Visitors to Rome look forward to the Colosseum; some do not know how to deal with serpentine queues and long hours of waiting before they can buy the tickets. There are actually several ways in which tourists can avoid the long wait in queues for tickets.

Buy an Online Ticket

Buying the tickets online is the easiest, as it is convenient and saves a lot of time. The reservation can be made online by filling out an online form giving two dates of preference for the visit. The dates need to be filled in the European format of date, month and year. Visit the official Roman Colosseum website for more details.

Credit card details will be required; however, charges are deducted only after confirmation of seats, after which the tickets can be printed. These tickets just block seats and cannot be used for entering the Colosseum. Visitors will need to exchange the same for entry passes at the ticket desk at the site.

Combination Ticket

These tickets can be used for entry to three sites which include the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The tickets are valid for two days, so visitors do not have to rush through the tour. The sites can be visited at leisure.

Other Options

There are other choices available to visitors for buying the tickets. They may buy any of the following:

• Vatican and Rome Card
• Roma Pass
• Archeological Card

Any of these three cards allow tourists entry into the Colosseum without having to wait in long queues. The Roma Pass holders can visit the first two sites on their itinerary, free, and it is better if they choose to visit the Colosseum before going to the other sites.

Ticket Pricing

The cost of the tickets is inclusive of booking fee and service taxes. Entry for children infants and toddlers is free. Nationals of the European Union (EU) aged below 24 years and over 65 years are eligible for a discount on tickets. All foreign nationals must carry a proof of identification while visiting these sites. These include a valid passport or driving license. For more info, visit the Roman Colosseum website.

The great Roman Colosseum, considered to be one of the finest examples of Roman architecture, was designed to hold up to 80,000 visitors. It is the epitome of Romes grandeur. Built long before modern machinery and heavy equipment was available, it is an architectural marvel of its era. Unlike most structures, this towering amphitheater does not have one or two entrances, but 80 of them!

Crowd Control

This massive amphitheater was designed to hold as many as 80,000 people at once. The numerous entrances were part of a complex, ancient crowd control system. In addition to the numerous entrances allowing access from the outside, there are dozens more inner doorways, walls, corridors and tunnels.

The brilliant design allowed tens of thousands of spectators to enter the building, funneled by passageways to the appropriate seating section. It is estimated that in as little as ten minutes, the entire crowd could be dispersed in an organized manner.

The Gates

Inside the Colosseum entrances, visitors are led to a corridor which encompassed the building. From this corridor, they would continue to staircases and inner passageways. Each of the highly ornate entrances is in the shape of an arch. There are 76 entrance arch gates, designed for access by the general public. These were numbered, allowing visitors to easily locate the correct entrance leading to their designated seating.

VIP Entrance

The remaining four Colosseum entrances, called the grand entrances, were not numbered. These gates were reserved for important visitors such as Emperors, senators, wealthy patrons, visiting dignitaries, and the Vestal Virgins. Although all entrances are detailed and ornate, these special arches are fantastic.

The North Entrance is still in existence today. It is located between gates 38 and 39. The South Entrance is directly between the first and last general public entrances. The other two Grand Entrances are called the Gate of Life, and the Gate of Death.

During gladiator games, the participants would enter through the Gate of Life – and exit that way if they survived. Those who perished in battle, were stripped of weapons, and removed through the Gate of Death.

The Colosseum hypogeum was the intricate network of tunnels, passageways, rooms and storage spaces beneath the floor of the main arena. Derived from the two Greek terms of hypo and gaia, it literally means “under the earth.” It was added to the Colosseum some years after its initial construction, by the Emperor Domitian. Its primary function was as a holding area for slaves and animals used in the gladiatorial games.

Details

The Colosseum hypogeum was actually made up of two separate levels, with a remarkable amount of technical sophistication included in each. It was used for stage props and housed elaborate mechanical devices, used to move animal pens and slaves up to the main floor of the Colosseum.

