Eurfirst Trip to Rome: The Roman Coliseum
Last updated: March 22, 2006
On our first visit to Rome, our view of the Coliseum was through a long line that almost circled the famous arena. Tour leaders with "Here I Am" flags from cruise companies and high school travel programs shepherded their groups toward the entrance. The estimated wait time was about 2 hours and the temperature was already in the mid 80's. It was just after 9:00 am. Clearly, Sunday morning in July is not the best time to visit the Coliseum.
We wandered around the outside of the building, peaked through arches, and tried to visualize what the gladiators and martyrs experienced as they waited to enter the arena. There was a low mumuring noise from the crowd but no celebratory roars echoed from the building....the center of great spectacles was now only a place of ghosts who oddly looked like the chiseled faces of Hollywood actors.
But it stood strong in the morning sun, a testament to the ambitions of Roman rulers and the talents of Roman architects. More than two millenia after its construction it still drew spectators who wanted to see how the place best known for suffering and carnage battled the challenge of time.
We regretted that we had only a little time to spend in Rome and that two hours seemed much to long to wait. We really doubted the wisdom of our decision, especially because the Coliseum is one of the most famous Roman ruins. But ultimately, travel forces you to make choices. Fortunately, two years later we got back to Rome, had time to visit the coliseum and saw the skeleton that remained of the great arena. Should we have waited the two hours on our first trip? If you loved the movies Gladiator or Spartacus, yes; if you are fascinated by the Roman Empire, yes: if you think history is really interesting but the Roman Empire is not your favorite period, there are so many other things to see in Rome, including the Roman Forum, Hadrian's Forum, that you should continue on to the rest of Rome if you don't have more than two days in the city and the wait is going to be more than two hou rs.
