Skip to content
  • info@realrometours.com
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Day Trips
    • Ultimate Private Tours
    • Intimate Private Tours
    • Custom Tours
    • Transfers
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Why choose us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Day Trips
    • Ultimate Private Tours
    • Intimate Private Tours
    • Custom Tours
    • Transfers
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Why choose us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact

Colosseum’s Secret History Revealed in a New Exhibition

It is famed as the place where gladiators battled lions to the amusement of the citizens of ancient Rome. But of the six million visitors who flock to the Colosseum each year, how many know that during mediaeval times, it was also the fortress base of a powerful Roman family for over two centuries?

Or that in the 1600s, it was like a botanical garden? Its state of semi-abandon, combined with a micro-climate, enabled more than 400 species of plants to flourish inside its arched walls.

Now, thanks to some archaeological detective work based on discoveries made during a spruce-up, a new exhibition recounts some of the untold stories of one of the world’s most-visited monuments.

“The Colosseum: An icon,” which opened on a middle floor of the amphitheatre and runs until next January, shows that life inside the iconic structure did not end with the disintegration of the empire or the final show of the classical era, in 523 AD.

“What it shows is the extraordinary capacity the Colosseum has had to assume different identities over the centuries,” said Francesco Prosperetti,one of the officials in charge of the jewel in the crown of Italian tourism.

Ram’s head, carved antlers

Scholars had long been aware that the mediaeval-era Colosseum had a fortress owned by the Frangipane family.

But much of the archaeological evidence of it was lost at the time of 19th-century excavations, when masonry was removed for new buildings or restorations elsewhere in the city.

Recent restoration work on upper sections of the partially-intact structure however uncovered traces of what was a raised wooden walkway which served as a lookout for the Frangipanes’ soldiers, constantly wary of attacks by rival families.

That has enabled historical experts to put together model and pictorial representations of what the mediaeval Colosseum would have looked like, and these are among the highlights of the new exhibition.

Other archaeological finds, including one side of a ram’s head and carved antlers, point to the mediaeval Colosseum being a hive of activity with the fortified aristocratic residence serviced by a range of businesses, market gardens and religious institutions.

Learn more about the Colosseum and what life was like in Ancient Rome, in our Lives of the Romans Tour.

The wooden fortress was partially destroyed by a 1349 earthquake but its surviving structures were later incorporated into a hospital sponsored by wealthy families whose seals have been recently found in digs on the site.

The collection also explores how the building came to be a reference point for students of architecture from far afield and, following its later fall into an elegant state of semi-abandon, how it inspired Renaissance painters and romantic poets.

Renovation and new boss

Completed in 80 AD, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre built during the Roman empire.

Standing 48.5 metres (159 feet) high, it was capable of hosting 80,000 spectators for feasts of entertainment that encapsulated the brutality, hedonism and engineering genius that were among the defining features of ancient Rome.

The first phase of a major makeover of the venue was completed in July 2016 with a number of sections structurally strengthened and most of the remaining walls water-sprayed to remove centuries of encrusted dirt and grime.

The works were largely financed – to a reported tune of 25 million euros ($26.5 million) – by upmarket shoe and fashion company Tod’s.

The government has pledged to put up the cash for a second phase which will involve rebuilding the arena floor and make the venue capable of hosting concerts and other cultural events, including re-enactment of some Roman-era events.

The culture ministry has also advertised for a new supremo to oversee the Colosseum as part of a broader shake-up of the management of the country’s landmark historic and cultural attractions.

By Angus MacKinnon

There’s truly something for everyone in Rome, no matter what age or interest! For more information on visiting Rome, feel free to get in touch by phone/sms/Whatsapp: +39 3408521612, through our Contact page, or via email: info@realrometours.com 

Or view our selection of Intimate Group Tours, Private Tours and Day Trips!

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

NextYou can now stroll in Emperor Nero’s Garden with a Virtual Reality TourNext

Recent Posts

Italy has pledged to ease health measures in the coming weeks, but many restrictions currently remain in place. Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

At a glance: What Covid-19 rules are now in place in Italy?

Read More

Rome: let it snow!

