The Romans left few more recognisable monuments than their amphitheatres, and perhaps the best known of all is to be found in the heart of Ancient Rome itself; the Flavian Amphitheatre, known to us today as The Colosseum.
Built of a type of rock called travertine, and brick-faced concrete, it was the largest Roman amphitheatre ever constructed. Though it has crumbled somewhat, it is remarkably well-preserved. After all, it has been standing here, not far from the Roman Forum, since 80CE.
Step through the gates into the arena, where you would have seen a crowd of between 50,000 and 80,000 in the Colosseum's heyday. Imagine trying to find your seat amidst the roaring and cheering, the sound of pipes and drums, the smell of street food, and the bustle of crowds.
The arena floor: this is where gladiators battled for supremacy, criminals were executed, dramas played out, and wild beasts brought from the corners of the empire for the entertainment of the Roman citizens. Every emperor knew that a big event would win them public support.
Unless you happen to be an emperor or an eques, this is where you most likely would be sat. As at a modern cricket ground or baseball stadium, the best seats were close to the action. And if you're a gravedigger, actor, or a former gladiator, you're banned from even entering!
In the mood for more Flavian facts? Discover 7 Things You Didn't Know About the Colosseum
Want to explore some of the world's top contemporary art museums without leaving the house? Now you can with Street View!
Here's 8 museums to enjoy from New York to Bangkok...
1. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon
When MMCA was first established in 1969 it was the only national art museum in Korea that had modern and contemporary art. The building was built to look like a traditional Korean fortress and also includes an outdoor sculpture park.
2. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
An awe-inspiring Fifth Avenue landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the iconic corkscrew shape of the Guggenheim contains no carpeting or curtains to make sure visitors aren't distracted from the unbroken wave of art.
3. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Bangkok
MOCA is home to the largest collection of modern painting and sculpture in Thailand. The building was specially designed with delicate jasmine patterns carved in the exterior to let in natural light.
4. Erarta, St. Petersburg
Erarta is the largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia. Its name combines the words 'era' and 'arta' which translates to mean 'the era of art'. The building it's housed in used to be a Soviet-era synthetic rubber research institute.
5. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Bogotá, Colombia
The museum was founded after Father Rafael García-Herreros visited the house of a wealthy art collector and realized that the beautiful works were wasted, being limited to the sight of their owner. MAC now displays around 1,000 pieces of contemporary art for the public to enjoy.
6. Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, Italy
This building was designed by architect Mario Botta and includes a large dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. A large part of MART's collection comprises of the Italian movement futurism.
7. The Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art, Luxembourg City
Mudam is located at Fort Thungen and was designed by Pritzer Prize winning architect I. M. Pei. Its permanent collection includes work by Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, and Julian Schnabel.
8. Inhotim, Brazil
Situated within 346 acres of botanical garden and forest, Inhotim's collection contains many large-scale sculptures in its extensive and beautiful grounds. Its garden pavilions contain work by Brazilian and international artists, such as Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, Hélio Oiticica, and Steve McQueen.
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