The Colosseum in Rome - Italy

Colosseum as seen from the street of Via delle Terme di Tito.

Colosseum as seen from the intersection of Via Nicola Salvi and Via delle Terme di Tito.

View of the north-eastern wall of Colosseum.

The north-eastern wall of Colosseum as seen from the street of Via Nicola Salvi.

The five-way intersection connects the large roads of Via Labicana and Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The road of Piazza Del Colosseo.

The road of Piazza Del Colosseo passes near the Colosseum.

Bus 87 travels along the road near the Colosseum.

The north-eastern side of Colosseum is under restoration work.

Arches of the north-eastern wall of Colosseum.

The northern side of Colosseum.

Close-up view of arches at the northern side of Colosseum.

Soldiers of the “Operation Safe Streets”.

Arch of Constantine.

The Arch of Constantine is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill.

Tourists are in the western part of the outer wall.

The western part of the outer wall of Colosseum.

The entrance to the Colosseum.

The female security guard is at the entrance to the Colosseum.

While we are standing in the queue to buy the tickets we see this inner wall.

Ticket Office.

The Colosseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre.

Built of concrete and sand, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever built.

The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome.

The Colosseum is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering.

Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus.

Some modifications of the construction were made during the reign of Domitian (81-96).

The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.

The Colosseum had an average audience of some 65,000.

The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.

The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era.

The Colosseum is depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.

The Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.

Here is my son on the left side of the photograph.

It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

The site chosen for this construction was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills.

Construction was funded by the opulent spoils taken from the Jewish Temple.

Dio Cassius recounts that over 9,000 wild animals were killed during the inaugural games of the amphitheatre.

In 217, the Colosseum was badly damaged by a major fire which destroyed the wooden upper levels of the amphitheatre's interior.

Gladiatorial fights are last mentioned around 435 AD.

The Colosseum underwent several radical changes of use during the medieval period.

One of the viewing platforms for the tourists.

Severe damage was inflicted on the Colosseum by the great earthquake in 1349.

During the 16th and 17th century, Church officials sought a productive role for the Colosseum.

A group of women tourists from Asia beautifully dressed in white clothes.

We are inside the Colosseum building.

The stairway is inside the Colosseum building.

Inner corridors.

People are inside the Colosseum building.

The areas that once held seating.

The Colosseum arena, showing the hypogeum.

People were seated in a tiered arrangement that reflected the rigidly stratified nature of Roman society.

The arena itself was 83 meters by 48 meters.

Some places of the building you are not allowed to visit.

The arena comprised a wooden floor covered by sand.

Arena and hypogeum.

The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events.

The hypogeum was connected by underground tunnels to a number of points outside the Colosseum.

There are niches within the walls.

A couple of young tourists.

During the early days of the Colosseum the building was used for simulated sea battles.

Visitors to the Colosseum are restricted to certain areas to preserve the integrity of the building.

Young mother with a baby stroller.

Substantial quantities of machinery also existed in the hypogeum.

The Colosseum is generally regarded by Christians as a site of the martyrdom of large numbers of believers.

Roman architecture was strongly influenced by two great inventions - concrete and vaulted arches.

Hundreds of skilled stonemasons were used in the construction.

The Travertine limestone was quarried in Tivoli, 20 miles from Rome, and was used for the pillars and the ground floor.

Tuff is a porous stone which was used in the preparation of cement.

As of 2014 the restoration is estimated to be complete by 2016.

The Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure, oval in shape.

This structure was a symbol of the power of Rome and its emperors.

The classical design features were meant to convey that Rome was a great and civilised nation.

Just one series of games might last for 100 consecutive days.

Crowd control.

Even today, in a world of skyscrapers, the Colosseum is hugely impressive.

View on the street through the arches of the Colosseum.

The Colosseum stands as a glorious but troubling monument to Roman imperial power and cruelty.

Inside this breathtaking structure the Romans cold-bloodedly killed literally thousands of people for centuries.

Because of fires and earthquakes, two thirds of the original have been destroyed.

The present Colosseum is only a shadow of its former self, it had a majestic appearance in the past.

The Colosseum was started in the aftermath of Nero's extravagance and the rebellion by the Jews in Palestine against Roman rule.

Over-engineered perhaps, but it has stood the test of time.

The construction is strikingly different from most Greek and Roman public buildings.

The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum.

Tourists queue looks pretty chaotic from above.

The Arch of Constantine as seen from the Colosseum.

The Via Sacra street leads from the Colosseum to the Roman Forum.

The Meta Sudans was a large monumental conical fountain in ancient Rome.

The entrance is marked by giant portico.

The Temple of Venus and Roma is thought to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome.

We are on the way to the restrooms.

This inner corridor is located close to the restrooms on the ground floor.

Height of the arches of the portico is incredible.

It is a marvellous monument to Roman imperial power.

Much of the detail was worked out before the building started.

Restoration works.

After almost three years of debate and delay, restoration work on Rome's ancient Colosseum has begun.

Strolling near the Colosseum.

The Colosseum as seen from the Meta Sudans.