How to Visit Rome Colosseum's Arena
Visiting the interior of the Colosseum will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip to Rome, but if you also choose the option of descending to the arena, the experience becomes unparalleled.
The interior of the Colosseum | Ben Lee
The scene of thousands of battles and the home of the gladiators during Ancient Rome, the Colosseum is full of intricacies and its walls hold stories that we are all dying to know when traveling to Rome.
The most authentic experience to visit the Colosseum is the one that takes you to see its arena, from where you will get a unique perspective and feel what the gladiators felt when they jumped into the ring. To do so, you will have to take a guided tour of the Colosseum.
Descend into the Arena of the Colosseum with a guided tour
The visit to the Colosseum Arena is much more exclusive than a standard visit to the rest of the amphitheater. The capacity is smaller, so there are far fewer tourists who get to visit this special part of the Colosseum.
If you buy your tickets to the Colosseum at Hellotickets, you will see that is available the guided tour of the Colosseum with access to the Arena (this also includes the guided tour of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill).
How much does it cost to visit the Colosseum Arena?
The price of the guided tour including the Arena is about 44€ in a normal group and 56€ if you prefer a more intimate option in a small group. The Arena of the Colosseum is an exclusive area where not all groups and visitors enter. You will be able to access this area with an expert guide.
If we compare it with the price of a standard visit that does not go through the Arena (priced at 44 €) the difference is very little and honestly, it is well worth paying a little more to descend into the bowels of the amphitheater.
Is it worth visiting the Colosseum Arena?
Yes, visiting the Arena of the Colosseum will be the most important part of your visit inside the amphitheater: you will have access, not only to step into the Arena as the real gladiators did, but you will have a much more detailed perspective of all the subway tunnels that crossed the Colosseum underneath.
The explanations vary a little, the guide will go into more detail on what happened behind the scenes in each fight, he will explain the operation of the enclosure and you will experience firsthand a real trip back in time. If you visit the Colosseum with children, this part will amaze them.
How long does the visit to the Colosseum Arena last?
The visit to the Arena is part of the rest of the guided tour of the Colosseum: at Hellotickets, for example, there are guided tours that take you to the Arena and last between two and three hours in total. The duration also includes the walk through the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.
If you do not want to spend so much time on the visit, there are express guided tours of the Colosseum that last only one hour and skip the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, but these do not access the Arena, so you would be missing the best.
What will I see on the guided tour that includes access to the Colosseum Arena?
The current state of the Colosseum
Actually, you'll find that half the floor of the Colosseum is covered by sand (it's a recreation, not the original arena of the site) and the other half is open to the air, exposing the tunnels where the wild beasts waited their turn to fight on stage.
The best views of the amphitheater from the inside
This layout not only gives you the best perspective of the Colosseum, allowing you to stand in the center of the "ring" and imagine how those grandstands filled with Romans cheering their idols were imposing.
Detailed views of the galleries and the subway
You can also peek into the authentic galleries (which are also very well preserved) and understand how the shows worked. For example, you will see how the system of trap doors that was developed to lift the wild beasts to the stage worked or how it was converted into a stage for naval battles. A true work of engineering in Ancient Rome.
The stories of the fights
The guide will share with you several anecdotes and legends: for example, he will tell you why the floor of the Colosseum was covered with sand: to absorb the blood of the fights and prevent slips and falls during the show. Spooky, isn't it?
How it will be in the future
Keep in mind that there is currently a project to completely cover the floor of the Colosseum and return it to the state in which it was in antiquity, completely covered with sand.
Although this reconstruction will keep the monument more faithful to what it once was and allow better preservation of subway galleries and tunnels, it is possible that the visit will lose that part of interest in the future, so if you go to Rome soon, take advantage now to visit the Arena of the Colosseum before they transform it.