THE COLOSSEUM
Rome’s Colosseum stadium is easily one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Not just because it’s an incredible structure that was built under relatively primitive circumstances, but also because it was Ancient Rome’s central entertainment centre for over 450 years, and a critical part of the social and economic framework of this ancient society. It’s amazing to think how times have changed insofar as what is and what isn’t a socially acceptable source of public entertainment!
Inside, many bloody and brutal gladiator matches and violent man-against-beast fights took place, in front of crowds as many as 50,000. The longest games held in the stadium occurred at the stadium’s opening in 80AD. The games lasted 100 days, resulting in the death of 9,000 gladiators and 5,000 animals.
As well as the professional gladiators that fought to the death here, many criminals were punished by being forced into the arena, fighting with next to no chance of survival against their opponents.
The fact that the Colosseum is still standing today is amazing in itself as it was damaged by violent earthquakes several times during its lifetime, which lead to it being abandoned after the fall of to Roman empire. It was later used as a quarry for stones which were used to build the Palazzo Venezia, amongst other structures in Rome.
Today, the structure is held in high respect as an icon of Rome’s power during it’s ancient past. Modern restoration projects have ceased being about restoring the complete stadium, but instead protecting it from further decay.
Imagination is required to picture the complete stadium as it was in ancient times, filled with thousands of blood-hungry spectators, exotic animals imported from far and wide, and the Roman empire’s most elite athletes, ready for battle! But despite this, everyone that comes to Rome should visit this amazing structure, you wont be disappointed!
The Colosseum is open every day of the year except Christmas day and New Years day. It opens at 9am all year round but closing times vary according to the season, ending between 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Children under six are free and adults are 8 euros.
Some visitors might not see a lot of point queuing for hours (as you do during peak tourist season) just to look at “ruins”, but the thrill of standing inside such an amazingly imposing structure that is as old as 72 AD is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives.
THE PANTHEON
The Pantheon is the most complete and best preserved example of Roman architecture left standing in the world. The structure was once a temple dedicated to the gods of Ancient Rome, but later in 609AD it was consecrated as a place of worship for the Christian faith, of which it still remains today.
It was the first pagan temple in Rome to become Christianised. Many modifications of the original building were undertaken as a result, resulting in an eclectic and interesting mix of architectural styles and intricate decorative details, especially in the interior.
The original building on this site was begun in 27BC by Marcus Agrippan in commemoration of Actium’s victory over Antony and Cleopatra, but it was later destroyed by fire in 80AD.
The building that stands today was begun by Hadrian around 125AD to replace the destroyed structure, which was developed into one of the most elaborate and impressive buildings of it’s time: Until the 20th Century, it was the largest concrete structure in the world and it’s elaborate dome was the inspiration for Michelangelo’s St Peters Basilica.
Apart from it’s amazingly ornate decorative features, the building is famous for it’s superb representation of many great architectural components such as the dome spanning 43.2 meters, the 7.5 meter thick walls, the gentle sloping of the floor to allow rainwater to effectively drain without damaging the foundations, and the original bronze doors which weigh in at 20 tonnes each.
There are also many important tombs inside- including that of artist Raphael, King Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king to rule over a united Italy, and his successor Umberto I.
The Pantheon is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30- 7:30pm and Sunday 9am- 6pm, but closed on Christmas and New Years Day, and May 1st. It’s free to visit.
ROMAN FORUM
Although what’s left of the Roman Forum is by no means even a fraction of it’s former glory in ancient times, it is a very interesting site to visit and gain a better understanding of the government and administration of the Roman Empire during ancient times.
The forum was the political, civic, religious and economic centre of Rome. Ever expanding over time, the complex includes a variety of structures including temples, markets, taverns, churches, court and senate house as well as beautiful monuments to mark important events or people of Roman history. Although many are today in ruins, the history of these ancient landmarks is what makes this place so fascinating.
The best preserved structures are the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimus which are intricately detailed. The Temple of Julius Caesar is among the most interesting as it marks the site of his cremation, where Marc Anthony gave his famous speech in his honour during his funeral, made famous by William Shakespear’s play “Julius Caesar”.
