The Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium) or simply Amphitheatrum (Italian: Anfiteatro), was the largest Roman amphitheatre in the world (capable of accommodating an estimated 50,000 to 87,000 spectators), located in the center of the city of Rome. It is the most important Roman amphitheatre, as well as the most imposing monument of ancient Rome that has survived to the present day.
Included in 1980 on the UNESCO World Heritage List—together with the entire Historic Centre of Rome, the Extraterritorial Properties of the Holy See in Italy, and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls—in 2007, as the only European monument, it was also included among the New Seven Wonders of the World following a competition organized by the New Open World Corporation (NOWC).
The amphitheatre was built during the Flavian dynasty on an area at the eastern edge of the Roman Forum. Its construction, begun by Vespasian in 70 AD, was completed by Titus, who inaugurated it on April 21, AD 80. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian, in AD 90.