ITALY: Dungeons and upper third tier of Rome's ancient Colosseum set to open to public

Record ID: 1539682

  • Title: ITALY: Dungeons and upper third tier of Rome's ancient Colosseum set to open to public
  • Date: 15th October 2010
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 14, 2010) (REUTERS) TOURISTS WALKING INSIDE COLOSSEUM THIRD TIER TERRACE ON TOP OF COLOSSEUM THAT WILL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC VARIOUS THIRD TIER TERRACE VIEW FROM TERRACE DOWN INTO COLOSSEUM ARENA COLOSSEUM AT ARENA LEVEL BRICK WALLS WHERE LIFTS WOULD RISE BRINGING ANIMALS INTO ARENA UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY IN DUNGEON DARK ROOM IN DUNGEON ANCIENT ROMAN BRICK IN DUNGEON (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DIRECTOR OF COLOSSEUM ROSELLA REA SAYING: "We have combined the needs of the Colosseum organisers with those of the public. Tomorrow we will open up to the public the third tier, a big terrace of about 800 metres which looks out onto Rome. It won't provide a replica of how it was in ancient Rome, it wasn't a terrace then it would have been two vaulted corridors, quite dark. The other area is part of the dungeons which have never been opened ot the public it is the first time people will have the possibility to go down into the places where the games and shows were organised." ROOMS IN DUNGEON WHICH WOULD HAVE HOUSE ANIMALS AND GLADIATORS BEFORE FIGHTS AREA WHERE LIFTS WERE WORKING PASSAGEWAYS IN DUNGEON TOURISTS LOOKING AT COLOSSEUM ROOMS IN DUNGEON (SOUNDBITE) (English) PIERO MEOGROSSI, ARCHITECT SAYING: "The occasion of the new opening of the Colosseum is a great occasion to show people the sectors usually hidden from their view. We are speaking about the downstairs and the upper level which was the attic from which the sailors moved 240 sails to give shade to the arena downstairs."
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2010 01:31
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA85K4L8GDKWNGGD7YHDYLIX9T6
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Soon tourists will almost be able to hear the roar of lions and clashing of gladiators' swords when they visit Rome's colosseum, as parts of the underground chambers and upper third tier of the monument are opened to the public for the first time.
    The dungeons of the 80 A.D. Roman amphitheatre have never been open for public viewing but recent restoration work, coupled with the need for more space at the Colosseum has led Italy's heritage ministry to allow larger areas to be available to the public.
    Director of the colosseum Rossella Rea said that some 18,000 people pass through the colosseum every day and there was simply no longer enough room for everyone to be able to view the monument in an enjoyable fashion.
    "We have combined the needs of the Colosseum organisers with those of the public," Rea said.
    Following restructuring work an upper third tier balcony will be opened to the public on Friday (October 12) and also part of the underground chambers will be accessible.
    "It won't provide a replica of how it was in ancient Rome, it wasn't a terrace then, it would have been two vaulted corridors, quite dark," Rea explained about the upper section. "The other area is part of the dungeons which have never been opened to the public, it is the first time people will have the possibility to go down into the places where the games and shows were organised."
    The bowels of the Colosseum were used to house wild beasts before they were transported by lifts up to the central fighting arena. Underground passageways also led to gladiatorial fighting schools and others were used for the removal of corpses.
    Built by the Roman emperor Vespasian, the amphitheatre could seat 50,000 spectators who would gather to watch gladiatorial contests, mock battles and sometimes executions. The upper third tier was used to support canopies that provided shade for the spectators.
    "The occasion of the new opening of the Colosseum is a great occasion to show people the sectors usually hidden from their view," said architect Piero Meogrossi. "We are speaking about the downstairs and the upper level which which was the attic, from which the sailors moved 240 sails to give shade to the arena downstairs."
    Tourists from all over the world come to Rome to visit the colosseum, which is one of Italy's most popular monuments.
    "I'm looking forward to seeing the other two areas to see the vantage point and the architecture excellence in the building," said American tourist Gabriel Hodach standing outside the colosseum.
    "It's just incredible that they could build something like that, that could last for, I just don't know how long, it is just incredible," said a German tourist who added he would come back to see the newly opened areas.
    Over four million people have so far visited the Colosseum this year and the Italian ministry for culture believes that the interest in the amphitheatre could grow even further with the addition of the new areas open to the public.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register