NPR's Scott Simon details the "gladiator experience" that 16 lucky — or unlucky — people might have next year inside the Roman Colosseum. Will they not be entertained?

Though I took steps to avoid tourists when I visited the Colosseum, I found it was too crowded to enjoy Rome's iconic attraction.

Alina Trabattoni, Meredith Kile April 10, 2025 PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on April 8, 2025 ...

I wondered. Turns out — incredibly. The Colosseum is a 2,000-year-old amphitheater in Rome that once hosted gladiatorial games. It's also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe.

From the Colosseum to the Vatican, See the Best Photos from King Charles and Queen Camilla's Italy Visit "You can tell that this trip is something they're very passionate about and that they ...

Envision wandering through the heart of ancient Rome, encompassed by the great demolishes that murmur stories of a former period. This was the truth for my mom and her companions back in 1981, as they ...