It was going to happen eventually. Who goes to Rome and doesn’t visit one of the most ancient sports stadiums in history? It’s a must see, and for very good reasons. The stadium seats 87,000 for the entertainment of man vs. beast, beast vs. beast and the infamous gladiator battles.
Of course while we were in the midst of this historical venue I had to harness my inner Russell Crowe and shout, “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!” It’s cliché, I know, but it had to be done.
Our tour guide informed us of the different events that transpired in the Coliseum like; four-on-four elephant battles, flooded floors for boat racing and sea battles—the variety of entertainment knew no bounds. Hence the legacy it has left.
The outside is a beautiful four-story stone hive with 80 entrances and exits. This type of build allowed for quick seating and emptying and was geared out with sailboat-like mechanisms to cast and recoil shade across the stadium.
The place was ahead of its time. I wonder what a modern day event would be like in a renovated Coliseum. Unfortunately the place was stripped of all of its marble seats and steel reinforcements a long time ago.
On the inside of the Coliseum it was literally just a pile of rocks. It was nothing impressive if you weren’t informed on all of it’s rich history. But it was truly a spectacle, and something that I am glad I was able to see while I was here in Europe.