The tiny seaside town is home to its very own colosseum (Image: Getty)
A surrounded by miles of beautiful shores and stunning countryside is home to its very own ‘Roman Colosseum’.
Overlooking the resort town of Oban in Argyll, Scotland sits an elaborate structure that has a striking resemblance to Rome’s iconic colosseum.
Perched atop Battery Hill sits McCaig’s Tower which was built in 1897 by local wealthy banker John Stuart McCaig. The aim of the tower was to provide work for local stonemasons and a lasting monument to the McCaig family.
McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture and therefore had planned for an elaborate structure to mirror the .
His plans allowed for a museum and art gallery with a central tower to be incorporated.
Perched atop Battery Hill sits McCaig’s Tower (Image: Getty)
However, his vision was not fully brought to light after McCaig died suddenly from cardiac arrest in June 1902 at which point he had spent a total of £5,000 on the construction of the tower.
His death came before the planned central tower could be built.
But McCaig made sure that his plans for the landmark were understood by stipulating that his estate should fund the building of 12 statues within ‘Stuart McCaig’s Tower’ representing himself, his parents and his siblings.
In court and after McCaig’s death, the surviving members of his family stopped the £1,000 per month from being spent on the tower.
Today, the tower stands as it did then – an empty shell.
The landmark has a circumference of about 200 metres (Image: Getty)
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Although McCaig’s dream of 12 statues on his great wall was never realised, he has certainly not been forgotten in Oban as the tower is popular with curious locals and visitors wishing to understand the town’s fascinating history.
The gardens inside the tower are well maintained and provide a moment of tranquility from the hustle and bustle of town life in the small but beautiful Oban.
The now iconic landmark has held Grade B Listed status since 1971.