Who knew? The Roman Colosseum used to be a housing complex May 9, 2026 by Tom Faranda Heh. A little history. Hit the link for the full 3 paragraph story. Friars belonging to the Santa Maria Nova convent rented out the Colosseum for more than five centuries beginning in 800 CE, building stables, workshops, and sewage pipes made from terra cotta. Their tenants represented a cross-section of Roman society and included everyone from aristocrats to humble shopkeepers. Not until a massive earthquake struck Rome in 1349 CE did they abandon the historic landmark, which has since been repurposed many times over.
