The Colosseum is even more fascinating than you might think!

When we look at famous landmarks, its easy to see the photos, admire the views and tick them off our bucket lists.

Sometimes its the stories behind them that make a place truly unforgettable. Here are a few things I learned along hte way:

1 - A secret world beneath the arena - Tunnels, cages and machinery lay beneath the arena. Trapdoors could bring gladiators and animals into view.

2 - Rome was built with pieces of the Colosseum - Over the centuries stone and marble were reused in buildings across Rome. Parts of the ancient wonder live on elsewhere!

3 - Sailors helped shade the crowd - A huge awning called the velarium shaded spectators. Sailors from the Roman fleet helped operate its ropes and rigging.

4 - A wall with a story - After an earthquake in 1806, a brick buttress was built to support the damaged structure. The cracks in the original building were secured rather than rebuilt, you can still see this today.

5 - Lions, Tigers, Elephants and more - Roman animal spectacles featured exotic creatures. Lions, leopards and elephants are amongst those associated with these events.

6 - The opening games lasted 100 days - Emperor Titus inaugurated the Colosseum in AD 80 with 100 days of public spectacles. Ancient accounts report thousands of animals were killed.

The Romans certanly knew how to put on a show.

Life's too short not to explore a little more ♡