More than one in four Italians (29 percent) say the famed Colosseum, one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, is their favorite location to visit in Rome.
That’s according to new data from Autoclick, a car rental company that caters to customers in Europe. The company surveyed 678 people in Italy’s Centro region to determine the top landmarks.
Roughly 4 million tourists visit the Colosseum every year, making it one of the world’s most popular tourist destination; it ranks as the 39th most popular attraction, according to one list. Other popular locations for locals also include Old Town, the Imperial Forums, Trevi Fountain and the Basilica of Saint Peter, the Autoclick survey found.
Construction on the Colosseum started in 70 or 72 under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 during the reign of his son, Titus. This incredible structure has lasted generations and is perhaps the best and most widely-known symbol of Rome’s past.
The Colosseum could hold 50,000 people (though some sources say more), had a retractable roof and could be emptied of spectators in a matter of minutes. At times, the Romans apparently filled the stadium with water to reenact sea battles for war-loving crowds, though that is open to some debate among historians.
However, the edifice is perhaps best remembered for the gladiator fights that once took place there. The Colosseum hosted flights until about 435, and the arena was apparently used until about the 6th century.
The Colosseum was damaged in a fire in 217 and in earthquakes in 443 and 1349. Over the years, the building was partially demolished and its materials used in the construction of new buildings elsewhere in the city.