Colosseum, Palatine, Forum

Wednesday was a day spent venturing out to the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Palatine.  With Tom as tour guide, we had no trouble making our way through the city on the local metro (much like the subway system in NYC).  A short walk from our apartment we caught the red line to the blue line for one Euro, and we were standing right in front of the Colosseum.  What an amazing site!  Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, and re-enactments of famous battles.

 

 

The forum is surrounded by the ruins of ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome.  Many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city were located on or near the Forum.