As Lauren and Kelly stood exactly where gladiators fought battles thousands of years ago, they were able to enjoy one of Rome’s most famous landmarks, the Roman Colosseum.

The Colosseum began construction in 70 A.D. under the direction of Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 A.D. It opened to the general public for gladiator battles and spectators watched these battles from seats based on a hierarchy of social classes.

The Colosseum wasn’t always used as a battleground for entertainment. Going through many phases of its life, it was used for ecclesiastical institutions in the 11th Century, a warehouse and cowshed in the 12th Century and became an architectural spectacle in the 15th Century, as described in a sign from the Colosseum museum. 

Over the years, the colosseum has deteriorated and there have numerous restoration projects to preserve its beauty. It now stands as a historical landmark and a well-known tourist attraction. 

New York natives Lauren Labarca and her friend Kelly Flynn said they were in Rome visiting their friend who was studying abroad. Labarca said this was one of the attractions that every tourist has to see when they’re in Italy. 

“[The Colosseum] is one of the oldest monuments,”  Labarca said. “I can’t believe how long ago it was built and that it still looks like this today.” 

Flynn also said she was amazed by its beauty and that she loved how the Colosseum is an appreciated work of art.   

As stated by a Colosseum museum sign, conservation efforts for this structure have been developing for the past 200 years. These efforts have greatly influenced the conditions in which the Colosseum stands today. 

Recent restorations include cleaning the surface to reveal unique works of art and the original white marble work on the Colosseum according to a Colosseum display sign.

Labarca and Flynn were only just a couple of tourists out of the hundreds of people visiting the Colosseum that day. 

Gulie Bramin and her family traveled from France for a family wedding, making sure to stop at the Colosseum. She said she wanted her children to see this important piece of history in person.

Brahmin said she was surprised by how the Colosseum worked back then and how it was built during a time when there was no machinery. 

“I didn’t know there is an underground section where they would move animals around,” Bramin said. 

The Roman Colosseum has been an architectural wonder for hundreds of years and continues to be an essential pit stop for tourists and locals alike. 

Categories: Europe Travel