http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33971 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33971 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33886 The church above ground dates from 1100 and is simply beautiful; one of the most lavishly decorated in Rome. A €3 entrance fee will take you down to the other two levels. There is a fourth-century church below which still houses the remains of ancient frescoes. Below that is the dark and intriguing house of Mitra (the Roman god of the equinoxes), which dates from the first-century, and was later used as a secret meeting place by early Christians. Amazing to think that this labyrinth of tiny rooms and corridors is hidden below two other churches and has still survived.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33886 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32128 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32128 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31427 The beach and sea at Sperlonga are cleaner, prettier and quieter, and only take an hour(ish) to get to by train from Termini, Rome's main train station. The beach is also shallow for quite a long way out to sea so it's a nice paddling spot for children or people with short legs.
Take the Naples slow train, which is at 49 minutes past the hour every hour from 8am and costs 6.20 Euros. Get off at Fondi Sperlonga and then get the beach bus (1 Euro) to the seafront itself.
It's worth leaving the beach for a couple of hours and wandering up to the hilltop town for a drink or a spot of lunch and a gawk at the view.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31427 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31426 It's a lovely excuse to take an evening walk long the river starting at Castello S. Angelo and heading to Isola Tiberina. You can book tables at some of the restaurants in advance or just turn up but you may have a wait if you do so between 8-11pm at the weekend.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31426 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29893 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29893 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29265 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29265 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29229 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29229 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29228 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29228 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29020 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29020 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27208 In summer Rome’s most beautiful piazzas provide the backdrop for a programme of concerts for vocal quartets. Songs from the Roman repertoire and opera arias, with intermezzos on the piano will take tourists on a magical journey through the history of music drama and the best-loved classics of the Italian repertoire.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27208 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25918
The room was bright and welcoming, and Benny's also has a small pool on a sunny terrace, a piano and a fireplace.

The owner is friendly and happy to share the apartment with you, and he's full of help and suggestions.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25918 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25792
As a local, I see the Colosseum almost every day but nothing will take away the strength of my first impression of stumbling across it floodlit at night as I emerged from the Colosseo Metro station. And even if some days I can take it for granted, taking time out to go and appreciate it properly is still something I do on a regular basis.

While the lavish days of gladiator battles may be long gone, the Colosseum still evokes an aura of majesty and if you stand inside and close your eyes, you can still imagine the shouts of the crowds inside as they watched the spectacles of the gladiators fighting wild animals and each other o face death or glory.

Built by captive Jews at the end of the first century for Emperor Vespasian, it was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre, built on the same wetlands as the Roman Forum, which stands alongside it. Its inauguration was an unforgettable show of lavish display lasting 100 days and involving the deaths of many thousands of gladiators and 5000 wild beats.

The building is oval shaped and stood at four storeys high, its facade made of travertine stone. There are three circular tiers each made up of its distinctive arches, 80 on each tier. The ones along the bottom were the original doorways. Once inside, an estimated 80,000 spectators took their free seats around the arena which was 253 feet by 153 feet, their seating depending on their social position.

The arena was open air, but there was a huge canopy ‘the velarium’ which was extended across on ropes to protect the crowd from the sun. Ceasar had his own royal box, surrounded by his consuls and officials whilst the only women allowed in were the Vestal Virgins and the Empress.

Underneath the arena there were elaborate systems of pulleys and machinery to bring the caged exotic animals such as tigers, hippos, crocodiles, elephants and bears into the arena from the tunnels below to fight their bloody battles for the pleasure of the crowd. One of the most heart-wrenching events was when prisoners sentenced to death were let loose into the arena, and given weapons with which to kill each other.

After the crowd were warmed-up with preliminaries, it was time for the real battles of gladiator combat. These were often fights to the death, but if a gladiator was badly injured, he could appeal to the crowd for mercy. If the crowd felt he had fought well and deserved to live, the crowd gave a ‘thumbs up’ sign. Often gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. A successful gladiator could expect riches and a life of privilege.

These barbaric practices were eventually stopped around 3rd century with the advent of Christianity. As the saying goes, “While stands the Colosseum, then Rome shall stand ” but despite earthquakes, plundering (much of its materials were taken to build other monuments in Rome such as St. Peter’s Basilica) and general neglect (at one time it was used as a stone quarry), the building is still remarkably intact.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25792