The Coliseum is without a doubt the most renowned monument of Rome and a unique legacy of its past. Also known as Anfiteatro Flavio, it is the biggest and most famous Roman amphitheatre conveyed to us, and can let up to 50.000 spectators in. It was built at the margins of the Foro Romano and inaugurated in 80 AD by emperor Titus, after about 8 years of work. It was abandoned from the 4th century onwards and then reused as a resource of building materials.

Its current name comes from the nearby Colossus of Nero statue (lately changed into “Colossus of Sun-God”) and dates back to the Medieval era. The amphitheatre was mainly used for public events and gladiator fights, some really bloody, that used to attract many people of the time. For its inauguration Titus arranged 3 months of events, during which hundreds of gladiators perished.

The structure follows the Imperial style, with arches, vaults and curves. The entire building is an ellipse whose perimeter is 527 metre long, with an internal arena (86x54 metres). The outside presents 80 travertine arches, with columns of different order for each level (Doric, Tuscan and Corinthian). On the top of the building there is a series of big holes: they used to support the robust boards of a velarium that protected spectators from rain and sunlight.

The arena is nowadays uncovered, therefore showing the underground spaces, once covered by wood planks, that used to be occupied by machines, warehouse and beasts’ cages. Nearby some gardens you can still see inscriptions of reserved seats, with the names of senators and other famous personalities who used to attend the events. The Coliseum was originally 52 metre high, whereas nowadays it is 48.5. In 1980 it was included among UNESCO World Heritage Sites.