Rome, Italy: The Colosseum

Built in the 1st c AD when the Roman Empire peaked, the Colosseum represents Rome at its grandest. This colossal structure is a massive marvel of engineering. Ancient Romans, whose taste for violence exceeded even modern America's, came here to unwind. Gladiators, criminals, and wild animals fought to the death providing 50,000 roaring fans with a festival of gore. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.