Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos by Francos, 2016
Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
After walking through Vatican City and it's many churches, museums and catacomb, we picked up our tickets to the Colosseum Complex and went back to the subway, switching trains at the main train station that would take us back to Bologna before it was all done.
When you come up the stairs from the subway, you can already see part of the massive structure, which is directly across the street from the station. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect along the outside of the structure. I was always under the impression that cars drove around it, like it was in the center of a giant traffic circle (as is the Bell Tower, in Xi'an, China). Rather, around most of it is a park, including the Arch of Constantine, and the Palatine ruins, among other antiquities.
We had "Skip the Line" tickets, but even so, it took about 20 minutes to get through security, even without a backpack. Needless to say, it was extremely crowded, as were most of the places we had been in Italy. If you are going, no matter where, make sure you get Skip the Line tickets. Exhaust yourself more looking at things rather waiting to get into see them.
By the time we were done climbing up and down the Colosseum, we were pretty well shot. We looked around a bit, but didn't make it all the way up to the Palatine, so I grabbed so quick shots about the grounds.
The wear and heat was starting to get to us, so we decided to skip the Tivoli Fountain and hopped the subway to the train station, getting there early enough to grab some food and figure out where the hell to catch our train (construction made it confusing). We got there just before the train was ready to pull out.
Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
After walking through Vatican City and it's many churches, museums and catacomb, we picked up our tickets to the Colosseum Complex and went back to the subway, switching trains at the main train station that would take us back to Bologna before it was all done.
When you come up the stairs from the subway, you can already see part of the massive structure, which is directly across the street from the station. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect along the outside of the structure. I was always under the impression that cars drove around it, like it was in the center of a giant traffic circle (as is the Bell Tower, in Xi'an, China). Rather, around most of it is a park, including the Arch of Constantine, and the Palatine ruins, among other antiquities.
We had "Skip the Line" tickets, but even so, it took about 20 minutes to get through security, even without a backpack. Needless to say, it was extremely crowded, as were most of the places we had been in Italy. If you are going, no matter where, make sure you get Skip the Line tickets. Exhaust yourself more looking at things rather waiting to get into see them.
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| The Arch of Constantine |
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| At the doorway, waiting on line |
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| Yes, that guy does have a plastic Centurian helmet. I wanted to say to him, "You do realize countless thousands died within these walls because of people wearing that helmet, many in excruciating pain." But didn't. |
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| Pieces not in place |
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| What is left of these signs |
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| The selfie generation |
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| Where's Joshua, because it looks like the walls are crumblin' down |
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| Out the opening, looking at the Palatine |
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| I wonder who ripped the Cross from the wall where it was embedded |
By the time we were done climbing up and down the Colosseum, we were pretty well shot. We looked around a bit, but didn't make it all the way up to the Palatine, so I grabbed so quick shots about the grounds.
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| In front of the Arch of Constantine, workers were putting together a column of hands. I'm not sure what it symbolized (picture above and below). |
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| The Palatino |
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| Near the subway was some small ruins and beautiful flowers; it seemed like a good way to leave Rome |
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