April 2, 2011. Going into the Colosseum and Trajan's Forum without leaving home is possible thanks to Google's street view option that lets you walk through the streets with views in 360 degrees. You can see inside the Great Roman Amphitheatre built in the first century, a time that witnessed gladiator contests and has become a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians.

You can see inside the Great Roman Amphitheatre built in the first century, a time that witnessed gladiator contests and has become a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians. Every Good Friday Via Crucis is held here and presided over by the pope to remember the Passion of Jesus.

It was built by the Emperor Vespasian and inaguarated by Emperor Titus with a series of shows and ceremonies that lasted 100 days. The Colosseum was in use for 500 years and in the thirteenth century was converted into a fortress. Like many of the buildings from the Imperial Fora, part of the materials were used to construct new buildings.

In the late nineteenth century it was excavated and its original structure was recovered which is what can be seen today.

The photographs were taken by the Google-trike, a tricycle equipped with a large sophisticated computer to record images.

In addition to the Colosseum, from your computer you can also visit places from imperial Rome such as the Palatine, the Baths of Diocletian, Villa Adriana and Villa Del Este in Tivoli.

It's an original way of exploring the great monuments of Italy, now available to everyone.


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