What you’ll experience: The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and the largest amphitheatre in the world, considered one of the greatest achievements of Roman engineering and architecture. A symbol of the pageantry of the Empire and estimated to hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests as well as other public spectacles such as dramas based on Classical mythology. Construction began in 70 AD under Emperor Vespasian. The last recorded games were held there in the 6th century. The monument’s damage was mostly caused by earthquakes. The present-day exterior of the Colosseum is in fact the original interior wall.