Rome.us
  • TAXI FARES CALCULATOR
  • BOOK PRIVATE TOUR
  • ABOUT US
  • TIPS
    • How to Choose a Hotel in Rome
    • Tickets to Vatican museums
    • Rome Three Day Itinerary
    • 2025 Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee
    • Rainy Days in Rome
    • Buying a Sim Card in Italy
    • Renting a Car in Rome
    • Apps for Tourists
    • Souvenirs from Rome
    • Free Things to Do
    • Unusual Things to do
    • Public Transport
    • Shopping
    • Instagram
    • ASK US
    • Pinterest
  • WHERE TO STAY
    • Hotels with Best Views
    • Hotels near Termini
    • Hotels near the Colloseum
    • Hotels near Navona Square
    • 3 Star Hotels
    • 4 Star Hotels
    • 5 Star Hotels
    • Apartments For Rent
    • Best Hostels
  • WHAT TO SEE
    • Colosseum
    • Pantheon
    • Borghese Gallery
    • Roman Forum
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Spanish Steps
    • Castel Sant’Angelo
    • Navona Square
    • Ancient Sites and Ruins
    • Caravaggio’s Paintings
    • Churches
    • Galleries and Museums
    • Parks and Gardens
    • Squares and Fountains
    • Hills
  • VATICAN CITY
    • St Peter’s Basilica
    • Sistine Chapel
    • Vatican Museums
    • Raphael’s Rooms
    • Michelangelo’s Pieta
    • St Peters Dome
    • St Peter’s Square
    • Vatican Gardens
    • Vatican Military
    • Swiss Guard
  • DAY TRIPS
    • To Tivoli
    • To Ostia Antica
    • Beaches near Rome
    • To Alberobello
  • WEATHER: WHAT TO WEAR?
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • HOW TO GET
    • Fiumicino Airport
    • Ciampino Airport
    • Termini Railway Station
    • To Venice
    • To Florence
    • To Ostia Antica
    • To Naples
    • To Milan
    • To Pisa
    • To Siena
  • WHERE TO EAT
    • Famous Roman Dishes
    • Best Pizza Places
    • Best Pasta Places
    • Local Italian Food
    • Best Gelato Places
    • Best Rooftop Bars
  • NEIGHBORHOODS
    • Campo Marzio
    • Jewish Ghetto Quarters
    • Quartiere Coppedè
    • Monti
    • Sant’Eustachio
    • Trastevere
    • Trevi
  • EMPERORS
    • Good Emperors
    • Marcus Aurelius
    • Gaius Julius Caesar
    • Nero
    • Octavian Augustus
    • Caligula
    • Hadrian
    • Vespasian
    • Commodus
    • Trajan
Home / Information About Rome – FAQ /

Why the Colosseum has Holes?

Written by: Kate Zusmann

why the colosseum has holes

The Roman Colosseum has mysterious holes within its massive walls. Actually, during the time of the ancient Roman Empire, it was robbed of its hidden materials after the city’s population dramatically declined. Thus, many buildings as the Colosseum became disused.

Thousands of holes were made by workers pilfering the iron for use in creation of other structures or for weaponry

During the construction process, workers used iron clamps between heavy bricks to secure them together to eliminate the use of mortar. After the fall of Rome, this metal material of around 200 tons became highly valued. Moreover, many stones and decorative marble from the amphitheater were taken for the building of St Peter’s Basilica and other structures from the 16th century. Even though serious earthquakes damaged the Colosseum in previous centuries, it was mostly damaged by people who reused its materials for other buildings’ construction.

Given the reasons described above, the Colosseum has many holes in its walls.

Author: Kate Zusmann

Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)

Dive Deeper into Rome's Stories

Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3

22021 views

How to Get from Fiumicino Airport to Rome City Center

Visiting Sistine Chapel

932490 views

Sistine Chapel

The Borghese Gallery and Museum The Ultimate Guide for Visitors

14424 views

The Borghese Gallery and Museum

Vatican Museums Guide

988982 views

The Vatican Museums

Visiting Pantheon in Rome

33663 views

Pantheon

Roman Forum in Rome Italy

25196 views

Roman Forum – Ultimate Guide for Antic History Lovers

What to See in Rome

25507 views

What to See in Rome – TOP 30 Tourist Attractions & Places

Hotels with best views in Rome

7466 views

Hotels with Best Views in Rome

Hotel Near The Colosseum in Rome

17271 views

Hotels Close to the Colosseum in Rome

Show more

About us

About us ROME.US Authors Kate Zusmann and Artur Jakucewicz
2025.We're Kate and Artur, a duo bound by our shared fascination with the Eternal City – Rome. Our paths, driven by a mutual passion for its timeless stories and architectural marvels, converged in a way we had never imagined.

Explore Rome

  • Crypta Balbi Museum in Rome

    Crypta Balbi Archaeological Museum

  • Souvenirs from Rome

    When in Rome, Shop as the Romans Do: Top 25 Souvenirs to Bring Home

  • what is the population of Rome

    What is the population of Rome?

  • How to Get from Rome to Florence

    How to Get from Rome to Florence

  • Where is The Sistine Chapel in Rome?

    Where to Buy Sistine Chapel Tickets?

Rome.us
  • social logo
  • social logo
  • social logo
  • social logo

This website uses cookies. For more info read the cookies policy

Rome.us © 2025. Created with love by Roman experts and guides.