Roman Colosseum / Photo by admin

History

The Colosseum was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian in the year 72 A.D. and later completed under the rule of his son, Titus in 82 A.D. The final modifications were completed during the reign of Domitian, the brother of Titus, who ruled from 81-96 A.D. The original name for the Colosseum was the Flavian Amphitheater, which was derived from Flavius, the family name of the emperor and his sons.
Unlike other amphitheaters built before it, the Colosseum was built in the heart of Rome as opposed to in the outskirts. It was literally erected in place of the lake that Emperor Nero had designed in the landscaped gardens of his villa Domus Aurea. The area was previously densely inhabited but after the Great Fire of Rome of 64 A.D. destroyed the homes in the area, Nero commandeered the land to build his villa. The choice of building site represents a symbolic return of the land to the people after it had been appropriated by Nero.

Uses

In ancient Rome, the Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial contests, wild animal fights, executions, dramas, reenactments of battles and other public spectacles. At the inaugural spectacle in 80 A.D., over 9,000 animals were killed in wild animal fights. The gladiatorial contests and animal fights continued for several centuries. The last known gladiatorial contests were in the year 435 and the last known animal fights were held in 523.

During the medieval period, the Colosseum served as a castle, a cemetery and a workshop. Later, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Catholic Church began to show interest in the Colosseum. One church official proposed setting up a wool factory in the amphitheater to provide employment to prostitutes. Another official managed to authorize its use to host bullfights though the authorization was later revoked. Pope Benedict XIV consecrated the Colosseum because he claimed it was the place where Christian martyrs had died years before although no historical evidence supports this claim. Subsequent popes and Benito Mussolini promoted restoration and excavation projects as well.

Structure

The size and excellent preservation of the Colosseum rarely fails to impress the visitor. The amphitheater is elliptical, measuring 88 meters long and 156 meters wide. The 80 arched entranceways provided access to the 55,000 spectators who could be accommodated in the amphitheater at any time. The seats are arranged in tiers. Spectators in ancient Rome were distributed among the tiers according to their social strata. Separate areas were proportioned for senators, the non-senatorial noble class, plebeians and wealthy citizens. Interestingly, actors, gravediggers and former gladiators were banned from the Colosseum.

The Colosseum Today

Today, the Colosseum is one of Rome´s principal tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors per year. It is one of the most well-known symbols in Rome and is well worth a visit for any tourist in Rome.

While you enjoy your travels around Rome, you’re going to need somewhere to stay. Why not check out some of the beautiful Rome vacation rentals listed on Worldwide-Accom.com as they’re all fully inspected by the website operators to ensure you’ll be booking in to a safe and secure apartment!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Felix O

There are plenty of good reasons why more people may be considering coach travel as opposed to other methods. The most obvious and selfish reason is the low cost, which has its firm appeal in times of recession. More altruistically, is the environmental impact of travelling by coach – which uses 6 times less energy than planes and cars and 2 times less than trains. In addition, rising fuel costs are prohibiting some families from taking their own car and travelling across the continent.

So, what if you’re new to the idea of a coach holiday? What is on offer on the market and how much is it likely to cost? Here are five top European Coach tours departing from the UK this summer:

1. Florence and Tuscany

Many coach travel operators offer tours of Florence and Tuscany, however, Travelstyle’s “Treasures of Tuscany” tour at £499.95 for 10 days is one of the best value options. Highlights include the Renaissance architecture of Florence, the world heritage site of Sienna and the eternal city of Rome.

2. Greece

A major part of the original European Grand Tour, coach holidays to Greece are still very popular with trips to the ancient city of Athens usually high on the itinerary. Prices start from around £765 for an 8 day tour departing from London. Coachholidays.com offer a good range of options to Greece.

3. Spain

The Brits love their sunny beach holidays and Spain has always been a favourite. Coach holidays to Spain depart regularly from across the UK and are usually for 8 to 10 days. Prices start from around £565 which usually includes coach travel and Eurotunnel, plus overnight hotels on the outward and return journeys.

4. Disneyland Paris

According to the Coach Tourism Council; shorter coach holidays are becoming increasingly popular too, with Disneyland Paris amongst the most popular. Prices for a 4 day trip for 2 adults and 2 children start at around £750.

5. Austria

Finally, coach tours are a great way to see the mountainous areas of mainland Europe too. 10 days in Austria will often include scenic excursions to Salzburg alongside the countries natural wonders. Leger Holidays offer tours from just £420 per person.

If you’ve never considered a coach holiday before, check out the sites referenced to see more of what’s on offer.

James Hubbard is a freelance travel writer based in Hove.

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