Certain secrets of the Colosseum are too unsettling to include in the average travel brochure. There are myths that even had its architects afraid. Not everything is dark about this ancient landmark though.

It’s got quite the redemption arc that isn’t covered the same way that the gore and bloodshed are. The Colosseum has managed to stay relevant for centuries because of the way it rolls through the years, collecting new uses and legends as it goes. Altogether, it has become one of Italy’s most bizarre landmarks.