This allowed for swift scenery changes through specially constructed vertical shafts and gave the master of ceremonies the option to customize each battle to his liking. Under the sand of the Colosseum’s substrate, thirty-six trap doors were hidden, making seamless transition between different battle scenarios possible.

Sophisticated Mechanics

Also, the hypogeum helped create special effects and surprise challenges for the contestants. For example, often a wild animal would be released through these openings in the midst of combat, to further add to the chaos. These animals would be penned, and a vertical winch known as a capstan would be used to raise their cage. A diagonal groove in the wall held a wooden ramp, which the beast would use to climb onto the Colosseum floor.

Some of the most talented engineers of the day worked to improve the Colosseum hypogeum constantly, and evidence points to a minimum of twelve separate improvement projects. This included the addition of a hegmata, which was a massive platform used to push large creatures such as elephants onto the main arena level. Although unseen by the Roman onlookers, the hypogeum was a true engineering marvel, which made the shows within the Colosseum an unrivaled spectacle.

The Spoliarium is an important part of the history of The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. This is the part of the Colosseum Complex where dead gladiators were brought after the fight in the arena. It is known that gladiators were trained by different ludus during the early rule of the Roman empire.

These gladiators then took part in a game in the arena where they have to fight another gladiator or an animal. Here are some important facts about the Spoliarium:

Facts about the Spoliarium

1. The Spoliarium is connected to a gate in the Colosseum. This gate was called the “Gate of Death”. It was in this gate that dead gladiators were dragged to be brought to the Spoliarium.

2. Once the deceased gladiators are brought in the Spoliarium they are stripped off their armors and weapons. This is done before the bodies of the deceased are disposed of.

3. It is still uncertain what really happens in this chamber. The reason behind this is that no Roman writer was able to write about what truly happened in this death chamber. Speculation abounds in history that after the dead gladiators were stripped of their armor and weapons, these items were brought back to their lanista.

4. Students of medicine, specifically anatomy, are said to purchase some of the dead bodies as a way of furthering their studies.

5. Dead animals were also disposed of in the Spoliarium. This fact led people to believe that this part of the Colosseum had a stench of death and that there must be a lot of bodies piled up after each game in the arena.

6. A painting made by Juan Luna of the Spoliarium, depicts the horror that may have been going on in the Spoliarium. It shows a gladiator without life being dragged into the darkness of the chamber.

These are some of the facts that have been accumulated over time about this part of the Colosseum. Until this very day, the Spoliarium still brings a sense of death whenever it is mentioned or imagined.

No one can truly know what happened in this chamber but it is considered a very important part of the Roman history.

The Colosseum or the Flavian Amphitheatre is one of the most legendary monuments of ancient Roman culture. The construction was started by Emperor Vespasian and the work was completed under the reign of his son, Titus.

Capacity

The Colosseum was a stage for gladiatorial battle or a stage for justice where prisoners or criminals were executed in front of the entire Rome. The total capacity of the Colosseum was 45,000 to 55,000 people.

There was no entrance fee for spectators but they were provided with a ticket that consisted of a seat and tier number and entrance gate number. The seating arrangements reflected the division of the Roman society.

Seats

The seats were arranged in the form of four sections or tiers in accordance with the ranks. The most prestigious segment belonged to the Emperor who had a seat in the Imperial box, also known as cubiculum. This prominent position of the Imperial box was placed on the podium located on the north side.

Podium also called ima caveum, was situated at a height and contained reserved seating. The other seats on the podium were marked for the most elite class of Romans, which included members of Royal family, senators, nobles and priests.

The Elite

The second tier or Maenianum primum was reserved for Equites or Knights, who belonged to the non-senatorial class. This segment consisted of 14 sections of marble seats. The third tier was reserved for plebians or ordinary Roman citizens.

It was further divided in to two segments in which the lower seats belonged to rich plebeians and the upper seats were for the poor plebeians. The fourth and the last tier were made up of wooden seats and were reserved for common women.

