CONTENT INDEX
Colosseum bookings and information
Vatican Museums and Gardens – Bookings and Information
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is famous all over the world and, together with the She-wolf, is a symbol of Rome. Its name comes from the golden bronze colossus which Nero wanted to be built as his portrait: the real name of the monument is Flavius amphitheatre. It was built during the reign of Vespasiano and it was unveiled in 80 A.D. by Tito; the front is 50 mt [164 feet] high, the internal elliptical arena is 86×54 mt [282x177 feet]; the amphitheatre could lodge 50.000 spectators, it was covered with a huge curtain (velarium) to protect people from the sun.
A lot of spectators watched fighting among gladiators (munera): those called Reziari used to fight with nets and tridents, Sanniti with a short sword, Traci with shield and gladius; moreover there were fights with wild beasts (venationes) and christian martyrs till Costantino made Christianity the empire’s official religion in 313 A.D.. Apparently the arena was even flooded to simulate sea-battles.
The Colosseum has been restructured many times, because of fires, earthquakes and floods, up to Teodorico’s reign, in the VI century, when it was no longer used.
In the late empire it was used for hunting, while in the Middle Ages it was transformed into one of Frangipane’s family fortresses, and was even used as a source for materials and irremediably despoiled: a lot of quarries had been closed and to make up for the lack of marble in the Middle Ages they used to take it from ancient monuments; the holes which can still be seen on the stonework come from the plundering of the iron hooks which linked the stone blocks.
The Pope Benedetto XIV made the amphitheatre a holy place to commemorate christian martyrs who died here, and in 1700 the Colosseum was the site of the Via Crucis which still takes places there today.
The first works of restoration took place in 1800, when the Colosseum was covered by vegetation and the Roman ruins’ charm was an attraction to a lot of tourists who came to Italy for the "grand tour". Even the basement underneath the arena came to light: in this area, in the past, all the necessary services for the games were stored and it was even supplied with a goods-lift.
VISITING HOURS
Opening hours from 8.30 am to one hour before sunset:
8:30am-4:30pm from January 2 to February 15
8:30am-5pm from February 16 to March 15
8:30am-5:30pm from March 16 to last Saturday of March
8:30am-7:15pm from last Sunday of March to August 31
8:30am-7pm from September 1 to September 30
8:30am-6:30pm from October 1 to last Saturday of October
8:30am-4:30pm to last Sunday of October to December 31
Closed January 1, December 25. Ticket office closes one hour before closing time
TRANSPORTS
-Tram: 3
- Bus: 60, 75, 85, 87, 117, 175, 271, 810, 870
- Metro : LINEA "B" COLOSSEO stop
ADDRESS
Piazza del Colosseo
TICKETS
- - Euro 9.00 -with entrance at Palatino- ticket price + Euro 1.50 booking fee + Euro 4.00 (agency fees) + Euro 2 possible tickets exhibition supplements
- Euro 4.00 -with entrance at Palatino- ticket price + Euro 1.50 booking fee + Euro (agency fees) for people before 18 and after 65 and teachers (European citizens only) + Euro 2 possible tickets exhibition supplements.
- - Euro 1.50 booking fee + Euro 4.00 (agency fees) for people before 18 and after 65 and teachers (European citizens only) + Euro 2 possible tickets exhibition supplements .
- free entrance for school + Euro 3.00 (reservation, teachers free) + Euro 2 possible tickets exhibition supplements
CLICK HERE FOR BOOKING ON LINE
Info and reservation:
Cooperativa IL SOGNO – Viale Regina Margherita, 192 – 00198 ROMA
Tel. 06/85.30.17.58 – Fax 06/85.30.17.56
Email : service@romeguide.it
DORMUS AUREA (the Palatine)
The Domus Aurea reopened to the public in June 26 2008.Closed since the early 1980s, Nero’s villa was erected after the great fire of 64 A.D.
he construction of the Domus Aurea (the Golden House) was considered as one of the most crazy enterprises of the city . When two thirds of Rome were burnt down by the big fire in 64 AD, emperor Nero (54-68 AD) used the free space for a new accommodation. The architects have done all possible things to satisfy his megalomania. The accommodation had to cover four districts. The palace itself radiated a tremendous luxury.
The most important part was a large rectangle at the Oppius hill where the four corner parts covered the four districts. The rooms, halls and corridors were abundantly decorated with gold, silver and precious stones. The eastern wing of the accommodation was used for public receptions. The western wing was the house of Nero. It was said that it had a round dining-room, which turned around day and night, inspired by the revolutions of the earth.
ero wasn’t the sole Roman who loved the ‘rus in urbe’, the countryside elements and park -like scenery in the city. Vineyards, orchards, vegetable gardens and parks, pastures and forests with grazing herds and animals appeared around the palace, at the Caelius, near the Fagutal – the altar in the holy forest at the Esquiline, and at the Oppius. Near by the entrance of the Domus Aurea stood a gigantic statue of Nero, the Colossus Neronis. It was a bronze statue of a male with a height of 37,2 meters and carved by the Greek Zenodoros.
| VISITS FOR INDIVIDUALS hours: from Tuesday to Friday languages: English, Italian persons: max 20 price:€ 4,50 + € 2,50 agency fees duration: 30 minutes |
VISITS FOR GROUPS hours: from Tuesday to Friday languages: English, Italian persons: max 20 duration: 30 minutes price for person : € 4,50 + € 2,50 agency fees |
Info and reservation:
Cooperativa IL SOGNO – Viale Regina Margherita, 192 – 00198 ROMA
Tel. 06/85.30.17.58 – Fax 06/85.30.17.56
Email : service@romeguide.it
VATICAN MUSEUMS RESERVATIONS 
TICKETS ON LINE
WARNING:
- Vatican Museums admission free last Sunday of month ultima admission 9.00/12.30 a.m., exit 1.45 p.m.
- Access to the Vatican Museums and to the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to those decently dressed.
- TICKETS RESERVATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY WITH GUIDED TOUR
• REDUCED: Visits organized by schools, academies or other educational establishments may be requested in writing on the institute’s stationery letterhead and addressed to the Direction of the Museums.
Pilgrimages organized by dioceses or parish churches by presenting a written request, authorized by the local diocese and addressed to the Direction of the Museums.
Students under 26 years of age in possession of a valid student card or other document proving their status in the institute for the current year.
Children under 14 years of age.
It isn’t possible to purchase the reduced ticket online, it is instead possible to purchase it directly at the cash on the day of the tour with documentation
•SPECIAL: Visits organized by schools of all grades (excluding university level) located in Rome and Latium, by presenting a request on the school letterhead exclusively during the months of January, February, November and December.
INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS
SCHOOLS
VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL NO QUEUE (NO WAITING IN LINE) IN PREFIXED GROUP
- € 39.00 (admission ticket included)
- WARNING
- FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY – meeting at 9.00 a.m.
- Children 0/2 years old free
- SCHOOLS: 25 PAX (ONE FREE)
- DEFINITIVE CONFIRMATION MUST BE CANCELLED MINIMUM 48h IN ADVANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND 72h FOR GROUPS (ONLY WORKING DAYS – NOT HOLIDAYS)
- Reservations must be confirmed at least 15 days in advance for individuals, and one month in advance for the groups
Alternate Info and reservation:
Cooperativa IL SOGNO – Viale Regina Margherita, 192 – 00198 ROMA
Tel. 06/85.30.17.58 – Fax 06/85.30.17.56
Email : service@romeguide.it
Related Pages:
Long-term House/Apartment Rentals in Rome
