The long-delayed reconstruction of the Roman Colosseum has begun

Rome - The long-awaited reconstruction of the Colosseum, the most famous Roman monument, has begun. This was announced today by Diego Della Valle, the owner of the luxury shoe manufacturer Tod's, who is investing the necessary 25 million euros (approximately 687 million CZK) into the project as the sole sponsor. In return, he will have the right to display his company's logo on the ancient amphitheater. The renovation is expected to last about three years.
The heavily weathered monument, which is visited by around five million tourists each year, urgently needs renovation and restoration. According to the APA agency, the work is planned for the exterior facade, the terraces, and the underground part of the Colosseum. The lighting and infrastructure will also be modernized.
The Colosseum is considered a masterpiece of ancient Roman architectural art. About 50,000 people could fit into the arena to watch gladiatorial contests.
The sponsor of the reconstruction and one of Italy's wealthiest entrepreneurs, Della Valle, has urged the Italian government to present a comprehensive plan to support tourism in Italy within two weeks. According to him, investments in this area are insufficient in Italy, and the country is starting to fall behind in international competition. The businessman believes that the private sector and the state should collaborate on the restoration of Italy's cultural heritage.
Already in August, the mayor of Rome ordered the closure of the street that winds around the Colosseum for regular automobile traffic. Heritage conservationists have long warned that emissions from tens of thousands of cars and vibrations from traffic seriously damage the historic monument.