The Colosseum is indeed huge, and is incredibly good shape considering it is 2000 years old. Once the place for gruesome fights between humans and animals, it is now bursting with tourists, so go early in the morning. Luckily, there is enough space along the structure to photograph the architecture without a million heads in front of you.
Construction started during the 1st century by Emperor Vespasian for a stadium that can fit 60,000 on what was once a private lake for Emperor Nero. The seating arrangement screamed class struggle, with the emperor enjoying the best seats and the worst classes stuck at the top.
Over the subsequent centuries, parts of the structure were removed for other uses, testament to the quality of materials used to build this massive amphitheatre.
In addition to looking into the fighting area, also look the other way to the rest of the historic centre.
Also continue downstairs for a different perspective of the structure.
