We departed Florence early so that we could arrive at the Colosseum in Rome to take the guided tour which was postponed due to heavy rain on Day 1.

First stop was the ancient town of Siena.

The historic centre of Siena has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio di Siena, a horse race held twice a year.

Siena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900-400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land, and their custom of building their settlements in well-defended hill forts. A Roman town called Saena Julia was founded at the site in the time of the Emperor Augustus. The first document mentioning Siena dates from AD 70.

The Palio di Siena is a traditional medieval horse race run around the Piazza del Campo twice each year, on 02 July and 16 August. The event is attended by large crowds, and is widely televised. Seventeen Contrade (which are city neighbourhoods originally formed as battalions for the city's defence) vie for the trophy: a painted banner, or Palio bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For each race a new Palio is commissioned by well-known artists and Palios won over many years can often be seen in the local Contrade museum. During each Palio period, the city is decked out in lamps and flags bearing the Contrade colours.

Onwards to Rome and our appointment with the Colosseum after we booked into our hotel (Sheraton Golf Parco Dei Medici), near the airport. As we travelled heavy rain set in jeopardising the Colosseum tour. However by the time we reached the Colosseum the rain had cleared. The Colosseum is a fantastic legacy of the engineers' and stone masons' prowess of the ancient Roman era.

The Roman Colosseum is the most famous monument to have survived from the classical world. It was built nearly two thousand years ago for the purpose of entertaining the population including with events such as the violent gladiator games. Thousands of men and animals fought for their lives in the sandy arena. A few gladiators and warriors found glory there. Some even found fame and riches but many more died an anonymous death, providing entertainment for eager Roman spectators.

The day ended with the Farewell Dinner at Rome's 105 year old (a baby considering the age of many buildings in the area) Marriott Grand Hotel Flora.

Sadly our wonderful tour has come to an end but we still have two days to wander around Rome!

Today's insight:
• Siena wanted to have one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe. They started to build it, but they had to stop in 1348 due to the plague. The present cathedral is only a small part of what was intended to be.

• The Colosseum was originally known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium and you can still see this name on the Colosseum today. Eventually it just came to be called the Colosseum, referring to any large amphitheater used for sports and entertainment.

• The Colosseum's original name plaque faded over time and in 1750 Pope Benedict XIV ordered the erection of a new plaque to replace the original. The Popes have celebrated a torch-led Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at the Colosseum every year since this plaque was erected.