Italian News Headlines 26-09-2023 - Cosa Nostra mafia boss, Messina Denaro, has died of colon cancer at the age of 62. He was being held in a maximum security prison after 30 years on the run. He was responsible for dozens of murders including those of anti-mafia magistrates, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino --- Giorgio Napolitano, the only Italian President to be elected twice, has died in Rome at the age of 98 --- Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on the Italian island of Lampedusa to discuss the European refugee crisis after more than 7,000 migrants arrived from Tunisia in a single week --- Venetian authorities vote to introduce 'ticket only' access to the city from 2024 --- A man who posted a video of himself carving his name into the wall of the Colosseum, while his girlfriend watched, has been identified as living in Britain --- Following the death of Silvio Berlusconi, on June 12th, Antonio Tajani will be appointed the new president of Forza Italia --- Silvio Berlusconi, 4 times Italian prime minister, has died at the age of 86 from complications resulting from Leukaemia --- Extreme weather in Emilia-Romagna has led to 14 dead and 35,000 displaced. There are 500 roads closed and over over 300 sites at risk of landslides --- Two new victims of the Vesuvius eruption in 79AD have been discovered during excavations in Pompei
Colosseum

The Colosseum

The Colosseum in Rome is one of the most recognised ancient monuments in the world and attracts millions of tourists every year. The largest amphitheatre in the world, it took 10 years to build and is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of Roman architecture and engineering.

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Construction was started by the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. He built the Colosseum as a gift to the people of Rome and paid for it himself with his share of the booty won in the Roman victory at the seige of Jerusalem. To further increase his popularity, he built the Colosseum on land which had previously been seized from the people of Rome by the emperor Nero to create his own, personal estate. However, Vespasian died before the Colosseum was completed, leaving his son, Titus, to finish the job in 80 AD.

Colosseum

The Colosseum must have been truly spectacular. At the time, it was the largest building in Rome and was 188 metres long by 156 metres wide and 48 metres high. Up to 80,000 spectators could be accommodated entering through 80 arched entrances. The whole structure was clad in marble and there were 160 huge statues decorating the upper levels.

1,000 men were employed to manage a giant awning that was suspended by ropes over the Colosseum to protect the audience from the heat of the sun.

Colosseum

The Colosseum was an enormous entertainment centre where the people of Rome would go to enjoy spectacular shows which would last all day, or sometimes days on end. The entertainment included comedy acts, parades of exotic animals, elaborate dramas and re-enactments based on mythology, history or famous battles. Public executions were held there and of course the famous gladiatorial combats where local heroes would fight to the death. The whole Colosseum could be flooded and ships floated to re-enact famous sea battles.

The inaugural games were held by the emperor Titus in 80 AD. His reign had started badly with Romans having to deal with the eruption of Vesuvius, a large fire in Rome and a plague. Perhaps he hoped to appease the Gods, as well as the Roman people, by staging 100 days of games at the Colosseum, during which time apparently 9,000 animals were killed!

Over the centuries, the Colosseum has been damaged by fires and earthquakes but remains a truly unique and beautiful monument. It was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.

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Colosseum

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Hotels in Lazio
LazioWEATHER
Lazio Climate (Rome)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 15 8 4 63
Feb 15 8 4 52
Mar 17 9 5 43
Apr 19 11 6 31
May 24 15 7 17
Jun 28 18 9 9
Jul 31 22 10 6
Aug 31 22 9 9
Sep 28 19 7 29
Oct 24 16 6 53
Nov 20 12 4 63
Dec 17 10 4 59
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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