Admire Baroque architecture at Piazza Navona,

The construction of the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire was started by Vespasian in 72 AD. This building was planned to change the relationship between power and people from then on: entertainment and distraction offered to the populace for free. It was used for gladiator fights and hunting simulations involving ferocious and exotic animals. The capacity is estimated around 70.000 people; the shows became occasions to impress and control the people through an unforeseen display of astonishing special effects. Today it is possible to visit and understand how the underground theatrical system worked, with hoists, ramps and trapdoors, in order to present the animals, gladiators and scenery machineries to an overwhelmed crowd. Find out the unbelievable engineering techniques that. You’ll be whisked to the front of the line so you won’t be wasting one second of your time!

During the ancient Republican era many temples and houses of leading citizens were built on the Palatine, and during the Roman Empire it became the city’s aristocratic quarter. The emperor Augustus was born and established his imperial residence there; Domitian had the topography greatly transformed by the architect Rabirius.