that some parts of the Colosseum were used in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
And Roma Pass saved me a lot of time at teh Colosseum and Forum.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I agree! We’ve done both a guided tour and visited with just the audio guides on the Roma Pass. No matter how you go, standing in that line is never pleasant.
Val-Travel Scamming says
Wow!! There’s a lot I didn’t know here. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Excellent, I’ve done by job then! 😉 glad you enjoyed the post, Val!
Larry says
Excellent information!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks! It’s tough sometimes to come up with new and interesting information about something written about endlessly like the Colosseum.
noel says
that was a fun tour, thanks for showing us this ancient monument and the fun facts
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Noel! No matter how many times I’ve been, I’m still in complete awe of the Colosseum.
Freya Renders says
I’ve been to the Colosseum, and I agree with you about being hard to write about it! You managed to come up with a fresh post though. I didn’t know that bit about the botanists.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Freya! Isn’t that neat that so many plant species grow there? It’s kind of hard to imagine being right in the heart of a city like Rome.
Cathy Sweeney says
Interesting stuff. Who would have thought about it being a haven for botanists? Always hard to believe that violent “games” like gladiator fights really took place. Sadly, I guess we’ve got our own hard-to-believe events in this day and age.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s so true. We focus so much on the structure itself, but it’s important too to stop and reflect on the horrid that occurred there. Men lost their lives, as did thousands of animals, purely for the people’s entertainment.
Andrea says
My big Rome regret is not going inside here…I just didn’t want to line up
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Oh, you must come back, Andrea! The line is terrible. A Roma Pass didn’t exist on my first visit back in 2006 and I had to queue up. Definitely not fun. Thank goodness for travel innovations like the Roma Pass and good tours that skip the line.
Gran Canaria Local says
My two favourite facts were five and six. Erm, can you tell I live on a tropical island? Also, great to see you breathing some new life into a list-style piece, a format that’s running the risk of becoming cliched.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks! I particularly enjoy writing list posts. They’re always favorites of our readers too.
Marina K. Villatoro says
If you think of all the innocent lives that were taken there, it’s really a horrible place. And the voyeurism is similar to what we call reality shows these days. Only not as gory.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Very true, Marina. The deaths of both the people and the animals is actually quite sad. Oh the things we do just for entertainment…
Suzanne Fluhr (Just One Boomer) says
We did a private (for the 4 people in our family) Context walking tour. (Back when we did it, it was called Scala Italian woman with PHd’s in archeology and art history. We also did one of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with a guide from NZ who was studying for a Doctor of Divinity degree in Rome. I don’t recall what we paid, and I suspect it was more than many tours, but both were 4 hour tours and managed to hold the interest (mostly) of even our 20 and 16 year old sons. We scrimped on the hotel and food and splurged on these tours.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Context Travel tours are great because their guides are subject matter experts and extremely knowledgable. Not only have we had great experiences with them, everyone we talk to that’s been on a Context tour has too.
Cheryl says
Great list! 🙂
Here’s another fun fact. During events at the colosseum, the marble could get quite cold. Nobles would then dispatch their servants and have them sit on the toilet and warm up the seat with their body heat before they got there.
How hilarious is that? A gem passed on to me by my tour guide when I visited the site. Ha ha!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Love that, Cheryl! Thanks for sharing. I’m going to update the post and include yours as a bonus fun fact, with a link to your fab blog, of course. 🙂
Rocky Travel Blog says
Interesting facts about the Colosseum! It is very curios to read that it is a popular destination for botanists as the place looks very arid. I have been there a couple of times during school times many years ago and would love to visit again. It is probably worth waiting for the big restoration work to be completed, in a few years, let’s hope! 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The floor of the Colosseum actually has quite a bit of plant life growing. I’m not sure how much rain Rome gets in comparison to here in Pordenone in the north, but things grow at a rapid pace at my house.
Ali says
Andy and I did the Walks of Italy tour here in June and even though I’ve been before, it was really great to hear the little details like this that you don’t necessarily read in a guidebook. Definitely a great place to visit!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I really do enjoy the Colosseum. Now that I’ve been inside three times, I’m not sure I necessarily need to visit if we go back go Rome. That is unless they open new sections to the public.
Heather says
These tidbits are so interesting! I haven’t been to Rome since I visited on a high school class trip, which was more years ago than I’d care to admit. It’s definitely time for a return trip! (And I had no idea that each country got to make their own versions of the euro coins!)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Isn’t it a fun fact? Makes me want to get out my wallet and compare Euro coins!
Mike says
I often repeat myself in travel blog comments with regards to a post with amazing pictures that have me escape back in time. Pretending to see spectators in the stands and the gladiators down below. This was great, Jennifer! A buddy of mine is a huge fan of the Colosseum and I’m sending this to him 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad to hear you enjoyed the post, Mike! Thanks for forwarding on to a friend. 🙂
Adam says
Do you happen to know of Ridley Scott’s Colosseum is still standing in Malta? Maybe there’s finally a reason to visit!
Marissa says
Thank you for the info. I’m doing a report and this is going to help alot☺
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Good luck with your report, Marissa!
Kevin Bonsu says
am doing a project and this really helped. THNAK YOU : )
Helen says
Thank for the info. I hope my report will be a great success.
Savage says
Thanks
Shania says
very interesting facts!!!!
Chloe Davies says
This has helped me with my Grade 7 Geography homework! Thank you!
Kind regards
Chloe