Explore the Museum of Colosseum | Discover the Story of the Largest Ancient Amphitheatre
The Colosseum Museum is on the second level of the Flavian Amphitheatre, where you can find artifacts from different moments in the history of the monument. You can also see the different excavations that took place over the years, how it was used by different rulers, and the 3D model reconstruction of the monument. Visit the Colosseum Museum on your visit to Rome and dive deep into its history to get a better understanding of what it represents.
Why Is The Colosseum Museum In Rome A Must-visit?
- Explore the 3D Model: View the Colosseum would have been in its full glory, before the many natural and man-made factors destroyed the Colosseum.
- Study the Colosseum’s brilliant architecture: Learn how the Colosseum was designed to make room for 65,000 spectators, including the seating for the king, and the nobles, and the underground tunnel and the arena floor that became the stage for those gory gladiator fights.
- Discover historic artifacts: Once the Colosseum was declared a world heritage site, a lot of excavations took place. You can witness all that was found during these excavations and what it was used for in the Colosseum Museum.
- Admire the marvelous paintings: Artists throughout history have tried to capture the magnificence of the Colosseum on canvas. Through different exhibits, you can see paintings of the Colosseum and see how detailed the monument is from the eyes of renowned artists in history.
Plan Your Visit to the Colosseum Museum
Monday to Sunday: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Last entry: 3:30 PM
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit to the Colosseum and the Colosseum Museum on weekdays. You will also find fewer people during early opening hours from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Colosseum Opening Hours
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy. Find on map
How to Get There
By Metro: Take Metro Line B and get down to the Colosseo stop. The station is just walking distance from the Colosseum Museum.
By Bus: Buses 75, 81, 87, 673, 175, and 204 will take you to the nearest bus stop of Piazza del Colosseo.
By Car: The Colosseum is just 2.5 km away from the city center. You can also take a taxi from anywhere in Rome and get down right outside the Colosseum.
By Tram: Take a tram on line 3 to reach Piazza del Colosseo.
Directions to the ColosseumWhat Can You See In The Colosseum Museum?
Colosseum Architecture
When the construction of the Colosseum began by Emperor Vespasian, he wanted to give back to the people of Rome who had suffered during his predecessor's rule. He wanted to make the Colosseum a centre of celebration that every Roman citizen could participate in. The Colosseum Museum takes you through the architecture that made it possible for the Colosseum to seat 65,000 people, hold gladiator combats and be the venue for annual games. As you start the exhibits in the architecture section, you will find remnants from different parts of the Colosseum. Pieces of barriers, passages and other parts of the Colosseum can be viewed here. Reconstruction of the Colosseum in the form of a model made by Lucangeli shows the monument’s architecture in its glory days.
Functioning Of The Amphitheatre
The Colosseum was primarily used for gladiator combats and annual games. The main arena was the center stage where all activities unfolded. There were also underground tunnels called the hypogeum built by Emperor Domitian to house slaves, prisoners of war, criminals, and wild beasts that were thrown into the battlefield using ancient elevators. There is a pillar with a painting by French artist Hubert Robert that depicts how different parts of the Colosseum were used during the early centuries. As you walk further into the Colosseum Museum, you can see how different areas in the Colosseum had different functions and how they were used effortlessly by the Romans.
Spectators And Gladiators
The Colosseum was built in such a way that it could seat more than 65,000 people during the annual games. Through graffiti, motifs and reliefs, you can see how seating and arena were divided inside the Colosseum. The main arena was meant for all gladiator combats and animal hunts. The Emperor's Box was dedicated to the king, his family and his councilmen. The first was meant for the noblemen of the city. The second tier had dedicated seating for the wealthy people of the city. The third tier was meant for the common folk. King Domitian had also added a fourth tier, which was just a standing gallery for women, slaves and poor people.
Visitor Tips
- Book your Colosseum tickets in advance to avoid huge queues on the day of your visit. The Colosseum is a popular attraction in Rome, which makes it crowded all days of the week, all year round.
- Wear comfortable footwear and clothes as you will be doing a lot of walking around to explore the monument.
- Go for an audio guide or guided tours. You will be able to understand the history behind each exhibit better.
- Carry your water bottle. As you will be spending a lot of time inside the Colosseum and the Colosseum museum, stay hydrated.
- Large backpacks and suitcases are not allowed inside the Colosseum museum. Carry a small bag for your necessary items.
Book Your Colosseum Tickets & Tours
Frequently Asked Questions About Colosseum Museum
A. Yes, the Roman Colosseum has an in-house museum on the second level that gives you information about the monument's architecture and design and has many artifacts found in excavations.
A. The Colosseum Museum is a museum inside the Colosseum dedicated to educating its visitors about the monument's history through different exhibits. You can learn about the cultural and historical significance of the Colosseum here.
A. The Colosseum Museum has different exhibits that throw light on the architecture, artefacts, design, seating arrangement, the purpose of the monument, its cultural significance and its evolution through history.
A. The Colosseum Museum is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM every day of the week. The last entry to the museum is at 3:30 PM. It is closed when the Colosseum is closed, which is the public holidays of 25th December and 1st January.
A. The Colosseum Museum is on the second level of the Colosseum, which is located at the Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
A. You can reach the Colosseum Museum via metro, bus, and car. If you are traveling via metro, take Line B and get down at Colosseo metro station. Buses 75, 81, 87, 673, 175, and 204 stop at the nearest bus station, Piazza del Colosseo. You can drive yourself or take a taxi directly to the Colosseum. It is just 2.5 km away from the city center.
A. Yes, it is worth visiting the Colosseum Museum. You get to learn about the monument's rich history, architecture and cultural significance over the years.
A. You can visit the Colosseum Museum with your Colosseum tickets. It is best to buy it online and save time.
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