Colosseum hosts Troy and Rome until 18 October 2026

In Rome, the Colosseum hosts Troy and Rome until 18 October 2026, with more than 300 artefacts tracing myth and archaeology across the Mediterranean.

The Colosseum (Colosseo) in Rome is hosting the exhibition Troy and Rome. Myths, legends and stories of the ancient Mediterranean from 12 June to 18 October 2026. The exhibition brings the archaeology and literary traditions of Troy into the Flavian amphitheatre, linking them with stories of Aeneas and the foundation of Rome.

Troy and Rome continues at the Colosseum until 18 October

The exhibition is organised within the Parco archeologico del Colosseo and remains on view until 18 October 2026. The official programme places it at the Colosseum and presents the exhibition as a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The exhibition is included in the admission ticket for the site. The official exhibition programme gives the dates, venue and contents.

More than 300 artefacts are displayed, drawn from leading Italian museums and collections in Troy. The programme states that more than 220 works come from 19 Turkish museums, while 50 are being shown to the Italian public for the first time. A monumental replica of the Trojan Horse introduces the route through the exhibition.

The exhibition connects Troy, Aeneas and Rome

The presentation follows both archaeological and literary lines. Its opening section reconstructs Troy and its setting, while also examining the Hittite world and the cultural landscapes of Anatolia during the third and second millennia BC. A second section examines the Trojan War through the Trojan perspective and considers Homer, the epic tradition and the fall of the city.

Later sections follow Aeneas through literary traditions and archaeological evidence in Italy, Sicily and Latium. The final part examines the myth of Romulus and the founding of Rome, then turns to the Augustan age, Virgil and the shaping of the Aeneid. This makes the exhibition particularly relevant to the amphitheatre: the venue is a Roman monument, while the display traces how Roman identity was connected to stories of Trojan origins. The Rome tourism listing identifies the Flavian Amphitheatre as the venue and confirms the exhibition period.

The Flavian amphitheatre gives the display its Roman setting

Construction of the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian in AD 70 and was completed under Titus in AD 80, according to the archaeological park's historical material. Its surviving structure includes the arena, underground areas, tiers and vaulted circulation spaces. A recent preservation project on the southern side included archaeological excavation and new travertine paving, with ramps designed to improve access across the renewed area.

The monument also belongs to the Historic Centre of Rome World Heritage site. UNESCO describes the protected area as including major ancient monuments such as the forums, the Pantheon and the Colosseum. The exhibition's focus on Rome's Trojan foundations therefore places its ancient stories within a monument that is itself part of the city's internationally recognised archaeological landscape. UNESCO's World Heritage record identifies the Colosseum and the Historic Centre of Rome.

Visiting Colosseum: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The exhibition runs at the Colosseum from 12 June to 18 October 2026.
• Troy and Rome is part of the visit to the archaeological site and is included in the admission ticket, according to the official programme.
• The venue is in Piazza del Colosseo in central Rome, beside the Roman Forum and Palatine area.
• The archaeological setting includes steps, vaulted passages and uneven historic surfaces, while the renewed southern area includes ramps for visitors with mobility difficulties.

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Frequently asked questions about Colosseum

When does Troy and Rome take place at the Colosseum?

The exhibition runs from 12 June to 18 October 2026 at the Colosseum in Rome.

What is the Troy and Rome exhibition about?

It presents more than 300 artefacts and explores Troy, the Trojan War, Aeneas, Romulus and the foundation stories of Rome.

Where is the Colosseum and how do you get there?

It is in Piazza del Colosseo in central Rome, beside the Roman Forum and Palatine area.