Colosseo

• Piazza del Colosseo, 1
• +39 06 39967700
• parcocolosseo.it/

Designed to hold 50,000-75,000 spectators coming to see the fights between gladiators and ferocious animals, the Colosseum (the name given to it in the Middle Ages) is the largest amphitheatre from Antiquity, (over 3,000 square metres), a symbol of Rome and one of the seven wonders of the world. Begun by Vespasian in 69 CE, a lake was drained and buildings from the Nero-era Domus Aurea were knocked down to make way for it. The building was inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 CE. The oval structure (527 metres) is a weave of arches that allowed for it raise up several floors, supported by travertine pillars and walls made from bricks and tuff rock. The façade vaunts four orders of arches, columns and Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian capitals. A water system fed various fountains and allowed for naumachiae, mock naval battles.