The Colosseum replica, which measures 18 metres by 35, is made of wood, and cost about $150,000 to build, is sitting in storage in a Melbourne warehouse.

Connie Paglianiti, the event organiser who funded it out of her own pocket, believes it could become an international tourist icon for Docklands – a second chance to see one of the ancient world's great wonders.

It even comes with a four-metre replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Bonus!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa replica beside the replica of Rome's Colosseum. Photo: Supplied

"It's all here in Melbourne – waiting to come to life," Mrs Paglianiti told Fairfax Media.

"The whole idea is to make it a tourist destination. You can have weddings, you can have fashion shows, you can have cinema.

"It's quite clean looking, it doesn't look old."

Mrs Paglianiti had the structure, which is four metres high and made from MDF, designed and built in China in 2013. It was originally used for a China import fair as an exhibition of Italian culture.

"People were taking photos left right and centre. We were the busiest pavilion. There was music and dancing and singing and food. The Chinese loved that."

After shipping the Colosseum from China to Melbourne, Mrs Paglianiti has been hunting for a spot to install it, and Docklands is her ideal location.

"It'd be great to have the water view, the city skyline in the background, and this thing in the middle."

Would you have your wedding here? Photo: Supplied

The plan is to install the structure on Harbour Esplanade underneath a large glass dome which would protect it from the elements. Lighting would be installed around the Colosseum and there would be room in the centre for an event space accommodating up to 350 people or a restaurant.

Mrs Paglianiti hosted a 20-course degustation luncheon in Docklands last month to pitch the idea to representatives from the City of Melbourne and Places Victoria.

The Colosseum's appearance at the Chinese Trade Festival can be viewed in this video, uploaded by Mrs Paglianiti

Cr Beverley Pinder-Mortimer, who met Mrs Paglianiti, said the city had not committed any support to the "Docklands Colosseum" but that it "is an interesting idea and concept".

But Simon Wilson, precincts general manager at Places Victoria, sounded more encouraging about the project.

"Places Victoria has been approached about the potential for a replica Colosseum event space in Docklands and we are in discussions about appropriate sites that may be able to accommodate the proposal," he told Fairfax Media in an emailed statement.

"We are generally encouraging of proposals that activate and provide new experiences for visitors to Docklands."

Mrs Paglianiti  revealed she'd had other cities inquire about the Colosseum.

"I've had requests from another city, but I knocked that on the head. Melbourne is my city, and I think it's very Melbourne."