The site is free to enter, although we recommend you hire an audio guide at the entrance (around 4 euros) so you can learn more about each part of the complex and it’s significance to ancient society. Open from 8:30am every morning. Closed on Christmas and New Years Day. Get there early to avoid the crowds of tour bus tourists which will inevitably arrive!
THE TREVI FOUNTAIN
Regarded by many as the most beautiful fountain in all of Europe, the Trevi fountain is an impressive Baroque architectural masterpiece standing 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide. It’s a fabulously decorative piece, situated at the end of an ancient aqueduct, constructed in 19BC to bring water from a spring, about 20kms away from the city centre.
In the centre of the scene is Neptune the sea God, riding a giant shell- shaped chariot, pulled along by two sea horses, each guarded by a triton. One horse is calm and serene, the other is wild and disobedient, representing the changing moods of the sea itself.
Above these sculptures is a bas relief, depicting the legend of Agrippa, who led an army of thirsty solders to an abundant source of water, saving them from certain death.
Legend has it that if you toss a coin into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome. Thousands of euros are thrown into the fountain every day and collected at night to discourage thieves. If you can, visit the fountain at night when it is lit up. Truly a magnificent site.
THE SPANISH STEPS OF PIAZZA DI SPAGNA
A lively and bustling square, and a popular meeting place, The Piazza di Spagna is most famous for the Spanish Staircase, which connects the square to a church- Trinita dei Monti, which was built in 1502.
The view back into the square from the staircase, which features 138 steps is worth the climb, although it often gets crowded quickly during the summer months. At certain times, a fresh cut flower market lines the stairs, and during May, the steps will be lined with potted azaleas, celebrating the arrival of Spring.
As well as the staircase, this same square has a lovely boat shaped Baroque style fountain- La Fontana della Barcaccia, built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Here you’ll also find the house of English poet John Keats, which is now an interesting museum dedicated to memorabilia from the English Romantic generation.
Many of Rome’s most exclusive fashion boutiques can be found in the surrounding streets of the plaza, making it a great tourist destination for history buffs and shopaholics!
VATICAN CITY
Vatican City is a small (about 44 hectares) independent sovereign city-state with a population of just over 1,000 residents that is governed separately to the rest of Italy, headed by the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, under the Roman Catholic religion. The current Pope, Josef Cardinal Ratzinger, also known as Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005.
Tips for planning your visit to Vatican City:
1. The Vatican holds some of the most important sites of the Christian Faith, including St Peters’ Basilica, The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Many of the attractions you’ll want to see are also top of the list for many other tourists, so be prepared to queue and wait for lengthy periods.
2. A good idea is to organise to take a guided tour of the important highlights of the Vatican, to allow for a stress free (and sometimes a queue-free) experience. Tours are available per attraction or as an all-inclusive pass and are reasonably priced. Expect to pay between 20-30 euros for an all-inclusive pass.
Contact the Tourist Office of the Vatican or visit the Official Website for information on tours. It’s advisable to book ahead through the website if you will be visiting during peak tourist season: http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
3. Wear comfortably walking shoes, bring a hat and plenty of water. You will be refused entry if you are dressed inappropriately: your arms and legs down to the knees must be covered.
4. Most Importantly: Pickpockets are notorious in this area, so keep a close eye on your valuables at all times!
ST PETER’S SQUARE
Piazza San Pietro is a grand square that is the entrance to Vatican City, located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica where people gather on Wednesday mornings to hear a weekly papal address. The square has a capacity of about 300,000 people.
In the centre of the square is a red granite obelisk of 25.5 meters in height, dating back to the 13th Century. It was brought to Rome from Egypt as a gift by Emperor Caligula. It was originally erected on the south side of the Basilica but later moved to it’s existing site in 1586.
Surrounding the square are two sets of semi-circular colonnades facing each other, each with four rows of columns, making a total of 284. On top of each colonnaded are statues of 96 representative Saints and Martyrs.
ST. PETER’S BASILICA
One of the largest, most important and most beautiful Cathedrals in the world with a capacity of 60,000 people, this Basilica one of the world’s most celebrated places of worship.
