The Secret Passage of Commodus: A New Hidden Corner of the Colosseum Opens

The Colosseum is full of surprises. Even after 2,000 years, it still has stories to reveal. From October 10, 2025 to March 31, 2026, a very special and usually hidden part of the monument opens to the public for the first time: the so-called Passage of Commodus.

This is not just a normal corridor. It was a private passage, used by the emperor and the highest authorities of Rome to enter the arena area without being seen by the crowd.

What Is the Passage of Commodus?

The Passage of Commodus is an underground corridor that connected:

  • The pulvinar (the imperial box, where the emperor and VIPs sat)
  • With the outside of the Colosseum.

It is covered by a vaulted ceiling and has small openings that bring in light and air. It is located at the southern end of the Colosseum’s shorter axis. This passage was not part of the original project of the Flavian Amphitheatre. It was added later, between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, by cutting into the foundations. In simple terms: they literally modified the base of the Colosseum to give the emperor his own private route.

Why the Name “Passage of Commodus”?

The passage takes its name from Emperor Commodus (who ruled from 180 to 192 AD).

Commodus was famous for his passion for gladiatorial games. Ancient sources say that he even took part in fights in the arena. A historian, Cassius Dio, mentions an attack on Commodus in a dark area of the Amphitheatre. Some experts think this passage could match that description, even if we can’t be completely sure.

The link isn’t proven, but the name fits the atmosphere: a secret, reserved route, connected to an emperor who loved the arena.

What You Can See Inside

The passage is not only interesting for its function, but also for its decoration. Thanks to recent work, visitors can now see:

  • Walls once covered with marble

  • Stucco decorations with:

    • Mythological scenes, such as the story of Dionysus and Ariadne

    • Scenes from the arena: boar hunts, bear fights, acrobats, and tricks where animals suddenly appeared from hidden doors

This tells us something important: even a corridor reserved for a few privileged people was decorated with great care. Power in ancient Rome was also shown through beauty and art.

To help everyone understand what they are seeing, the Colosseum Archaeological Park provides:

  • A tactile map, useful for orientation and for visitors with visual impairments

  • A video with a digital reconstruction that shows how the decorations probably looked originally

This makes the visit easier and more enjoyable for people of all ages.

A Passage Between Past and Present

At the entrance, there is a staircase that:

  • follows the line of the 19th-century steps, without hiding them

  • can transform into a lifting platform, making the area more accessible

This solution allows us to respect the different historical phases of the monument and, at the same time, to open this space to more visitors, including those with reduced mobility.

Why It’s Worth Adding to Your Visit

The Passage of Commodus lets you:

  • discover a hidden side of the Colosseum

  • walk in a space that was once reserved only for the emperor and the elite

  • see rare decorations and stuccoes up close

  • better understand how the Colosseum functioned behind the scenes

If the arena is the “stage” of the shows, this passage is the backstage: where the most powerful people in Rome moved away from the eyes of the crowd.

Whether you’re a family with kids, a couple on a weekend trip, a school group, or a history lover, this new opening offers a fresh and exciting way to experience the Colosseum.

How to Visit the Passage of Commodus

📅 When: Open to visitors from October 10, 2025 to March 31, 2026

From October 27, 2025, Opening days & Hours:

  • Monday & Wednesday: From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets to Passage of Commodus: online

  • Tickets can be purchased online from 7 days before the visit date.

  • Maximum stay inside the Colosseum: 90 minutes

  • Ticket valid: 2 consecutive days

🗣 Guided visits (by language):

  • Spanish: 1:00 p.m.
  • Italian: 2:00 p.m.
  • English: 3:00 p.m.
  • Duration of the Passage of Commodus visit: approx. 25 minutes
  • Group size: max 8 people
Entrance & Itinerary
  • Colosseum entrance: Valadier entrance (Colosseum Square side).
  • You can choose whether to visit the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Imperial Forums before or after your Colosseum time slot.

If you want the explanation in English, plan to be there for the 3:00 p.m. session.