Visit Rome’s Colosseum with KIDS

Visit Rome’s Colosseum with KIDS

The Colosseum is a building marvel and fascinating place for kids of all ages.

Built with the newly invented concrete between 70 and 80 AD it is the largest ampitheater in the world.  It is said that as long as the colosseum stands – so stands Rome. Try to imagine a time without concrete!

The colosseum was built in an oval shape so that there was no where to hide while fighting on it’s area floor. The floor was wooden and covered with sand to soak up all the blood from the animals and people who died there during the events.

In addition to battles between gladiators and wild animals of all sorts, sometimes the colosseum was flooded. Then, sea battles with naval boats would entertain the masses.

Under the floor was an elaborate area of cages for animals and waiting rooms for people along with walkways. Doors would spring open on the Colosseum floor and allow an animal to spring out and surprise gladiators. The crowd loved it and shows would last for days!

There is no historical evidence suggesting that Christians were martyred here. Instead, the arena floor was once used as a cemetary and the outer areas were used as housing and workshops. Later much of the stone, which had fallen in an earthquake in 1349, was used to build churches in Rome.

Now the Colosseum is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and millions of people visit each year.

Learn more about gladiators in the book Kid’s Travel Guide to Rome: A New Adventure Series with The Educational Tourist.

Avoid the line! Use the Roma pass which lets you save money and skip lines all over Rome.

Happy travels,

Natalie, The Educational Tourist