For the first time in centuries, tourists and local visitors will be able to stand on the Colosseum’s floor, which will sit atop the labyrinth of tunnels and corridors that once served as the “back stage” of the mighty arena.

According to The New York Times, the new floor will feature a lattice of specially treated wooden slats that can be rotated to allow air to circulate and to expose the beehive of subterranean corridors. It was created by a team led by Milan Ingegneria,

In a news conference announcing the winning concept, Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum, said, “The structure is light and recalls both in form and function the original plan of the wooden arena at the time it was first in use.”

She noted that her team will be committed to protecting the monument during the lengthy construction phase.

However, despite Russo’s aspirations and promises, several academics have criticized the new floor, arguing that the decision is rooted in attracting tourists moreso than preserving a piece of history with a violent past.

The Colosseum opened in 80 A.D., and historians estimate that 400,000 people perished in front of a mob of roaring fans.

The arena is the most visited site in Italy, and prior to the pandemic, it attracted nearly 8 million tourists a year.

The floor will be completed sometime in 2023, and it will be used for concerts and theatre productions.

 

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