The Construction of the Colosseum was started under the emperor Vespavian and was completed by his son Titus in 80 A.D.

Originally named the amphitheatre of Flavio, it became known as the colosseum because of an enormous bronze statue of Nero which in the second century A.D. was placed near by the monument.

 The building was used for gladiator fights, hunting simulations involving ferocious and exotic animals and similar entertainments.

 The building was constructed with blocks of stone and brickwork. The outside is composed of four levels , the first three of which are made up of 80 arches while the fourth is divided into sections interspersed with windows. On this level were placed both stone and wooden supports which held an enormous canopy which served as a roof to protect the spectators from the elements. The brickwork on the inner building was finished with a marble veneer.

The arena itself was a huge wooden floor covered with sand while the subterranean passages consisted of a series of tunnels where the wild beasts and various equipment used during spectacles were held.

 Holding up to 73.000 spectators, entrance to the Colosseum was regulated through a ticket system, with each ticket indicating where the holder should go through the internal passages and corridors to find his or her seat.

NOTES:
- Last Admission: 6:00PM
- Museum entrance rules: You must be at the museum 15 minutes before your scheduled entrance time to redeem your tickets
- Your reservation vouchers will be delivered to you only after we process your request and confirm the reservation.
At a minimum it takes from 1 to 2 business days to process your request
- You will receive your vouchers by fax or e-mail if you will be leaving home too soon for the vouchers to be shipped.

- Opening hours
from 8.30 am to one hour before sunset
8:30 am-4:30 pm from January 2 to February 15
8:30 am-5 pm from February 16 to March 15
8:30 am-5:30 pm from March 16 to the last Saturday of March
8:30 am-7:15 pm from the last Sunday of March to August 31
8:30 am-7 pm from September 1 to September 30
8:30 am-6:30 pm from October 1 to the last Saturday of October
8:30 am-4:30 pm to the last Sunday of October to December 31

Closed January 1, December 25.
Ticket office closes one hour before closing time