News / News Bulletin

Restored Colosseum shines up to visitors after makeover, dusting in Italy

Saturday, 02 July 2016 9:46 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 02 July 2016 9:46 AM ]

This handout picture released by the Italian Presidency (Quirinale) shows "Corazzieri" the honor guard of Italy in Rome's Colosseum. AFP

A newly-restored Colosseum is shining up to visitors after a multi-million-dollar makeover and dusting project.

The Flavian Amphitheatre had been exposed to pollution, severe weather conditions, and recently layers of smoke and grime in the traffic-clogged capital of Italy for a long time.

Funded by a private sector, the first phase of the makeover project, which focused on cleaning the monument took almost three years.

While open to tourists the entire time, the ancient site was cleared section after section to meet its current sparkling status.

The restoration team is trying to monitor the monument and the traffic that surrounds it to keep Italy’s well-known icon from returning to its previous condition.

At the same time, the team has more constructive ideas to improve the former combat-arena. The next steps ahead would be building a visitor’s center and a cafeteria.

The restoration team is also planning to shore up the bottom of the structure that was used by the Romans to keep the wild animals. The Colosseum is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major tourist attraction for Italy.

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