The Colosseum and the Roman Forum: The Perfect Day in Rome

After having an amazing first day in Rome in the Vatican City, I had high hopes for my second day of adventure, and the city didn’t disappoint! I started off my day by getting to the Colosseum when it opened and spent a good hour and a half admiring the architecture and taking in all the history.

While I have broad knowledge of ancient Roman history, I actually know a fair bit more about the Colosseum than about other aspects of Roman life.  This is due primarily to a book on archaeology my dad got me for Christmas a few years back, which I’m pretty sure is actually a coffee table book, but it’s a very interesting read. But I digress. Visiting the Colosseum is a no-brainer when it comes to Rome, but when you finally make your way into this gorgeous city, do me a favor and don’t just come to check something off your bucket list. Really try and appreciate how long it took the Romans to build this colossal structure, the genius of the water shows that once took place here (yes, they knew how to flood and drain the Colosseum. I know, incredible), and the brutality of the sport that was conducted within its walls. Emperors that decapitated ostriches for an audience using only a bow and arrows? Now that’s a piece of history you’ve got to appreciate (and cringe at).

As a self-professed history enthusiast, I’ve got to say the Roman Forum is actually what stole my heart. When you first walk in, you’re confronted with a massive space filled with ruins. What makes this sight so special is the fact that you can actually see the layers of history! I’m hoping my photo will shed some light on this thought, because it really looks like parts of the Forum were kind of stacked on top of one another. When you go around and read each of the plaques (which you should definitely do!), they’ll tell you which emperor built onto a structure, or renovated it, or rebuilt it after it had gone to ruin (ruins in ancient Rome. Ironic, I know). The two structures that are almost entirely intact are the Arch of Titus and the Temple of Romulus. I loved the temple because it was a surprisingly simple building with very little carved decorations, which appeared to be rare among the ruins. There were the tiniest remains of the temple of the Vestal Virgins that also caught my attention because the history of their line of work was fascinating. They had to keep the eternal flame of Vesta burning in order to preserve Rome (so they thought) and took vows of chastity to maintain their high-ranking status.

Oh, and Palatine Hill? Totally NOT just the “scenic view” so many travel websites said it was. Don’t get me wrong, it offers a stunning view of the entire Forum. But as it turns out, the Roman Forum is just a small percentage of the actual ruins on the site. After having spent a little over two hours in the Forum, I thought my time there was almost spent. So I diligently marched up to Palatine Hill, only to realize that there was a huge number of ruins extending further back than I could see! Palatine Hill hosts the ruins of various mansions and palaces that were once inhabited by emperors and nobles alike, as well as having a small, but impressive museum containing many of the salvaged statues that came from the ruins of the Forum. Between the Forum and Palatine Hill, I felt like I kept taking the same photos over and over again, but I just couldn’t get over how gorgeous everything was.

When you visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, make sure to set aside an entire day to leisurely explore. Your ticket is valid for two consecutive days and only costs 12 Euros, which is an absolute bargain considering how much you get to see and experience.  I’d recommend packing a snack or light lunch so you don’t have to worry about leaving the grounds and coming back.

What do you think? Are you as impressed as I was? I was absolutely blown away by the histories of the Colosseum and the Forum, and I already want to revisit them! If you loved what you read or know a friend visiting Rome soon, feel free to share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin‘, and, as always, you can visit my “About” page up top to find me on all my social media platforms.

Signing off,

Claire

My other adventures in Rome:

• Vatican City 
• Villa Borghese