TILTING AT WINDMILLS - THE LEGSYBOYS' EURO ADVENTURE

SEARCHING FOR MAXIMUS DECIMUS MERIDIUS...

We catch the bus down to the Piazza Venezia where the gargantuan Victor Emmanuel Monument stands, it's hard to miss! We shall visit it later in the week, so walk past and stop just long enough for a pic or two.

We quickly walk down Via Alessandriana passing statues of Caesars past and the Forum,

finally arriving at our destination with 25 minutes to spare. We have arrived at the Colosseum, the mighty amphitheatre that is Buzzy's number one 'must see', and for good reason.

(Travel Tip; it is imperative to pre-book, even then you're warned to be there 20 minutes before your scheduled entry time - it's not long enough! The crowd control is shambolic, even for those in the 'skip the queue' line. Give yourself 30 minutes minimum!). Now recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World, it was completed in 81AD and at various times held between 50-80,000 people. Trivia Point: Colosseum is NOT its actual name, but a 'nickname'. It was originally called the Amphitheatrum Flavium, having been built in the Flavian dynasty. The name Colosseum refers to the enormous 30 metre tall bronze statue the Colossus Of Nero (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world). The famous epigram "as long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome; when the Colossus falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, so falls the world," was a reference to the statue and not the amphitheatre - ironic that it did fall and so too the Roman Empire.

We're on a small private tour (currently only a few hundred people a day are able to do it) that takes us right up to the top of the 3rd tier

and down into the recently excavated Hypogeum, the underground dungeons and holding areas for wild animals and other attractions (a sort of backstage if you like).

The arena itself actually had a suspended wooden floor which was covered in sawdust and sand (in the film 'Gladiator' it correctly depicts sand falling through cracks onto the gladiators below), and was used for bull fights, chariot races, naval battle re-enactments, feeding convicts (usually Christians) to wild beasts, and of course gladiator fights.

Gladiators derived their name from the Latin name for wooden swords they practiced with, gladius. Although 3 in 5 didn't make their 20th birthday, gladiators had longer lives than most Christians at the time! We looked around but couldn't find any evidence that Russell Crowe had been there.

In a touch of irony, much of the structure was sacked and used in the construction of St. Peter's Basilica, the Church seeing a certain symbolism in using bricks from the place where Christians were sacrificed to help erect the mighty cathedral! The Colosseum is still the largest amphitheatre in the world, and still in use.

After a delicious repast in the shadows of the mesmerising structure, we head for the Palatine Hill, the most central of the seven hills upon which Rome was founded.Surrounded by the Circus Maximus, the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum, it rises 40 metres and was the most fashionable residential area of ancient Rome, and included the residences of numerous emperors. We roam through the remains of the great palaces (the word 'palace' is derived from 'palatine') taking in the sweeping views, it truly is spectacular.

Circus Maximus operated as an arena for chariot races, processions and major events until 540AD, today it is parkland still used for public gatherings and concerts (500,000 people attended a Genesis concert in 2007!).

Next we take a leisurely stroll through the valley of the Forum, the former marshland that became the urban centre of ancient Rome that has the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia as bookends. It's amazing to think that in 500BC a system could be devised for draining water from swampland. Numerous structures still stand (in varying states), including the 70 foot high Arch of Septimius (203AD),

several columns from the Temple of Vesta, the 283AD Curia Julia (where the Senate would meet), the Column of Phocus, the Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vespasian and Titus, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, the Basilica Julia (54BC), and the Basilica of Maxentius (308AD)....it's mind boggling really.

We've had an excellent day in ancient Rome and it's time to relax and reward ourselves, what better than a visit to Italy's most famous gelataria - Giolitti.

It was founded in 1890 and is still operated by the same family in its original location near the Pantheon. Queues to get in are unbelievable so we elect to have al fresco service - a smart move - and prices are surprisingly low.

The choices are mind boggling, and gelato comes in all manner of flavours and all using actual ingredients (making some flavours seasonal). Apart from the usual array, there's Bailey's Irish Whisky, champagne, prickly pear, rice, amaretto, risotto and marsala custard - fortunately the alcohol based flavours aren't served to children!