Review: Colosseum

Tell me: What’s this place all about?
The Colosseum is more than just an ancient amphitheater built in the 1st century—it's a symbol of Rome. Naturally, it's one of the most popular monuments in town, so do yourself a favor and grab tickets at the Forum or Palatine nearby, then use those to bypass the impossibly long ticket lines at the Colosseum.

Wow. What’s it like being there?
The place is undeniably magnificent from the outside. Standing 160 feet tall and made of brick, concrete, and limestone, the Colosseum is an awe-inspiring testament to Roman building. Visitors report mixed reviews of the interior, which was picked over by looters pretty intensely for more than 1,000 years. To get the most out of a trip inside, book a special visit to the substructure (basically the backstage area where people and animals waited to be brought onstage), the third tier, and the belvedere via the Colosseum's website.

Pretty interesting! Is there a guide involved?
There's some decent signage in the Colosseum, and the audio guide does a good job of recounting the building's history.

Who comes here?
The Colosseum pulls in several million visitors a year and, like the Vatican Museums and Trevi Fountain, people visit it whether they're spending six hours or six days in town. The crowd is a mix of individuals and tour groups varying in size.

Did it meet expectations?
If you know the background of the building, a visit to the Colosseum will be truly amazing and totally live up to the hype. The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins. Spend a little time on the second story exhibition area, check out the artists' renderings of the building's ancient and medieval incarnations, and you'll be anxious to learn more.

Got it. So, then, what, or who, do you think it’s best for?
It's easy to do the Colosseum on a time crunch; get your ticket at the Forum or Palatine office and visit late in the day when the obligatory security lines have subsided. The place is great for families, small groups, or solo travelers. The building is equipped for visitors in wheelchairs.