Take the New Gladiator Tour at the Roman Colosseum
The Gladiator Tour
Take the new Gladiator Tour when visiting Rome. The new underground tour, beginning in March 2011, will take you on a tour of the secrets of the Roman Colossuem (Plaza del Colosseo). The Colosseum is one of the most popular stops on a vacation visit to Rome and pulls in as many as 3 million visitors per year.
Underground Tour:
Always impressive from the outside, the Colosseum's new underground tour will take you in the back way and include the private backstage areas, as well as the third-tier and a step into the arena, thus allowing you to recount 2,000 years of history. For the first time in years the private backstage areas are open to the public.
History:
The Colosseum was built in AD20. As part of the underground tour, you will get to explore the underground passageways where the wild animals were kept way back when. Even though the battles with gladiators was often bloody, more often the animals were the losers.
The Colosseum was famous throughout the Roman Empire and was the largest amphitheater in the world. People came here to see the bloody sports that included African lions and Scottish bears let loose on criminals. At least 70,000 people awaited the violent shows.
Backstage:
The backstage area is the passageway where the waiting room was located. Animals waited (in addition to lions and bears, it included tigers, bulls, gazelles, and ostriches), and the gladiators sharpened their swords. Elephants were too large to be hoisted from the basement and made their entrance through the main gates.
The third tier:
The third tier will also be open to the public. This is where the grandstands are located and was for middle-class Romans. Here is where you will get a full sweeping view of the Forum, the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Palatine Hill.
Avoiding the Queue:
With as many as 18,000 visitors per day, when you plan to visit the Colosseum, expect a long queue. However, visitors taking just the subterranean tour get to avoid this line.
Where to Stay:
The five-star Hotel Eden offers some amazing views of Rome.
The Caesar House is less than a 5-minute walk to the Colosseum.
Check for the exact opening date in March.
For more world travel ideas, see the links below.
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