Archaeological Park of the Colosseum

Description

The Archaeological Park of the Colosseum encompasses remains from the Bronze Age and the most contemporary of works. The Colosseum may be its most famous feature but the area also includes the Roman Forum, the Palatine hill, the Domus Aurea on Colle Oppio, the arch of Constantine and the Meta Sudans in the valley of the Colosseum.
Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre in honour of that imperial dynasty, its title “Colosseum” refers not to the building but to Nero’s Colossus, a statue that once stood outside. With a capacity of 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was the first and largest permanent amphitheatre in ancient Rome. Following the end of the empire, it fell into a state of neglect and was transformed into a fortress during the Middle Ages.
The outer walls of the Colosseum have three orders of arches. The cavea, where the public would sit, was divided into three tiers of seating; the podium, a terrace facing the public was reserved for the emperor’s use. Today it periodically hosts temporary exhibitions and modern performances.
The Roman Forum was, meanwhile, the nerve centre for the political and religious life of the ancient city, a combination of monuments and buildings that were adapted over time. These buildings were initially intended for political, religious and commercial activities but, by the end of the Republic, the ancient Roman Forum had become too small to carry out its role as administrative centre.
During the Middle Ages, the monuments were abandoned or became churches: the Curia Iulia became the Church of St. Adrian; part of the Temple of Antonino and Faustina was transformed into the Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, while the Temple of Romulus became the Church of Saints Cosma and Damiano.