Colosseum Travel Page

Fun Facts About The Colosseum

• The colosseum has been around for more than 1,900 years
• The most common use for the building was to have Gladiatorial shows
• Around 50,000 people can be seated inside the building



Different types of shows	What happened
Exotic animal showings	They would have lions, elephants, bears, tigers, leopards, crocodiles, boars, and hippopotamuses. They even trained some of these animals to do tricks
Gladiator battles/chariot races	Gladiators would fight brutally for peoples enjoyment. Charoit races also accored were people would race their chariots for the public to see and bet on
Executions	They would hold public executions that were open to spectators. Going to see executions was a very poplular event back then, so many people would come to watch




View Larger Map   |   Get Directions

History The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world today, despite its age. The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-faced concrete. The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various points in its history having an average audience of some 65,000; it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles including animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Roman mythology, and briefly mock sea battles. 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, and a fortress.