The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch that was built in 313 A.D. to celebrate emperor Constantine's victory in the Battle of Milvian Bridge. The entire structure is roughly 22 meters high and 26 meters wide. Its design incorporates three separate arches, the central one being 12 meters high and the two other lateral arches being 7.5 meters high each. The Arch of Constantine is located near the Coliseum in Rome and is mostly decorated with marble taken from other monuments. Most of the Arch's decoration praises the emperor for his accomplishments both on the battlefield and in Roman society.
The Ara Pacis is known as "the altar of peace." It was erected in 13 B.C. to celebrate emperor Augustus' victories over Hispania and Gaul. The monument is a square enclosure that features an altar in the middle. The outer and inner surfaces of the white-marble enclosure depict sculpted scenes of Roman piety.
The Castel Sant'Angelo was initially built in 130 A.D. as a mausoleum. Emperor Hadrian wanted the building to be a burial chamber for himself and his family. The cylindrical monument would later be used by popes as a fortress, castle, and even a jail. Today, the Castel Sant'Angelo is a museum that showcases the history of the building. All of the rooms can be visited on a tour.
The Coliseum was built between 70-80 A.D. and is widely accepted as the crown jewel of existing Roman monuments. Construction on the gladiatorial amphitheater began under emperor Vespasian and was completed by his son, Titus. The Coliseum was the largest structure ever built in the Roman Empire and is to this day considered the finest Roman architectural achievement. Fights to the death between man and beast were marquee events that often drew crowds of nearly 50,000 people. Over time, however, the Coliseum was neglected and the walls of the structure began to rapidly deteriorate. In the early 1800s, the Coliseum was restored by Pope Pius VII.
