17 Unusual Urban Legends Behind the World’s Most Iconic Landmarks

6. The Ghostly Gladiators of the Colosseum

The Colosseum in Rome is famous for its gladiatorial history, but visitors claim it still echoes with the spirits of fallen warriors. Guides and tourists alike report disembodied voices, the clash of swords, and the scent of blood lingering in the air. Some even claim to have seen shadowy gladiators reenacting battles long after the last fight ended. One particularly chilling legend speaks of a phantom emperor who patrols the tunnels beneath the arena, eternally searching for his next brutal spectacle. Archaeologists have dismissed these accounts as mere superstition, but those who have walked the dark passageways alone tell a different story.