Colosseum is the most enduring building of Rome that has a major symbolic meaning. It forms the base of arenas all over the world.

With a peak that reaches 29,035 feet, Mount Everest is known as the world’s highest mountain.

This famous mountain has been visited by trekkers each year while fighting against very cold conditions, inclement weather and other environmental factors which make it difficult to reach. However, foreign trekkers, climbers, and mountaineers still visit this famous natural wonder.

Freezing

The coldest month of the year is in January where the temperature can go down to -76°F (-60°C) while July is considered to be the warmest even though the temperature goes down to -2°F (-19° C). When bad weather arises, trekkers are stranded in the foothills to wait for a better time to proceed.

Guides and porters can guide you as you venture the peak of this famous mountain. During the months of October to April, it is difficult for climbers and travelers to visit the mountain due to the weather condition.

With this, Mount Everest is open for expeditions the whole year but the best time to visit is during the months of April to June.

Easter Island weather is characterized by low daily thermal fluctuations, with a well distributed rainfall throughout the year. The average summer high temperatures range between 77 to 81°F (25 – 27 °C), with the lows being between 64°F and 68°F (18 – 20 °C).

Winter

Winter has an average temperature of 68 °F (20°C) high, with lows of 59°F (15°C). Winter season runs from June to September, while summer is between December and March.

Rest of the year

For the most part of the year, this island off Chile is exposed to trade winds that blow towards the northeast. There is heavier rainfall between April and May, with the annual average rainfall at 43 inches (1,100 mm).

The best season to visit Easter Island is during the summer, between December and March. Make sure to carry wind proof jackets, strap-able hats and sweaters as the winds can be very strong. This wind, however, makes this hot season feel cooler than it really is.

The winter season is not very cold, with the general weather in this island being comfortable compared to the extreme temperature in the northern hemisphere.

Iguazu Falls is often called by people around the world as one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the planet. This beautiful site is found near the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

It is one of the places visited by millions because they want to experience the beauty of nature firsthand. If you want to see this beautiful creation you have to know when the best time to visit is.

Weather

The weather in Iguazu Falls is usually hot during the months of October through April. It is best to visit this place during the rainy season so that you can experience the full view of the waterfalls.

It would be wise to plan your travel during the months of January to March. This is the country’s rainy season which means that water flow is greatly increased which will give you an amazing view of the Iguazu Falls.

The temperature during these months is from 65-89 °F (19-32°C) which can give you a comfortable time during your stay.

When planning for a trip to Teotihuacan, it is important to the weather conditions you may encounter. This ancient city, located about 30 miles north east of Mexico city, is generally hotter than Mexico city, with temperature averages being between 59°F and 77°F (15° and 25°C). The evenings get cooler.

Rainy Season

The rainy season is May through September, with the peak season in July. There is no snow in that portion of the country; the last recorded snow in Mexico City was in 1967.

In general, travel to Mexico can be done at any time of the year, there being no harsh weather seasons, as well as the presence of mild temperatures throughout the different seasons.

All a visitor needs is to wear light clothes, sun screen, sunglasses and a hat. You also need to carry some drinking water to keep yourself hydrated. An alternative is to buy bottled water from the local vendors.

Cambodia is a country with a tropical monsoon climate, and that means there are two seasons, rainy season and dry season. So if you’re wondering about the weather at Angkor Wat, it will probably be raining at this ancient temple site on any given day from May through November, which is the monsoon season.

The dry months are November through April.

Monsoons

During the dry season, Angkor Wat weather tends to be not only warm, but downright hot. Expect highs between 80 and 90°F (27 and 32°C) on most days, and a lot of humidity.

Rainy, monsoon season days are cooler on average, but it never gets really cold in this region. The average daily temperature around Angkor Wat is about 77°F (25°C )during the day and around 70°F (21°C) at night.

Most people consider November through February the optimum weather months for visiting Angkor Wat.

During this time you can expect comfortably warm days, clear skies, no rain, a nice light breeze and the evenings comfortably cool for sleeping.