April 2016
Our 5½ hours Rome itinerary covers the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the grounds of the Vatican in that order. Arriving Roma Termini at 11:10 from Florence, we’ll be taking the metro to visit all of our itineraries as we wanted to save time. The Roma Termini metro station is a level down from the train station and you can purchase your metro tickets at the newstand at that lower level. It cost €1.50 each.
Our 5½ hours Rome itinerary.
From Roma Termini, we took the metro to the Colosseo stop where the Colosseum is situated. It’s just a few minutes metro ride and as you emerge from the metro stop, the Colosseum looms to greet you. The grounds surrounding the Colosseum is open and when the wind blows, you’ll get dust in your eyes. Bringing sun glasses and probably a face mask is a good idea.
Entrance tickets to the Colosseum which includes Roman Forum and Palatine had been purchased online (€12) in advance but we still needed to queue for a while for security check ala airport style. Once through security, we are straight in compared to the others who still need to queue again for tickets. We toured the Colosseum for an hour and nothing seems changed when I first visited it some 31 years ago. 
As we are not such a history buff, we skipped the Roman Forum and Palatine, suffice by just seeing it from afar from the Colosseum.
After the Colosseum, we headed for the Trevi fountain. You’ll need to take the metro back to Termini for a change of metro line heading towards Barberini metro stop. This is just a change of line and is a single ticket trip.
Colosseo metro stop where you want to get-off for the Colosseum.
What you’ll see as soon as you exit the Colosseo stop.
Lining up for the security check. Common line even for pre-purchased tickets holders.
The airport style security everyone has to go through.
Back again after 31 years. White hairs evident. Back then, this upper terrace was close to visitors.
Overview of the Colosseum.
Not so crowded at mid day.
Lower terrace of the Colosseum.
Probably where the gladiators run around chasing the beast or vise versa.
Upper level of the spectators terrace.
Ground level and way out. I’m definitely sure the floor isn’t original.
Colosseum through the window.
The Arch of Constantine situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. Photographed from the Colosseum.
Temple of Venus & Rome on the adjoining grounds as seen from the Colosseum.
The temple from ground level.
