The Colosseum

ancient rome · history · architecture

Biggest of all. The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the ancient world, and it's still the largest standing one today.

Built fast. Construction began in AD 72 under Emperor Vespasian and was finished just eight years later, in AD 80, under his son Titus.

A family project. Three emperors from the Flavian family helped build and improve it, so its real name is the Flavian Amphitheatre.

Heart of Rome. It sits right in the center of Rome, Italy, just east of the famous Roman Forum.