Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
Colosseum & Palatino
COLOSSEUM
See
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AMPHITHEATRE
ARCO DI COSTANTINO
( Colosseo)
On the western side of the Colosseum, this triumphal arch was built in 312 to
honour the emperor Constantine's victory over rival Maxentius at the battle of Ponte
Milvio (Milvian Bridge).
MONUMENT
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
BARBARA NAZZARO: ARCHITECT
The Technical Director at the Colosseum, Barbara Nazzaro, explains what went on in the Colosseum's hypogeum.
'Gladiators entered the hypogeum through an underground corridor which led directly in from the nearby Ludus
Magnus (gladiator school). In side corridors, which stand over a natural spring, boats were kept. When they wanted
these boats up in the arena they would let the spring water in and flood the tunnels. Later these passages were used
for winch mechanisms, all of which were controlled by a single pulley system. There were about 80 lifts going up
to the arena as well as cages where wild animals were kept. You can still see the spaces where the cages were.'
PALATINO (PALATINE HILL)
See
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.
RUIN
CIRCO MASSIMO
( Via del Circo Massimo; Circo Massimo )
Now little more than a basin of thinning grass, the
Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus) was ancient Rome's largest stadium, a 250,000-seater
capable of holding a quarter of the city's entire population. The 600m racetrack circled a
wooden dividing island with ornate lap indicators and Egyptian obelisks.
Chariot races were held here as far back as the 4th century BC, but it wasn't until Trajan
rebuilt it after the AD 64 fire that it reached its maximum grandeur.
ROMAN SITE
