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Italy and Germany 2013 - Day 01
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Palat ine Hill
Palat ino
Address:
Contact Details:
Palat ine Hill, Via di S. Gregorio, 30, 00100 Rome, It aly
+39 06 3996 7700
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The Palatine Hill is open daily 8:30am - one hour before sunset.
Palatine museum open 9am- 6pm. Ticket office shuts one hour before
closing. Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec. A combined ticket to the
Palatine with the Colloseum and Forum costs €12, €7.50 reduced. It is
advisable to check the official website before visiting.
The Palatine Hill is located in Rome and can be reached by buses
60, 75, 85, 87, 117, 271, 571, C3 and 850. Tram 3 stops nearby and its
entrance is a 5 min. walk from Circo Massimo metro station on line B.
Description
The Palatine Hill (Palatino) is considered to be the place where Rome was born. One of Rome’s seven hills, the Palatine Hill is closely linked with
the city’s history and houses some of its most ancient and important sites.
Legend says that the twins Romulus and Remus were taken to Palatine Hill by a she- wolf who raised them. Here they founded a village which would
become Rome.
In a dispute over who was the rightful leader of the new settlement, Romulus eventually killed his brother at the Palatine Hill. Romulus thus became
the namesake of Rome. Indeed, the Palatine Hill is where the earliest huts of Rome were found, supposedly built under the remit of Romulus.
As it developed, the Palatine Hill became one of the most affluent areas in Ancient Rome and was already a coveted address by the first century BC
during the Republic. This continued under the Roman Empire, when the Palatine Hill was home to Rome’s most prominent figures. It was also where
the first Emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus was born in 63 BC.
Today, the Palatine Hill offers some of Rome's best ancient sites and is a must- see, especially for history enthusiasts. Amongst the buildings
excavated at the Palatine Hill are the House of Augustus , the House of Livia (Augustus’s wife), the home of several of Rome’s emperors - the Domus
Augustana - and the Palace of Septimius Severus . There is also a large stadium.
Notes
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Italy and Germany 2013 - Day 01
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Circus Maximus
Circo Massimo
Address:
Contact Details:
Via del Circo Massimo, Rome, It aly
Cont act local t ourist of f ice
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Free to view at all times.
The nearest metro is Circo Massimo (line B). Tram 3 and buses 75,
81, 118, 175, and 673 stop nearby.
Description
The Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) in Rome was the main and largest sports stadium in Ancient Rome. Overlooked from the north by the emperors’
palaces on the Palatine, this grand arena was the site of exciting chariot races watched by an exhilarated crowd.
Built and rebuilt several times, at its largest the Circus Maximus held between 150,000 and 250,000 people. It is unclear as to when the first
version of the Circus Maximus was constructed – it was certainly the oldest of Rome’s arenas - although it was in use by the fourth century BC and
was enlarged under Julius Caesar in the first century AD and later by other emperors.
Today, the Circus Maximus is a shadow of its former magnificence. Without its Egyptian obelisks and Roman monuments, many see it as just a field,
yet, with its shape and vast siz e still clearly visible, the Circus Maximus is definitely worth visiting.
Notes
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Italy and Germany 2013 - Day 01
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T he Colosseum
Colosseo
Address:
Contact Details:
T he Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, 00184 Rome, It aly 06-39967700
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Mid Feb- mid Mar: 9am- 4:30pm ; Mid- end Mar: 9am- 5pm ; Apr- Aug:
9am- 7pm ; Sept: 9am- 6:30pm ; Oct: 9am- 6pm ; End of Oct- mid- Mar:
9am- 4pm. Tickets cost €15.50. Discounts available.
The Colloseum has a dedicated metro station, Colloseo, which is on
line B.
Description
The Colosseum is a site like no other. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, nothing represents the sheer power and magnificence of the Roman Empire
like this stunning piece of ancient architecture.
The Colosseum, or ‘Colosseo’ in Italian, was once the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire. It was built in the first century AD by the Emperor
Vespasian as a place for the people to enjoy. Originally named the Flavian Amphitheatre, after Vespasian’s family name, the man who brought the
Roman Empire back from the brink would not live to see its completion.
The construction of the Colosseum was very much a symbolic gesture to create a clear distinction between Vespasian and his predecessor, Nero.
Nero had committed suicide after suffering military coups, partially a result of his extravagance, which included building himself the opulent Golden
House and a vast statue of himself. By contrast, Vespasian was building the Colosseum for the citiz ens of Rome. As if to emphasise this point, the
Colosseum was built in the former gardens of Nero’s palace over the site where Nero’s colossal statue had stood.
Completed in 80 AD, the Colosseum was opened with great fanfare by Titus, Vespasian’s son and successor. He marked the opening of the
Colosseum with one hundred days of games, including stunning battle recreations on artificial lakes of water. The fact that the Colosseum was
completed by this date was particularly impressive considering the building’s incredible complexity, vast siz e and the fact that Vespasian only came
to power in 69 AD.
Even despite the short timescale of the build, the result was spectacular. Not only was the Colosseum able to take up to 50,000 spectators, it was
also perfectly symmetrical, ornately decorated in marble and stone and an incredible feat of engineering.
The Colosseum remained the amphitheatre of Rome until the end of the Roman Empire. This was the place where gladiators, lions and those
accused of crimes were put to the test, usually fighting to the death.
Since the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum has suffered from various destructive forces, including extensive pillaging of its stone and
marble as well as natural disasters such as earthquakes. In fact, its materials contributed to many famous Roman buildings such as St Peter’s
Cathedral and the Palaz z o Venez ia. Yet, even though a third of the Colosseum has been lost over time, this magnificent structure remains one of
the most fascinating and beautiful historic sites in the world.
A visit to the Colosseum offers a great insight into the lives of Roman citiz ens and those who had the misfortune of fighting there. In particular, it is
now possible to tour the underground hallways and corridors where the gladiators of ancient Rome would prepare to fight and ponder their
mortality. Also recently opened are the higher areas of the structure, from where you can take in views of the Roman Forum.
There is a museum within the Colosseum with a wealth of interesting artifacts and information and audio guides are available in a number of
languages. This site also features as one of our Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Italy .
Notes
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Italy and Germany 2013 - Day 02
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Description
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