A day in Colosseum

Colosseum, Italy

Dawn - Colosseum outer façade

Cool air hangs over the empty plaza in front of the amphitheatre. I cross beneath the weathered travertine arches of the outer façade, small against the stone. These arches show classical architectural orders and still carry the scars of ancient earthquakes and centuries of stone robbery.

Morning - Amphitheatre interior

The stone under my shoes sounds hollow in this great interior. I move into the arena and feel how small I am inside it. This is the world's largest ancient amphitheatre, and I come to walk through the monumental heart of Imperial Rome.

Morning - Arch of Constantine

My fingers find the rough carved stone of the reliefs. I pause before the monumental triumphal arch situated right next to the amphitheatre. It was erected to commemorate Constantine's decisive victory at the Milvian Bridge and is decorated with intricate sculptural reliefs.

Midday - Roman Forum columns

Sun on the fallen columns warms the stone under my shoes. I stroll just west of the amphitheatre into the sprawling archaeological remains of the Forum. Fallen columns mark the paths of antiquity through the ancient city's political, religious, and commercial heart.

Afternoon - Forum triumphal arches

Footsteps echo as I pass beneath the triumphal arches. I follow their path through the archaeological remains just west of the amphitheatre. Together with the fallen columns, these arches mark the paths of antiquity in the city's political, religious, and commercial heart.

Afternoon - Palatine Hill slopes

Leaves brush my arms as I climb the verdant slopes. I ascend the Palatine Hill overlooking the amphitheatre and the Forum. Spring, from March to April, and autumn, from October to November, bring pleasant weather for this outdoor walking and spare me the intense summer heat.

Afternoon - Imperial palace ruins

Broken walls hold the day's heat against my open palm. I walk the excavated ruins of the imperial palaces on the hilltop. These palaces and the ancient aristocratic residences around them are rooted in the foundational myths of the city.

Golden Hour - Palatine Forum overlook

Warm light spreads across the Forum stone below me. I look out from the Palatine over the archaeological remains. From these verdant slopes I see the political, religious, and commercial heart of the ancient city, just west of the amphitheatre.

Golden Hour - Exterior wall tiers

Gold light catches the remaining wall tiers and warms my face. I step back to take in the outer façade of the amphitheatre. The weathered travertine tiers show classical architectural orders and bear the scars of ancient earthquakes and stone robbery.

Night - Neighbourhood trattoria

Pepper and pecorino smell rich at the small table. I eat cacio e pepe in a neighbourhood trattoria after the long day outdoors. The dish is spaghetti or tonnarelli with grated pecorino romano and freshly cracked black pepper, a creamy sauce made without cream.