When you visit the Colosseum, most people imagine stepping out onto the Arena Floor as a gladiator. They see the thousands of seats, and spectators gathered in the ampitheater. Of course, this is where all of the action and entertainment took place, from the public executions to the fighting between gladiators and animals. There is no doubt that when you are in Rome, you want to step foot inside the Colosseum.
But, in recent years, there has been a new area of the Colosseum you can experience. We are talking about underneath the Arena Floor. There is a lot of mystery here and many stories to share. Let’s take a closer look at what lies beneath the Colosseum.
Underneath the Arena Floor
So much excitement used to happen at the Colosseum. People expected to be entertained non-stop, and this meant that a lot of preparation had to happen every day during ancient Roman times. Indeed, in order to get everything prepared for the battles and displays, there had to be an elaborate system in place. This is why under the Arena Floor, there were many tunnels and chambers. Often, they are referred to as the hypogeum. So, there were two levels under the main area, which people did not realize when they were there to spectate.
For many years, the hypogeum has been inaccessible to the general public. Indeed, they were dangerous and were not maintained. But, this all changed in 2018 when renovations began. This means that it is now possible for tourists to go underground when they visit the Colosseum. This must be with a guided tour, and you can see available options at https://www.whatalifetours.com/colosseum-tours/. Here, you will see that What a Life Tours offers an underground tour, which is going to allow you to see the fascinating history that lies beneath.
Note that the hypogeum was not just about the storage of animals before games and allowing the gladiators to get ready for battle. It was also designed to create suspense. For example, during a game, animals would be lifted from the hypogeum to the Arena Floor. But, the hunter would not know where they were going to rise from. So, this was to add some challenges and entertain the audience.
Reasons to Choose an Underground Guided Tour
Are you not sure about getting a guided tour when it comes to the Colosseum? As we have mentioned, this is going to be the only way you are able to see the underground space. Yes, you can wander around the Colosseum by yourself. But, certain areas are only accessible by tour. This includes the underground portion. Here are some reasons why you want to book one.
To Skip the General Line
The Colosseum is always a busy tourist attraction in Rome. This means that there is often a wait to get in. The good news is that when you book a tour, you are not going to have to wait. You will have your time allocated, and this allows you to skip the line. So, you can enjoy peace of mind, and you know you will not spend your vacation waiting around. You simply show up at your tour time.
To Hear Interesting Stories
There are some signs you can read around the Colosseum. But, with a guide, they are going to tell you some fascinating stories you have not heard before. You can really understand what went on under the Colosseum and how games would take place. One of the main reasons why people want to take an underground tour is to step into the shoes of gladiators. You can take in the whole experience, seeing where they would have prepared for battle and what happened away from the limelight. There are over 400 years of history in these tunnels and chambers that you can feel and experience for yourself.
To Absorb Information
Let’s not forget that some people do not enjoy reading a lot of information when they are at museums and tourist attractions. While they might want to see something, they find it hard to stand around and read. Thankfully, this is not something that happens with a guided tour. You can hear the stories, which makes it a lot easier and more interesting. You can absorb the information without any effort, getting insight into history. You can then take these stories and details away with you, telling others about the fascinating history of the Colosseum and what is underneath.
