Page 387 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

ROME  385

r Colosseum Ancient Roman Sites
Piazza del Colosseo. Tel 06-3996 77 00. and Museums
q Colosseo. @ 75, 81, 85, 87, 117,
175, 673, 810. v 3. Open daily. Closed Practical Information
Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25. & (includes Baths of Caracalla:
entry to the Palatine and Forum). Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 52.
8 7 limited. ∑ coopculture.it Tel 06-39 96 77 00. Open Tue–
Sun & Mon am. & 8
Rome’s great amphitheater, Extensive ruins of bath complex
commissioned by the Emperor built in AD 217.
Vespasian in AD 72, was built Theatre of Marcellus:
on the marshy site of a lake in Via del Teatro di Marcello.
the grounds of Nero’s palace. Open daily. An Imperial theater,
It is likely that the arena took which later housed a number
of medieval shops.
its name, not from its own size, Museo Nazionale Romano:
but from that of an enormous Palazzo Massimo, Largo di Villa
statue, the Colossus of Nero, Peretti 1. Tel 06-39 36 77 00.
Ruins of oval fountain in the Domus Flavia that stood nearby. Open Tue–Sun. & 7
on the Palatine The Colosseum was the site of Sculpture, mosaics, wall-paintings,
deadly gladiatorial combats and and a Roman mummy. Another
e Palatine wild animal fights, staged free branch of the museum is at the
of charge by the emperor and Baths of Diocletian across the road.
Entrances: Via di San Gregorio and
near the Arch of Titus on Via Sacra. wealthy citizens. It was built to Palazzo Altemps:
Tel 06-39 96 77 00. q Colosseo. @ a very practical design, its 80 Piazza Sant’Apollinare 44.
60, 75, 81, 160, 175 & many others. v entrances allowing easy access Tel 06-39 36 77 00.
3. Open daily. Closed public hols. & for 55,000 spectators. Open Tue–Sun. & 7
(includes entry to the Colosseum and Excavations in the 19th century Fine collection of Classical
Forum). 8 ∑ coopculture.it exposed a network of rooms statuary set in a beautiful
under the arena, from which Renaissance palazzo.
The Palatine, the hill where the animals could be released. Temples of the Forum Boarium:
Piazza della Bocca della Verità.
Roman aristocracy lived and The four tiers of the outside Two miraculously preserved
emperors built their palaces, is walls were built in differing Republican-era temples.
the most pleasant and relaxing styles. The lower three are
of the city’s ancient sites. arched; the bottom with Doric Transport
Shaded by pines and carpeted columns, the next with Ionic, Baths of Caracalla: q Circo
with wild flowers in the spring, and the third with Corinthian. Massimo. @ 160, 628. v 3.
it is dominated by the imposing The top level supported a huge Theatre of Marcellus @ 30, 44,
ruins of the Domus Augustana awning, used to shade 63, 81, 95, 130, 160, 170, 271, 628,
630, 715, 716, 780, 781.
and the Domus Flavia, two spectators from the sun. Museo Nazionale Romano:
parts of Domitian’s huge Beside the Colosseum stands q Repubblica, Termini.
palace (1st century AD). the Arch of Constantine, @ 36, 38, 64, 86, 110, 170, 175,
Other remains here include commemorating Constantine’s H, and many others to Piazza
the House of Augustus and victory in AD 312 over his dei Cinquecento.
the House of Livia, where the co-emperor Maxentius. Most Palazzo Altemps: @ 70, 81, 115,
Emperor Augustus lived with his of the medallions, reliefs, and 116, 280, 492, 628.
wife Livia; and the Cryptoporticus, statues were scavenged from Temples of the Forum Boarium:
a long underground gallery earlier monuments. Inside the @ 44, 81, 95, 160, 170, 280, 628,
built by Nero. arch are reliefs showing one 715, 716.
The Huts of Romulus, not far of Trajan’s victories.
from the House of Augustus, are
Iron Age huts (10th century BC),
which provide archaeological
support for the area’s legendary
links with the founding of Rome.
According to legend, Romulus
and Remus grew up on this
hill in the 8th century BC.
After admiring the ancient
sights, visit the Farnese
Gardens, created in the mid-
16th century by Cardinal
Alessandro Farnese, with tree-
lined avenues, rose gardens,
and glorious views. The Colosseum, a majestic sight despite centuries of damage and neglect

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