Day 5

 This morning we were up and out at 5:30am. We decided since we were awake, we would visit the colosseum and fountain before crowds. The colosseum was completely empty so we were able to walk around and take photos. The fountain was still quite busy… we then headed back to the hotel as breakfast started at 8 and was included in our room. After breakfast we headed to the Pantheon. 

We had an audio guided tour of the Pantheon which is the only completely intact structure in Rome. It was a very interesting building that was designed to be completely symmetrical. A fun fact we learnt is that Margarita pizza was created after the family - Margarita who were Italian. The pizza reflects the Italian flag. The tomato being the red, mozzarella the white and basil the green. 

After the tour we headed to the Spanish steps. They were very busy but we climbed the steps and then headed to the colosseum. We had a light lunch at La Biga which is a restaurant opposite the colosseum. We then headed to the meeting point for our guided tour. 

Our tour was 3hrs covering the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum. We started at the Roman Forum which is over 12 different temples which were all ruins. Each Temple was used for a different purpose. One was for public news and meetings, another for law/court, one for divorces, one for marriages ect. They were all built so large and tall as they built for the gods. After this we wandered up/past the Palatine hill and back to the Colosseum. 

Our colosseum tour took us to the lower level which is only allowed to be visited via a tour. We wandered through the tunnels which the gladiators use to use. We saw where they kept cages of animals to fight gladiators with and the different methods of elevators to raise the animals and gladiators above to the arena floor. 

When the colosseum was first built for the first 3mths it is believed they they filled the colosseum with water and did combats of boats and alligators however this did not last long and they soon filled in the lower level with tunnels and created a floor for sand for the gladiators to fight on. 

The tour was very interesting and it was good to see it alongside only 15 others. As the area that was open to general admission was packed! 

After the tour we hopped on the city tour bus and headed back to our hotel. It was a huge day! So at 6 we headed out for dinner. On the way home, barnaby had gelato, I had macaroons and we browsed a few shops. Then it was to bed. Tomorrow we are hopping on the city bus again to do the loop and then get off at the Vatican City for a few hours before our train to Pompeii.

Our feet are very sore from all the walking and today was 29 (tomorrow is 30) so we are very exhausted but it has been a great few days seeing all the sights. 

Barnabys fun fact for today was that the marble on all of the old temples and buildings was actually coloured red and purple back when the Roman’s built it. Purple symbolising royalty. The colour has faded over time aswell as been looted and re used on mosaics with the white marble left. 

My fun fact was that the gladiators were slaves and in battle the one who was winning would be given permission to either kill the loser or spare them. They were often told to spare them as the cost to train and house a gladiator was viewed as expensive and timely. However, most would die in the following weeks from infection to their injuries. 

The Roman’s also had executions at the colosseum which involved animals that had been starved being released on the prisoners and people would watch for entertainment…

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