Coliseum
One of the sights of Rome that should be visited when traveling or study trips through Italy is undoubtedly the Amphitheater Flavium. Even today, around 2,000 years after its completion, the oppressive aura of the Colosseum casts a spell over tourists. Over the course of 450 years, countless people and animals met violent deaths in the arena for the entertainment of free Romans. More than 5,000 animals were slaughtered at the one hundred-day opening celebrations in 80 AD alone. Initially staged sea battles were on the program, later mainly gladiator fights, animal and human chasing as well as executions of those sentenced to death dominated.
The architecture of the amphitheater
The ancient Colosseum held a good 50,000 spectators who reached their seats via 80 entrances. Four of them were available to the Roman elite such as priestesses, senators and the incumbent emperor. The elliptical arena is 188 meters long and 155 meters wide. Its total circumference is 527 and its height is 48 meters. On hot days, a retractable awning provided shade, which was operated by Roman sailors. At first it was structurally feasible to flood the Colosseum to re-enact naval battles. This option was later given up in favor of a sophisticated system for the quick conversion of decorations and stage sets.
Use then and now
After the ban on gladiator fights by Emperor Constantine and the Roman population decline in the 5th and 6th centuries, the Colosseum lost its importance. Destruction from earthquakes and wars accelerated its decline. From then on, the building served as living space for the poor and a quarry for buildings by ruling Romans. This only came to an end when, in the middle of the 18th century, Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed the Colosseum to be the martyr’s place of slain Christians and ordered the building to be preserved. A Way of the Cross with the Pope has been celebrated on Good Fridays since the mid-1960s. It has served as a memorial against the execution of the death penalty worldwide since 1999.
Capri
The approximately 10 km² island in the Gulf of Naples is a popular travel destination. Myth, location, climate and the legendary hospitality of the Caprese all contribute to this. Capri has lived from tourism since the 19th century. The island belongs to the Campania region with the center Naples and has two lively centers with Capri and Anacapri. The traveler finds ideal weather in the months of May, June, September and October. Then the temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius.
Capri vacation begins in the port of Naples
You can travel to Capri by plane or train via Naples. The numerous ferries to Capri and the neighboring islands of Procida and Ischia start from there. The crossing takes between 40 and 75 minutes. An organized transfer includes the trip to the port of Naples, the crossing and onward transport to the chosen accommodation. Capri offers hotels and guest houses for every travel budget.
Discover Capri from the water
The perfect introduction to your stay in Capri is a boat tour. The tour starts at the Marina Grand and lasts two hours. Blue grotto, Faraglioni rocks, the serpentines of Via Krupp with the Augustus Garden, grottos and picturesque bays provide impulses for future excursions on foot. In addition to the cog railway (funicolare), public buses and nostalgic taxis, comfortably shod legs are required here. The most prominent square on the island is the Piazetta of Capri (Piazza Umberto Primo), accessible with the Funicolare.
Capri magic on famous tracks
The remains of Villa Jovis in the east of Capri are worth seeing. From here, Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire for eleven years. Villa San Michele in Anacapri has a beautiful interior and a magical garden. It belonged to the famous Swedish doctor Axel Munthe and houses the island’s art and antiques collection. San Michele is open year round and is a sought after venue. A chair lift runs from Anacapri to the Inselberg Monte Solaro (589 m).
Siena
The Italian city of Siena is always worth a visit. After all, the city of 55,000 in the heart of Tuscany, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, has countless sights to offer. Even a short walk through the historic old town with its medieval charm, its many well-preserved historical buildings and narrow streets, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, is an unforgettable experience. Here you cannot pass the Piazza del Campo, which is one of the most beautiful squares in the country. A historic horse race takes place here every year in the summer months.
Art and culture: Cathedral of Santa Maria and Siena Music Week
One of the most important landmarks of Siena is the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria made of white and black marble. Numerous other small and large churches as well as the countless museums in the city attract countless visitors from home and abroad every day. The Santa Barbara Fortress is also one of the city’s most popular attractions. The University of Siena, founded in 1240, is one of the oldest universities in the country. The fact that Siena also has a lot of art to offer can be seen, for example, at the music week that takes place every year in July. The classical music festival continues to attract tens of thousands of music fans from all over the world.