The basilica is named after St. Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles who was the first Bishop of Rome. His tomb lies inside under the main altar. Underneath the Basilica, in the crypt, there are the tombs of past Popes, Saints and royalty deeply devoted to the faith. The number of tombs is believed to be close to 100 in total!
The structure you see today was not the first Basilica to be built on this site. The first was built under Emperor Constantine. The body of St Peter, who was originally buried on Vatican Hill, made the site both religiously symbolic and added to the church’s physical dominance over the surrounding landscape. It was the perfect site for a place of worship.
The original was completed by 349AD, where it remained until the middle of the 15th Century when Nicholas V ordered restoration and enlargement of the existing site. A lot of the original structure was demolished to allow for the renovations, but several delays for various reasons meant it wasn’t until 1506 that the first stone was laid for what was to become the most important building of the Christian faith.
The Dome of the Basilica dominates the skyline of Rome and was designed by Italy’s famous artist Michelangelo, who became chief architect of the expansion of the Basilica in 1546.
Until recently, it was the largest dome in the world, being 42 meters in diameter with a height of 138 meters. Visitors can pay to take either the elevator or the stairs (the latter being a bit cheaper) to enjoy an unobstructed view over Rome. The effort and money is well worth it, especially since entry to the Basilica itself is free.
Visitors may well find themselves visually overwhelmed by the opulence and intricate detail of the interior. It is truly a testament to the power and wealth of the Church during the 16th Century. There are countless sculptures, pillars, engravings and other monuments made with materials including marble, gold and even ivory. It may take several visits before you feel you have seen everything there is to see inside this magnificent building.
Audio guides are available from the entrance, which is open from 7am daily. Remember that this is a place of worship, so be quiet and respectful of those who come to the Basilica to worship.
THE SISTINE CHAPEL
The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Apostolic Palace, which is also the Pope’s official residence. It celebrated it’s first mass in 1483 for the Feast of the Assumption. At this ceremony, the chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The chapel is also the location where the palpal conclave meet, and from where they elect a new Pope in the event of the death of the presiding Pope.
The chapel is opulently decorated, and holds many fine examples of high-Renaissance art, most notably the famous vault ceiling which was painted by legendary artist Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. He was commissioned for the work by Pope Julius II and built special scaffolding for the job which allowed him to comfortably reach the height of the ceiling without damaging the walls or other elements of the interior.
During the preparation of the ceiling before painting began, Michelangelo and one of his assistants, Jacopo Torni developed a special formula of plaster that was resistant to the growth of mould, which developed more easily the longer it took to dry. Because Michelangelo liked to paint while the plaster was still wet, mould was potentially a big problem. If left untreated, it would have eaten away at the painting, ultimately destroying it. The mould-resistant formula of plaster they developed for this project is still being used today.
Not many people know that at the time it was painted, Michelangelo used bright, vibrant colours, so the detail could been seen easily from the floor of the vault. The original colours of his work became heavily faded over the years, until quite recently. A pain- staking ten year renovation process was undertaken between 1984 and 1994 before the chapel was reopened to the public.
The reasons the process took so long (ten years to re-paint what took Michelangelo four to paint in the first place!) was due to the great amount of care that went into the preservation of the technique used by Michelangelo, to produce a result as close to the original finish as possible. Whilst some might think that the restoration took something away from looking at the actual brush strokes of the master himself, don’t forget that the restored version was how it would have looked when first completed- as Michelangelo wanted people to view it.
As well as the ceiling of the vault, Michaelagelo also painted a number of frescoes inside the chapel, depicting biblical scenes including Adam and Eve, The Great Flood and The Last Judgment.
As well as Michaelangelo’s work, many other precious artworks are housed in the chapel including fresco paintings by Botacelli, Perugino and Rossellini. A series of tapestries were created by Raphael for hanging inside the chapel during ceremonies, depicting scenes from St Peter and St Paul’s lives, and the acts of the Twelve Apostles. Many of these were looted from the Chapel and are now scattered all over Europe.
Entry to the Sistine Chapel is via the Vatican Museum which charges a 13 euro entry fee or 8 euros for concession tickets. Its worth paying the 20 euros or so to take a guided tour. Not only do you gain a better appreciation of the contents of museum but you also skip lengthy queues to get inside.
