The ancient underground tunnels of the famous Roman Colosseum opened to the public for the first time.
Under the floor of the Colosseum, where gladiatorial battles, simulated naval battles, theatrical performances and horrific public executions took place, there is a whole other world. The secret underworld, or “hypogeum,” was the belly of the beast, a labyrinth of underground chambers and massive vaulted passages, where gladiators, enslaved people and wild animals were kept and the scenery was prepared. Crowds gathered upstairs to watch gladiators fight each other or animals, and the last battles there took place in the fifth century AD.
From 80AD until the final show at 523AD, the public was barred from below stage level. Then, in 2010, they had the opportunity to look into the underground level when a small section was opened. But now, as part of a major restoration project begun in 2018, the layers have been completely removed, allowing visitors to explore some of the original tunnels that traverse the arena through a new 160-meter pedestrian walkway. They can explore the chambers, see the elevator shafts that lifted animals and humans through the hatch to meet the bloodthirsty crowd, and learn more about the 2,000-year-old monument in larger and sometimes gory details.
The underground zone opened on Saturday 26 July and can be accessed with a ticket to the Full Experience Colosseum. This is the second phase of an ongoing restoration project funded by the Italian shoemaker Tod’s. The first phase involved cleaning the facade of the Colosseum, and in the final part, the galleries will be restored, a new lighting system installed and a new visitor center will appear in 2024.
That’s not all: as part of a separate restoration project funded by the Italian firm Milan Ingegneria, a new 3,000 square meter retractable floor will be built to allow visitors to stroll through Italy’s top tourist attraction for the first time since the late 1800s.
The original sand-covered wooden floor was removed when archaeologists began excavating the underground levels of the arena, but will be replaced by a new high-tech floor. Made of stainless steel and lined with Accoya wood, it will be retractable and can be used in a variety of configurations for remote control. The goal is to be able to quickly cover or uncover newly discovered underground networks below, allowing them to be protected from rain or ventilated if required.
The floor is also double-sided, so it can be removed if plans for the Colosseum change in the future. The presence of the floor opens up the possibility of holding events in the ancient amphitheater, such as theatrical performances and concerts. “This will be a major technological intervention, which will provide visitors with the opportunity not only to see the underground premises, but also to appreciate the beauty of the Colosseum, standing in the center of the arena,” says Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini.
The floor is planned to be completed by 2023.