The 11 Most Interesting Places to Visit Near the Colosseum for Curious Travelers

To the ancient Romans it was amphitheatrum, or the Amphitheater, and later called the Flavian Amphitheater for the dynasty that built it. The common name today came from a gigantic bronze statue next to it, and was first used centuries after the Colosseum was constructed. 

A visit to the Colosseum today is an exercise in crowds and patience, but also reveals a long, deep, surprising history. It’s worth it. Central Rome is full of other wonders, too. Here are some of our favorite lesser-known sites immediately around the Colosseum, from a museum dedicated to Rome’s most iconic form of transportation to the ruins of the pleasure dome of Nero, one of Rome’s most notorious leaders.