the colosseum...

We loved the Colosseum. We were able to go on an underground tour (which was unavailable until recently). It was amazing to see the cages where the animals were kept, the tunnels and passageways and the organized water system. The water was used both to fill up the colosseum floor for ship battles; and to wash away all of the morbid leftovers after a gladiator battle.


This next picture shows one of the water passageways througout the Colosseum floor.

If you look at the next picture, you will see the little "elevators" where the slaves would, with ropes, lift the animal up to the stage where it would "appear" for battle. These elevators were used for the smaller animals, whereas the elephants and lions would be brought in through a gate outside. Incredible! Elephants? Lions?! Our guide said that it took 4-600 slaves all working underground to make the shows happen.

Part of the underground tour was also the privilege of going on the very top, 3rd tier. The view was incredible and we could see all around Rome.

They have restored a part of what the stage would have looked like - covering all of the mazes and tunnels underneath.

It is amazing to me to walk outside the bus or metro and see the Colosseum in all its glory just standing there. It used to have marble on the entire exterior and interior...wow. Must have been gorgeous!

We met our next tour guide outside the Colosseum and walked over to tour the Forum and Palatine Hill. Andrew had decided he was completely uninterested, so Jon and I took turns watching Andrew climb on rocks (mostly Jon did) while the older kids paid more attention to the tour. They found it fascinating and learned a lot about what life in ancient Rome would have been like.

The touring day ended with a late lunch and a trip to the famous Giolitti gelato store. This was my favorite gelato so far... After gelato, we walked home in a rain storm.