Embrace History at the Colosseum and Roman Forum
The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and held an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various times in its history. Built of travertine limestone, volcanic rock, and concrete, it is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. (Photo: Erik J. Kramer)
I have a friend who seems to go into a dream state when she talks about Rome. She grew up a few hours south of the city and has lived in the U.S. most of her life. So when she visits Rome, she is more of a tourist than a native. She describes the city as ‘magical’ and says it has ‘the best of everything that is Italy.’
Where else can you see so much ancient history in a few days? The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon are within walking distance from one another. Vatican City is also a must-see and within walking distance, if you stay in the center of Rome.
To make the most of your visit, here are a few recommendations on what to see and how much time to allocate for each. Having time for relaxed meals and wandering through a few neighborhoods will give you a true sense of what the city offers. Don’t overschedule with a long list of ‘must see’ sites leaving no time for anything else. You’ll miss some of the best parts of ‘experiencing’ Rome.
Rome’s Colosseum
A 1.5-hour tour
The Colosseum’s underground rooms and passageways are ‘must sees’ in addition to the above-ground arena. (Photos: Erik J. Kramer)
The Colosseum’s underground chambers and passageways are as interesting as the arena above ground. Keep in mind though, that the underground portion of the Colosseum requires a guided tour—it’s off-limits to the general public. Book in advance.
We chose a small-group guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forums from Viator. Our tour was almost evenly split between the two sites. In the Colosseum, you’ll see the underground passageways and areas where gladiators and caged wild animals waited before heading to roaring spectators in the arena above. There’s nothing like being in these damp, dark quarters and imagining what it must have felt like to wait for your ‘battle to the death.’
Roman Forum
3+ hours including a 1.5-hour tour and additional time on-your-own exploring
The Roman Forum is an active archaeological site with remains from several centuries. (Photos: Erik J. Kramer)
BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER. There isn’t a lot of shade here and it gets hot.
Many people don’t realize that you visit an active archaeological site when you are in the Roman Forum. Our guide mentioned that archeologists are excavating continually—discovering more about different periods of civilization. The Romans built over earlier ruins and the remains from several centuries can be found there.
We initially visited the Roman Forum as part of the Colosseum tour mentioned above. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and touched on the history that we would have missed had we been on our own. We found we wanted to spend more time exploring it, so we returned another day for a few more hours. We happened upon a fairly recent excavation that had not been visited during the tour. There’s a lot to see and if you are a photographer you’ll need more time.
As you wander around the Roman Forum, remember that the area is an active archeological site. We came across an entrance leading to an underground church filled with Byzantine-style frescoes. After over 35 years of restoration, it was reopened in 2016. (Photo: Edie L Kramer)
Additional Recommendations
Rome is fascinating and exciting, but it can also be exhausting. Pace yourself. The stones along the streets are hard on your joints. No matter how cute they go with that new outfit, do not wear heels. The cracks and crevices between the stones could break a heel (yours or the shoe’s) so flats are best.
Leave your heels at home. Many squares in Rome are paved with square stones (about 4” x 4”) that make wearing heels a hazard and wheeled suitcases very difficult to maneuver. When they were originally lain, the stones were very tight but over the years gaps have formed where weeds now grow and cigarette butts find a home. (Photo: Edie L Kramer
When should you go?
Our tour guide at the Colosseum described the summer months as suffocating. That was confirmed by friends who visited Rome in June and July. Do not go from June-September if you struggle with heat or hate crowds.
On a visit in October, I wore long sleeves most days (short sleeves at the Roman Forum) and brought a light wrap for the evenings. The only crowded place was the Vatican, but the museum tours are usually filled and it’s air-conditioned. Read our blog post to learn more about the Vatican Museums and how to schedule your tour.
If you go in the spring, be aware that during Easter week, the entire city of Rome is packed with visitors (not just Vatican City.)
Take a mid-week break
If you’re planning a week’s vacation, I’d consider leaving the city around Day 4 for a day or even a day and night in the countryside or along the coast.) Perhaps head south to the Amalfi Coast (by train it takes 2.5 hours; if you drive it takes 3 hours) for a change of pace and some fresh air. You’ll get a bit of a vacation from your vacation.
There’s so much more to see in Rome
Check out our other Rome Italy posts: