The greatest historical architecture from the Roman Empire:
Coliseum – This is the most ancient monument from ancient
Rome. Its building began in 7.5. A.D. and was opened in 80 A.D.,
an opening celebrated with a full day of bloody games during which,
according to legend, five thousand animals were killed. This was
a gruesome leisure activity for the ancient Romans: prisoners condemned
to death were torn to pieces by ferocious beasts, animals were killed
by archers and there were fights to the death between “professional”
gladiators. The surface area of the Coliseum, which totals about
19,000 square meters, was arranged into four sections, each of which
could hold up to 70,000 spectators. The Emperor’s box was
placed in the center from where he could decide the gladiators’
fate with a simple hand gesture. The underground area of the Coliseum
was used to organize and create the settings for the games, such
as how to make the ferocious beasts appear unexpectedly in the arena,
bringing them up to the main area with an elevator hoist that was
hidden in the sand. In 438, the games were prohibited and the Coliseum
was gradually abandoned.
Roman Forum - The Roman Forum was built in the 6th century B.C.
on marshland that was drained by the creation of a sewer and drainage
network. It rapidly became the center of social and political life
in Ancient Rome, and new palaces, statues, temples and courts were
added to the area century after century. From Via Salaria (parallel
to Via dei Fori Imperiali) it is possible to enter this amazing
archeological site, which is almost a city within a city.
Circus Maximus – This enormous structure was used for entertainment
events such as the gripping chariot races that were a huge favorite
of the Roman people. The area could hold up to 230,000 spectators
and is one of the oldest areas in Rome.
Domus Aurea – This structure was built on the ashes of a terrible
fire that destroyed a large part of Rome in 64 A.D. Domus Aurea
was built on the wishes of Nero, who was also probably responsible
for the fire. During one of his famous ravings of omnipotence, the
prince wanted a more majestic Rome with his enormous, new residence
as the center of this newly-styled city. Inside this new palace
there were buildings, gardens and a lake called "Stagnum Neronis".
The palace was disproportionately large, but was in perfect harmony
with the 35-meter high bronze statue of the prince that was sculpted
and placed at the entrance to the Domus Aurea. The Domus Aurea has
recently been opened to the public after years of restoration work.
Pantheon – This is one of the best-preserved buildings that
date back to ancient Rome. This building dates back to 27 B.C.,
but was partly destroyed and then rebuilt between 118 and 125 A.D.
It later became a Christian place of worship where the tombs of
Raffaello, Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I are still kept, The huge
dome and the fine marble decorations inside the Pantheon are worthy
of note.
Castel Sant'Angelo – The original building, dating back to
123 A.D., was very different from the one that stands on the site
today. Around 1200, Castel Sant'Angelo became the property of the
Vatican and a sort of fortified corridor was built to connect the
building with the Vatican Palaces.
Catacombs – The catacombs were the places where the early
Christians celebrated funerals and where they were buried when they
died. The catacombs, the oldest of which dates back to the 2nd century,
were built outside the city walls.
Terme di Caracalla – These were the most luxurious and sophisticated
thermal spa baths in ancient Rome. They were built using the finest
marble and had a sophisticated plumbing system that supplied the
baths with hot water. It is still possible to imagine the original
splendor of this place when we visit what is left of the site today.
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