Read More

5 things To Do If You’ve Already Been To Rome Before

Read More

Share to social

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

Menu

  • Home
  • Tours
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Day Trips
  • Ultimate Private Tours
  • Gift Certificates
  • Meeting Points
  • Transfers
  • Travel Agents
  • About Us
  • Why choose us
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • Tours
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Day Trips
  • Ultimate Private Tours
  • Gift Certificates
  • Meeting Points
  • Transfers
  • Travel Agents
  • About Us
  • Why choose us
  • Contact

Terms

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Menu
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Contact Us

  • info@realrometours.com

News From Real Rome Tours

No spam here. Only great content and updates of our services.
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Twitter Yelp Youtube
  • © Copyright 2022 Real Rome Tours. All Rights Reserved.
Scroll to Top
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Day Trips
    • Ultimate Private Tours
    • Intimate Private Tours
    • Custom Tours
    • Transfers
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Why choose us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Day Trips
    • Ultimate Private Tours
    • Intimate Private Tours
    • Custom Tours
    • Transfers
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Why choose us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact
Cookies To make this site work properly, we sometimes place small data files called cookies on your device. Most big websites do this too.
Accept
Change Settings
Cookie Box Settings
Cookie Box Settings

Privacy settings

Decide which cookies you want to allow. You can change these settings at any time. However, this can result in some functions no longer being available. For information on deleting the cookies, please consult your browser’s help function. Learn more about the cookies we use.

With the slider, you can enable or disable different types of cookies:

  • Block all
  • Essential
  • Functionality
  • Analytics
  • Advertising

This website will:

  • Essential: Remember your cookie permission setting
  • Essential: Allow session cookies
  • Essential: Gather information you input into a contact forms, newsletter and other forms across all pages
  • Essential: Keep track of what you input in a shopping cart
  • Essential: Authenticate that you are logged into your user account
  • Essential: Remember language version you selected

This website won't:

  • Remember your login details
  • Functionality: Remember social media settings
  • Functionality: Remember selected region and country
  • Analytics: Keep track of your visited pages and interaction taken
  • Analytics: Keep track about your location and region based on your IP number
  • Analytics: Keep track of the time spent on each page
  • Analytics: Increase the data quality of the statistics functions
  • Advertising: Tailor information and advertising to your interests based on e.g. the content you have visited before. (Currently we do not use targeting or targeting cookies.
  • Advertising: Gather personally identifiable information such as name and location

This website will:

  • Essential: Remember your cookie permission setting
  • Essential: Allow session cookies
  • Essential: Gather information you input into a contact forms, newsletter and other forms across all pages
  • Essential: Keep track of what you input in a shopping cart
  • Essential: Authenticate that you are logged into your user account
  • Essential: Remember language version you selected
  • Functionality: Remember social media settings
  • Functionality: Remember selected region and country

This website won't:

  • Remember your login details
  • Analytics: Keep track of your visited pages and interaction taken
  • Analytics: Keep track about your location and region based on your IP number
  • Analytics: Keep track of the time spent on each page
  • Analytics: Increase the data quality of the statistics functions
  • Advertising: Tailor information and advertising to your interests based on e.g. the content you have visited before. (Currently we do not use targeting or targeting cookies.
  • Advertising: Gather personally identifiable information such as name and location

This website will:

  • Essential: Remember your cookie permission setting
  • Essential: Allow session cookies
  • Essential: Gather information you input into a contact forms, newsletter and other forms across all pages
  • Essential: Keep track of what you input in a shopping cart
  • Essential: Authenticate that you are logged into your user account
  • Essential: Remember language version you selected
  • Functionality: Remember social media settingsl Functionality: Remember selected region and country
  • Analytics: Keep track of your visited pages and interaction taken
  • Analytics: Keep track about your location and region based on your IP number
  • Analytics: Keep track of the time spent on each page
  • Analytics: Increase the data quality of the statistics functions

This website won't:

  • Remember your login details
  • Advertising: Use information for tailored advertising with third parties
  • Advertising: Allow you to connect to social sites
  • Advertising: Identify device you are using
  • Advertising: Gather personally identifiable information such as name and location

This website will:

  • Essential: Remember your cookie permission setting
  • Essential: Allow session cookies
  • Essential: Gather information you input into a contact forms, newsletter and other forms across all pages
  • Essential: Keep track of what you input in a shopping cart
  • Essential: Authenticate that you are logged into your user account
  • Essential: Remember language version you selected
  • Functionality: Remember social media settingsl Functionality: Remember selected region and country
  • Analytics: Keep track of your visited pages and interaction taken
  • Analytics: Keep track about your location and region based on your IP number
  • Analytics: Keep track of the time spent on each page
  • Analytics: Increase the data quality of the statistics functions
  • Advertising: Use information for tailored advertising with third parties
  • Advertising: Allow you to connect to social sitesl Advertising: Identify device you are using
  • Advertising: Gather personally identifiable information such as name and location

This website won't:

  • Remember your login details
Save & Close