Which capital city is home to the ancient Colosseum? Rome. The Colosseum stands in the centre of Rome, Italy, beside the Roman Forum.
Construction began under Emperor Vespasian around AD 72 and was completed by his son Titus in AD 80. Its original name was the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the Flavian dynasty. The modern name probably comes from a colossal statue of Emperor Nero that once stood nearby.
The enormous elliptical arena hosted gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, public executions, theatrical performances and staged battles. Estimates suggest it could hold roughly 50,000 to 80,000 spectators, making it one of the greatest engineering achievements of ancient Rome.
A common mix-up is confusing the Colosseum with the Circus Maximus, another famous Roman venue. The Circus Maximus was mainly a chariot-racing track, while the Colosseum was built for spectacles centred around an arena. Earthquakes, stone reuse and centuries of neglect damaged the structure, but much of its monumental shell survives.