The Colosseum, accomplished in 80 AD below Roman emperor Titus, is among the most recognizable historic websites on this planet. A UNESCO World Heritage Website, tens of millions of individuals from world wide go to every year and you may be certainly one of them: The Colosseum is wheelchair accessible!

A Bucket Checklist Journey to Rome and the Colosseum

This text is supposed to be a information to wheelchair accessibility on the Colosseum. You’ll discover loads of info and images on that under, however I’d first wish to share a bit about my particular connection to this website, and the non-public significance of my current journey to Rome.

Ten years in the past, I visited the Everlasting Metropolis and the Colosseum with a gaggle of pals — on the time, I used to be a younger, nondisabled man who had simply graduated with a grasp’s diploma in historical past. Life was straightforward and carefree! I in fact had no concept {that a} life-changing automobile accident was on the horizon, and that it could be my final worldwide journey earlier than I turned a wheelchair consumer.

Within the days, weeks and months after that automobile accident, caught in a hospital mattress, I used to be informed that repeating such a visit wouldn’t be potential. My incapacity was too important and I’d eternally be connected to a wheelchair. Life as I had as soon as recognized it was over. It was a darkish message devoid of hope and, for a time, I believed it. I had no concept what I’d be able to and I had not dared to dream that the world could be accessible to disabled folks.

Clearly, I did come round to dreaming — and believing — and this web site is proof optimistic of the chance that exists for disabled vacationers to see and expertise the world. The belief of that chance hit me in a particular means in Rome final month and particularly on the Colosseum… a spot I as soon as thought I’d by no means see once more. So dream large. Go to the Everlasting Metropolis. And use this information to expertise the Colosseum in all its historical glory.

The Colosseum: Historical past & Background

The Colosseum is sort of 2,000 years previous — Development began in 72 AD below Emperor Vespasian and was accomplished simply 8 years later. Vespasian and his successors have been a part of the Flavian Dynasty, and for a lot of centuries students referred to the Colosseum because the “Flavian Ampitheatre.” It was the biggest historical ampitheatre ever constructed and held as much as 80,000 spectators at its peak. Though most acknowledge it because the area of gladiators, the Colosseum additionally hosted dramatic performances and battle reenactments.

Within the fifth century, gladiator fights have been banned and the Colosseum’s use as an leisure venue started to wane. The construction was repurposed a number of occasions, housing workshops, a non secular order and a Christian chapel with stations of the cross — at one level, it was even fortified and used as a fort.

A serious earthquake in 1349 brought about the construction’s southern facet to break down. Stone, metallic and different elements have been stolen over the next centuries and, regardless of a number of restoration and preservation makes an attempt, the Colosseum was by no means reconstructed. It’s now thought of to be an historical spoil, however important work has been finished to make the location accessible to vacationers and disabled guests.

Wheelchair Entry on the Colosseum

The Colosseum has 4 ranges: Degree 1 or the bottom degree, by means of which entrance to the Colosseum is feasible; Degree 2, the mid-tier degree; Degree 3, the higher tier; and the underground excavations degree.

Colosseum Degree 1 – The Floor Degree

The wheelchair accessible entrance to the Colosseum locations guests on the middle of the bottom degree, known as Degree 1. After passing by means of the safety checkpoint, wheelchair customers can select from a wide range of routes — there are a selection of how to deal with the tour, however whatever the path you are taking, ensure to discover each the left and proper sides of the bottom degree.

An elevator as much as Degree 2 is situated to the left, on the finish of a protracted hall simply contained in the Colosseum’s exterior. Simply past the elevator (nonetheless on the bottom ground) is a brief path that leads exterior, revealing a monumental archway that’s an entrance to the principle area.

Erected above the archway, on the outside of the Colosseum, is a big plaque with a Christian cross and a Latin inscription, translated right here in English:

The Flavian Amphitheatre, distinguished by triumphs and spectacles, devoted to the gods of the heathen in unholy reverence, purified of unclean superstition by the blood of martyrs. Within the 12 months of the Jubilee of 1750, tenth of his hold forth, lest reminiscence of their braveness ought to lapse, Benedict the Fourteenth, Pontifex Maximus, undertook to have rendered in marble the memorial painted on the whitewashed wall within the 12 months of the Jubilee of 1675 by Clement the Tenth, Pontifex Maximus, and effaced below the assault of time.

This plaque reminds us of two occasions within the Colosseum’s more moderen historical past. In 1675, Pope Clement X put in a cross within the area and declared it a sacred website in reminiscence of Christians who had allegedly been martyred there. In 1750, Pope Benedict XIV put in 14 Stations of the Cross contained in the Colosseum and additional devoted it to the martyrs.

