Rome - Colosseum

We had booking for a tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palantine Hill, and had to be there by 9:00. We got on a bus briefly but weren't sure if it would go to the right place, or on time. Got off and walked and ran to the metro station where the meeting point was supposed to be. Someone directed us to the point for our tour company. It was very hot in Rome, 30 degrees and intense sun, so we were already drenched in sweat. We waited in the shade to cool off a bit while the tour group gathered.

It was a small group and the guide was nice but had a heavy accent. We entered colosseum, learned about the sails over the open top that provided shade, which were controlled manually by ropes to account for wind. The colosseum structure has 3 layers, like concentric ellipses. On one side the outer layers are missing due to earthquake. The construction had large stone blocks, with balls of metal between the blocks to provide flexibility in an earthquake. In many places they are covered with bricks for smoother surface.

One side of the colosseum had an entrance of emperor, another for the Vestal Virgins. There were 55000 seats for citizens, the rest standing. Over the gates are numbers, and there were terracota and bronze tickets for different classes of people entering.

Originally there was a wooden floor with gates for animals and fighters. It could also be flooded and drained in real time for boat battles.

Population of Rome was 1 million at its peak, but was down to 20,000 in Middle Ages. At that time people lived in the colosseum and used it as fortress. There was a church built inside.

From the colosseum there views of the ruins of the temple of Venus and Rome

and the gate of Constantine.

The tour then went past the forum, up Palantine Hill. This was the location of the original settlement of Rome, and then the location of the Emperors place. The palace was destroyed by the great fire of Rome in 64 AD, and then the Emperor Nero built a huge place in it's place. 

We then headed down to the forum, passing the Arch of Titus.

Then past the huge Basilica of Maxentius.

Then around a corner to a row of statues which was part of the temple of the Vestal Virgins.

Then into the main part of the forum, the procession area, with the ruins of various temples, and the ruins of the main government to one side. 

After the tour, we cross the main road at the side of the forum, and up a side street for lunch. Walked over to the main tourist area, near the Trevi fountain where we were before. Bought a bottle of limoncello. Then down the main shopping street of via del Corso, where I bought a jacket.

Walked back to hotel. On the way crossed a 2000 year old bridge over part of the Tiber river.

 After resting and getting cleaned up we walked further down street to great little restaurant called Matto (fool in Italian) for very good dinner with dessert and a great server.