The Colosseum is one of the most famous buildings of ancient Rome and the largest circular amphitheater of the empire. Built between 72 AD and 82 AD on the site of Nero's Golden House, it could accommodate up to 50,000 people. The Colosseum was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian and completed under his son Titus, with later renovations by Domitian. It served as a venue for animal hunts and gladiator games until 523 AD. According to Cassius Dio, the opening ceremonies lasted 100 days and 11,000 animals were killed. Earthquakes in 442 AD and 508 AD caused severe damage to the structure, and it was further destroyed during the Middle Ages and used as a fortress. In the 15th century, the Vatican began protecting the Colosseum as a holy site due to early Christian martyrs who were said to have been killed there. The design of the Colosseum was based on Greek theaters, but with the addition of arches, spectators' seats were built on top to form a circular amphitheater. There were also canopies suspended by cables to shade spectators and aid ventilation. Under the arena were various tunnels and chambers for storing props, animals, and gladiators, which could be lifted onto the stage during performances. The Colosseum even had a water channel to create a lake for naval battles.
The Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church is located in Rome, not far from the Emmanuel II Memorial. It can be reached by walking along the right side of the Massimo Theater Street for about 15 minutes. The church is small in size and peaceful inside. However, it has a world-famous "Mouth of Truth" - a round disk carved with the image of the sea god, which is said to prevent liars from being able to remove their hand once inserted. In the movie "Roman Holiday", this disk scared the lovely princess. In fact, it is an ancient Roman manhole cover found in 1632 on the outer wall of the church. The church was built in the 6th century and decorated with Corinthian columns and Byzantine mosaics, which are well worth seeing. The remains of the oldest existing temple in Rome, the Temple of Hercules Victor, are also preserved in front of the church.
Pantheon
The temple is used to worship the gods on Mount Olympus. Its interior is spacious and without a single pillar, with a circular hole of 9 meters in diameter at the top of the dome serving as the only source of light, which is compared to the divine light emitted from the lens of the heavens, creating a divine atmosphere that mirrors the gods themselves. The base of the dome outside the temple starts to rise from half of its total height, and there is no pillar inside the temple, making it a wonder in architectural history.
Fontana di Trevi
The Trevi Fountain is a well-known fountain located in the center of Rome. It is situated at the intersection of three streets, hence its name "Trevi", which means "three-way" in Italian. The fountain is also famous worldwide for its Baroque style and gained popularity after being featured in the film "Roman Holiday". There is a legend surrounding the Trevi Fountain that suggests throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain grants you the chance to visit Rome again. Additionally, if a couple throws coins in the fountain together, their love will last forever.
The Castle of the Holy Angel, located on the banks of the Tiber River, is a historic castle that served as a fortress and prison to repel invasions from the Visigoths and Ostrogoths before being transformed into a magnificent papal palace. Today, the Castle of the Holy Angel is one of Rome's famous museums and tourist attractions, attracting numerous visitors to come and admire it.
The Spanish Steps do not have many unique features, it only became a world-renowned tourist spot because Audrey Hepburn ate ice cream on the steps in "Roman Holiday". However, starting from the Condotti Street across the steps, you will find all the top brands and flagship stores you know here. Even the first store of Bvlgari jewelry opened nearby. In addition, the broken boat fountain under the Spanish Steps is designed by Pietro Bernini, and has a very special shape. If you feel tired, you can go to Caffe Greco nearby for a cup of coffee, which is one of the oldest cafes in Rome and attracts many visitors.