Passing by means of the archway, guests will emerge into the guts of the world. It’s the space the place the motion occurred — the sphere of play, if you’ll. Because of excavations of the Colosseum’s subterranean rooms and corridors, a lot of the picket and earthen platform protecting the underground space now not exists. From what stays of this floor degree, guests can peer down into the excavated areas.

Directional indicators posted all through the Colosseum establish the accessible route, in addition to the situation of toilet amenities. Pictured above is an accessible rest room with a bathroom, seize bars and roll-under sink that’s situated on degree 1. Notice the absence of a bathroom seat — one thing you’ll discover is frequent within the Metropolis of Rome.

Colosseum Degree 2 — The Center Tier

Degree 2 is the best degree that wheelchair customers at the moment have entry to. On this degree, guests can circle the whole thing of the Colosseum.

After exiting the elevator on Degree 2, you’ll encounter the beginning of a large museum-quality exhibition. Shows share details about the historical past of Rome and the Colosseum, presenting artifacts so as to add context to the story. Guests ought to plan to spend 60 to 90 minutes consuming the exhibition.

The pathways encircling the world are product of stone and cement and, although uneven and damaged in some areas, are satisfactory for each handbook and energy wheelchair customers.

Degree 2 is the right place to take an iconic selfie that captures the wonder and enormity of the Colosseum. From right here, one can respect the world’s true dimension, admire the structure, and take a chicken’s eye view of the bottom ground and excavations. It’s unimaginable!

Various viewing platforms and portals situated on Degree 2 enable guests to view a few of the surrounding monuments and historical websites, together with the triumphal Arch of Constantine and Palatine Hill.

As you make your means across the Colosseum on degree 2, you will note the world from a number of views, admiring the intricate stonework that has endured for almost two millennia. Guests can return to the bottom ground utilizing the identical elevator.

Colosseum Degree 3 — The Uppermost Tier

Degree 3 just isn’t at the moment accessible, nevertheless there are plans to make it so sooner or later. The Colosseum’s web site states that “linked to the upper ranges will likely be accomplished in 2019 due to financing from fundraising actions,” nevertheless that work has not but been accomplished.

Colosseum Underground Excavations

A lot of what we now see within the middle of the Colosseum’s area was meant to be hidden from the general public — known as the hypogeum, this community of rooms, tunnels and cages was the place gladiators, animals and props have been saved.

On the time of my go to, I used to be below the impression that there was no wheelchair entry to the hypogeum. That’s luckily not the case — wheelchair entry to the excavations is feasible through a freight elevator, situated subsequent to the arched entrance to the bottom ground area. The elevator is recognized within the under {photograph}.

It’s unclear whether or not disabled guests require a particular ticket or a reservation to go to this underground excavations. I’m making an attempt to trace down a solution, and can replace this text as soon as I’ve discovered an verified the knowledge.

Colosseum Disabled Tickets — rating free categorical admission

Disabled guests to the Colosseum are admitted freed from cost, together with one companion. Further guests in your occasion will likely be topic to the usual admission charges — Tickets might be bought on website. No reservation or advance discover is required and disabled individuals are directed to the entrance of the road.

Guests are topic to a safety examine, however I used to be waved by means of in my wheelchair. In case you are visiting with a bag or purse, you need to count on extra scrutiny — all luggage are searched.

The Colosseum is open to the general public day-after-day of the 12 months, excluding Christmas Day, December twenty fifth. Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the final admission being one hour earlier than closing.

Wheelchair Accessible Transportation to the Colosseum

Though there’s a metro station straight throughout the road from the Colosseum, it doesn’t supply disabled entry.

Metropolis buses are wheelchair accessible, nevertheless, and the next traces present service on to the Colosseum: 51, 75, 85, 87, 117 and 118. Bus route 75 offers common service in each instructions between Rome’s central practice station, Termini, and the Colosseum.

My resort was steps away from Termini Station, and I elected to roll in my wheelchair — though I needed to enter the road a few occasions because of a lacking curb ramp and a slender sidewalk, I managed the journey in my energy wheelchair. Termini station is simply over a mile from the Colosseum.

Remaining Ideas

Visiting the Colosseum is a bucket record merchandise, certainly. Once I visited as a nondisabled particular person 10 years in the past, I hadn’t taken observe of its accessibility, however was thrilled to seek out a lot of this World Heritage Website open to me as a wheelchair consumer. The continued investments being made within the accessibility of this surprise of the world are welcome, and I’m certain you’ll get pleasure from visiting this unimaginable place. It’s actually one thing to behold!

I go away you with this quote from Saint Bede (672/673-735), an English monk and “The Father of English Historical past,” which completely describes the Colosseum’s place in our collective consciousness:

“So long as the Colosseum shall stand, Rome too
shall stand; when the Colosseum falls, Rome too
shall fall; when Rome falls, the world shall fall
as nicely.”Saint Bede the Venerable