The Roman symbol par excellence, the Colosseum, looks more important than ever after its costly restoration: cleaning by several million euros to remove a gray patina and undignified soot and dirt from the old stadium that has been hit by pollution in the congested city.
the sponsor of the restoration is the manufacturer of luxury shoes and Tod’s. In an act of modern patronage, the company’s founder, Diego Della Valle, responded to a call to the private sector to help anemic coffers of Italy to care for their archaeological treasures.
in the bright image of the Colosseum restored, which was officially unveiled yesterday, the Italian Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, announced that 18 million euros (20 million dollars) will be used to replace, by the end of 2018, the old floor sand for one that can receive shows today, although they have ruled rock concerts at the monument.
the scenario “will be used for cultural events of the highest level,” he said Franceschini.
the first step of the restoration was essentially carefully remove the effects of pollution outside the Coliseum, dating from the first century, which was achieved with water sprays and hand brushes. The monument remained open to tourists during the nearly three years of work, which was covered with scaffolding one section of the outside at a time.
The cleaning cost about 6 , 5 million euros (7.2 million dollars). Tod’s paid the entire project, the next steps include the construction of a visitor center with a café and strengthen the lower level of the Colosseum, where gladiators prepared and were guarded beasts and stage for entertainment enjoyed by the Roman masses past.
Della Valle received an effusive thanks yesterday from the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Companies including Italian fashion houses, a mattress factory and a Japanese manufacturer of fabrics have paid for the restoration of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps of Spain and the Cestia pyramid built in 12 BC, among others monuments.
Franceschini said Della Valle was especially generous because it offered the funds before the entry into force an Italian law that modern versions of the Medici princes (famous for their patronage ) can have huge tax benefits. Under this new strategy have donated more than 100 million euros (112 million dollars), he said.
The architect Gisella Capponi, who led the restoration, said cleaning allows travertine cream tones, the rock with which is made the Coliseum, are appreciated again. “The color exalts the monument” while dirt and soot “gave the impression that it was older than it actually is ruin,” said the architect.
but now “gives a striking effect,” said the director of the Colosseum, Rossella Rea, told the Associated Press.
in addition to the generosity of Della Valle, the Colosseum benefited from an order Municipal prohibiting private cars moving on a nearby boulevard where there are also Roman and imperial forums. With the law is allowed to circulate taxis and buses on weekdays and weekend cyclists only. Pedestrians can use the boulevard.
The area merchants complained about the ban on vehicular traffic, but Rea stressed the need to protect the sand, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and considered the most famous of Italy icon.
Strengthen the ancient walls and arches of the lower level could also fulfill the dream who want the arena to regain its past glory to function as a forum for contemporary shows. But first the architects and engineers must determine whether the foundation for 2,000 years is robust enough to support a new scenario, plus drainage, which still uses old Roman canals should be cleaned and updated.
the architect of the Ministry of Culture Pia Petrangeli, who oversees the procedures with the sponsors, said that the Coliseum has a stable structure. “This monument has foundations 15 meters deep,” he said.
Every year, about 5 or 6 million tourists walk the first two rows of the most visited monument in Italy. “It was built to be an arena for shows. He entertained many more people than now,” Petrangeli said.
The Flavio amphitheater (by the three emperors of the family who built it), one of the most visited monuments in the world, which receives almost 19,000 people per day, was ordered to be built by the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD next to a lake in the grounds of Nero’s palace called the Domus Aurea. For its inauguration, Tito organized hundred days of games. Although the Colosseum was effectively finished later, between 81 and 96 A.D., with the emperor Domitian.
To clean the outside of the coliseum 25 restorers were necessary, between 6 and 8 construction workers and scaffolding dozen experts. The latter had to raise, in fact, at various times in the last two and a half years, more than 24,000 square meters of structures, reaching through metal walkways, the 52 meter high monument.
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