Catacombs, Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Private Tour

No visit to Rome is complete without a visit to the Roman Colosseum. As one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Colosseum stands today as an iconic symbol of ancient imperial Rome. Commissioned in 72 AD by emperor Vespasian and completed by his son Titus in 80 AD, the Colosseum has withstood devastating earthquakes, fires, and stone-robbers over the centuries. Despite being in near constant use for over 1900 years, the structure is incredibly well preserved.In 1980, the historic center of Rome including the Colosseum was added as a UNESCO World Heritage site and in 2001 was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the world. Roman law prohibited burying of the dead inside the old city walls, for sanitary reasons. The first Christians, rather, maintaining that they should be ready for the Resurrection, were not cremated but buried in the underground caves, dug in tufo or lava stone.