Rome's Colosseum

Been over 20 years, but I do recall there wasn't alot to tour( as in walking around )to see, I mean you cannot go into the center or underground areas. It was an amazing site, and the little black iron cross in the center was poignant to me( its in memorial to all those who died there, gladiators, Christians, enemies of Rome etc.. ) so I imagine it could still be done easily in an hour or so, I guess it depends alot on you, how much you like to take photos, inside and out, and if you like to sit a bit and contemplate a site or not.
As noted, I haven't been there in years, so perhaps they have opened more to tourists?

If you follow the tips given in Rick's book, the Colosseum chapter, then you won't have to stand in the long lines and you can do Rick's tour in about 45 minutes.

You can definitely do both. My friend and I joined a tour of the Colosseum - it took approximately an hour, but on your own it could be slightly faster. Also, while you're in the area, don't miss the Forum or Palatine Hill (I especially liked Palatine Hill - the views are amazing). When you get your ticket to the Colosseum, pay 3 or so Euro more for a ticket that includes all 3 sites.

Yesterday I took some friends from Britain to St. Peter's in the AM, arriving about 9:15 AM. After the basilica the "line" was too long for the museum so we hopped on the #40 "express" bus at Castel Sant’ Angelo and got off at Piazza Venezia arriving about 11:30 AM. From there we walked down Via dei Fiori Imperiale to the Colosseum. To avoid the lines at the primary ticket offices (there are three now - Forum, Colosseum & Palatine -it costs 11E for all three sites "in season") we turned RIGHT, walked in front of the Colosseum and walked down Via di San Gregorio to the Palatine entrance.

There we bought our tickets (NO LINE!) and walked back to the Colosseum and entered on the left side which is for security lines only. Staying to the left, we followed the signage for GROUPS and pre-bought tickets. We stayed at the Colosseum for about an hour. They still wanted to see the Vatican Museum so we jumped on the Metro at the Colosseum stop, changed to the A line at Termini...

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BUT GOT OFF AT Barberini. They had to see the Trevi Fountain…

So we walked down to the Trevi, cut across towards the Pantheon and had LUNCH outdoors at a small café in Piazza della Maddelena! After Lunch, we stopped at Giolitti’s for gelato, and then walked towards Navona – catching the #81 bus to Piazza Risorgimento, which is just outside the Vatican Walls.

We walked down to the Museum entrance and with no line entered the museum at 3 PM. We stayed till after 5:30 PM, cut back through the Group Exit, into the Basilica, and out into the Square… Worn out, we headed for an afternoon expresso at Al Mio café, just on the other side of the passetto and recapped our day!

So yes, you can see the Vatican and the Colosseum in one day – NO WAY can you see Palatine Hill and the Forum also… but their tickets are good the NEXT day till 1:30 PM for those two sites and they are headed there this morning!

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So with careful planning – and knowing the bus and metro routes – you can cover a lot of ground! And get an in-depth experience!

Ciao,
Ron

P.S. - Regarding the Cross in the Colosseum, in 1749, Pope Benedict XIV endorsed as official Church policy the view that the Colosseum was a sacred site where early Christians had been martyred. He consecrated the building to the Passion of Christ and installed Stations of the Cross, declaring it sanctified by the blood of the Christian martyrs who perished there. Now on Good Friday the Pope leads the procession of the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum! Having been designated as a Christian site, looting, etc. ceased and like the Pantheon, the Colosseum was now “protected” by the Christian church – pretty ironic!

To Ron...the 3pm no line at the Vatican Museum you say was "yesterday"...my computer never let's me know when yesterday was or when you posted the note..So was it Monday?
Also, the Pope wave and blessing is on Sundays at noon?
Thanks...regina

Regina,

I think you and I are about an hour apart in timezones. Yes, it was Monday at 9:15 AM, usually one of the busiest days of the week because the Vatican is closed every Sunday but the last Sunday of the month.

And yes, when in town the Pope does the Sunday blessing around 12 noon from his study window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Ciao!
Ron

Thanks Ron for info re cross.
I imagine it to be a holy site( to me personally I realize) but I also think of all the people that died there, and for many reasons, not just the Christians.

Gil,

There are usually tour guides outside the Colosseum and it is reasonably priced. The tour tour about 45 minutes and very informative.

What is the phone number to book a reservation at the Colosseum and the Vatican? How did you book both of these places online or over the phone?

A little digging will turn up the controversy over whether any Christians were actually martyred in this particular stadium. However, there is no doubt that many, many people died horrible deaths for the amusement of the crowds there and that alone deserves respect. And certainly many Christians were martyred at many other sites. There's no reason not to think of them as you tour the Colosseum.

Warning about the Colosseum - it still isn't finished. I looked at how much was incomplete and figure it will be a few more millennia before it is done.