DAY 48: ROME: 2nd Day - Colisseum is Truly Colossal

May 6 - Vatican Museum & the Sistine Chapel – 

                  LONG line so we give up!

The Roman Colisseum is an elliptical ampitheatre in the centre of Rome. Built of concrete and stone, it was the largest ampitheatre of the Roman Empire.  It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering and  is the largest amphitheatre in the world.  Everyone wants to see it, so you must get your tickets ahead and get in line early.  Although it was raining, it was definitely worth seeing.

Rich took a good panorama picture of the Colisseum

We're not going to let a little rain keep us away from this amazing building

Construction was completed on this magnificent building in 80 AD.  The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladitorial contests and public spectacles such asmock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

A depiction of what it may have been like many years ago.

You can see that there was a floor that covered up the many rooms underneath

So unbelievable!

The arch - can you believe how old all this is?  Still standing today?

   Next we went to the Roman Forum - one of the most amazing excavations of the old city!  The heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all of history.

 Not sure what these are the pictures of...didn't label them, but somewhere in Rome  :)

 

  

The Pantheon is a circular building with a central opening to the sky.  Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest un-reinforced concrete dome.  It was commissioned during the reign of Augustus as a Temple to all of the gods of ancient Rome.

The Pantheon

A government building or something...oops - another "forgot to label" photo.

I enjoyed a little re-enactment with a couple of goofy guys!

 These guys literally grabbed me, stuck a crown on my head, took my camera and gave it to another guy who took my picture. They then wanted money and practically chased after me when I told them I had no euros and couldn't pay them,.   Rich was off taking photos in another area.  Guess I was pretty gullible!

 

It's a damsel in distress!

Rome is too touristy for me, but it's one of those "have to do" places when you go to Europe.  It was all so overwhelming now that I look back on it.  We just couldn't do it all in only three days.  So much history and everywhere you turned there was another church to go into or another "ancient" picture of a historical site.