This outdoor museum, called Rome, displays a variety of beautiful and interesting sights. It is not news to anyone that the Colosseum is its iconic image and one of the world’s most visited sights.

I really believe that it is very important to know the history of the places you are going to visit because this helps you establish a better connection with them. In case you haven’t visited the Colosseum yet, I made a list with some interesting information about it. In my opinion any tourist should know the following:

1. This large amphitheatre was built by Emperor Vespasian who was the founder of the Flavian Dynasty. This is the reason why the Colosseum was originally named the Flavian Amphitheatre.

2. The name Colosseum comes from the Latin word “colosseus” which means colossal. Located very close to the amphitheatre, the impressive statue of Emperor Nero, also called the statue of Colossus, was indeed a colossal work of art. It is said that the name Colosseum was especially chosen to highlight the presence of this imposing statue.

3. Situated in the center of Rome, the Colosseum covers an area of 6 acres. It is 189 meters long and 156 meters wide and it has a capacity of about 50.000 spectators.

4. The fact that this place has over 80 entrances and 36 trap doors makes the Colosseum really mysterious.

5. The Colosseum was built on four floors, in the shape of an imposing amphitheatre. It is interesting to know that travertine stones, marble and brick were used for its construction. This elaborated construction process lasted almost 10 years.

6. This emblematic place was actually an arena for different activities such as: gladiatorial shows, wild animal hunting, theatrical entertainment, execution rituals, religious ceremonies and also for the celebrations of the famous Roman victories.

7. This impressive building was used as a battle field for the delight of crowds. This was probably one of the main purposes of the arena. The Romans loved a good spectacle and they organized here a variety of fights: gladiatorial fights, wild animal fights or the Bestiarii shows in which gladiators were fighting wild animals.

8. The Romans used gladiators for these bloody battles. The gladiators were war slaves trained in special schools to fight each other to death.

9. A painful truth about this place, which is so admired nowadays, is the fact that almost 70.000 people died in these violent battles. It is also said that the inauguration of these violent games lasted one hundred days and five thousand beasts were killed during this period.

10. The legend says that there are actually 3 reasons for building this place: to increase the popularity of the Flavian Dynasty, to host different forms of entertainment and to prove the Roman engineering techniques to the world.

Leaving behind all these aspects, the Colosseum is definitely a must-see if you are going to visit Rome. It is the most famous sight of Rome and it is definitely worth experiencing.

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If you decide to visit this place you should take into account the following tips:

1. Make sure you are not on the run when you decide to visit the Colosseum. I advise you to take your time and enjoy the beauty of this sight and in order to do so, you will probably need an entire day. The archaeological area includes three important monuments: The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

2. You can buy a ticket that covers the entrance of all three monuments. You should also know that the ticket is valid for two days, so be careful and don’t lose it.

3. If you buy your entrance ticket on the internet, you will avoid the queues and save precious time. Your ticket will be e-mailed to you and this way you will also avoid any delivery charges.

4. If you haven’t bought your tickets in advance you should know that you can also do it at the entrance of the Palatine Hill. This place is less crowded and it is better to buy tour tickets from there. The ticket gate at the Colosseum is very crowded and you will waste a lot of time there.

5. Take a lot of pictures with the locals dressed as Romans because it will be a very funny experience. In my opinion pictures are the most beautiful memories.

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It is said that Rome is the world’s biggest outdoor museum and this is definitely true, because each part of the city has a story to tell.

To have a perfect experience in Rome you should know a few essential things. It is important to carefully choose the season when you visit Rome. I advise you to go there in late spring or in early autumn. In my opinion you should spend at least four days there, in order to enjoy the beauty of the entire city. If you have never thought of visiting Rome, I advise you to do it, because this city is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and an amazing destination. Here are a few arguments to convince you to visit Rome:

1.Rome is an authentic complex of monuments, temples, castles and buildings. The most spectacular tourist attractions in the city are: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, the Temple of Portunus, the Temple of Hercules and The Castle of St. Angelo.

2.You will discover amazing fountains in Rome. The Trevi Fountain, the Fountain of Four Rivers and the Tritone Fountain are just a few of them.
3.Rome has beautiful squares where you will feel that authentic Italian atmosphere. The most impressive ones and also the squares that I liked the most are: Piazza Venezia, Piazza Novana, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza San Pietro , Piazza del Campidoglio and Piazza del Popolo.

4.It will be a delight to visit the most imposing churches in Rome. Among the most famous churches in the city I would like to mention: St Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore’s Basilica ,San Giovanni’s Basilica and St. Paul Outside the Walls’s Basilica.
5.Rome shelters a number of museums and galleries. The most significant ones are: the Capitoline Museums, the National Roman Museum (which includes the Baths of Diocletian), the Museum of the Roman Civilization, the Museum of the Walls, the Museum of the Musical Instruments, the Wax Museum, the Borghese Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Arts and the Gallery of Ancient Arts.

6.There are a few places in Rome which offer amazing views over the entire city. Vittoriano, Pincio and the Janiculum Hill are just a few of the places which impress the tourists with amazing panoramas over the city.

7.Rome is a unique place in the world because it will give you the chance to actually visit two countries in one: Italy (Rome is the largest city in Italy) and also Vatican City State(Vatican is the smallest state in the world, built within Rome). In Vatican you will discover the Vatican Museums, the impressive Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Gardens.

8. Another thing you will enjoy in Rome will be the Italian cuisine. Italian food is delicious. They have the best pizza, pasta and ice cream.
9.This city has a fabulous architecture and you will love walking along its coquettish streets and listening to the soft music in the background. You will experience the authentic Italian atmosphere and you will feel a blend of positive emotions.

10. Rome has an active nightlife. There are a lot of interesting clubs and discos where tourists can spend their time. The city is also an ideal place for shopping because many well known brands have stores here.
You have a lot of reasons to visit and discover Rome and if you decide to do it, you will definitely fall in love with this stunning city.

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