The ancient stone Roman arena is one of the most recognized structures in the world. Between A.D. 70-72 Flavian Emperor Vespasian announced to the Romans that he would built an amphitheater for them to watch gladiator matches at the then-location of Nero's Domus Aurea. Vespasian's son Titus opened the building called Vespasian Amphitheater in A.D. 80 and it held bloody battles between gladiators and animals among other entertainment for four centuries. When the Colosseum fell into disrepair, many used the site remains as construction materials until the 1700s. This extremely popular tourist attraction was also the site of many Roman Catholic ceremonies as well as many international capital punishment protests. The Roman Colosseum is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Show All
