rome —
Rome’s world-famous Colosseum closed to the public on Wednesday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic after a rope worker died in a fall, Italy’s Culture Ministry said.
The ministry said Andrea Moretti, 22, fell about 10 meters while installing a new lighting system during a night shift on Tuesday and was suspended above the amphitheater’s highest point.
In a statement, Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli expressed his condolences to Moretti’s family over the “unreasonable death of a young man who was engaged in his work” and said: “This is a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned.”
Typically, tens of thousands of tourists visit the amphitheater ruins every day. This amphitheater was built between 70 and 72 AD as an arena for gladiatorial events.
Tuesday’s unusual closure was implemented after the first group of tourists left the building, the ministry said.
Initially, only the top level where the worker fell was scheduled to be closed, but this was extended to the entire venue.
“This decision was taken overnight and was implemented after the first group of visitors (several thousand people who were unaware of the incident) had already toured the site,” the ministry said. “If the entrance is closed immediately, large numbers of visitors could gather outside the monument, potentially jeopardizing safety and security.”
Previously, the Colosseum had only been closed for a few hours for special visits by important dignitaries, including former US President Barack Obama in 2014. Last October, it was also closed for several hours to pray for peace.
According to the Colosseum Archaeological Park, there are only two days of the year when it is closed to the public: December 25th and January 1st. It was also closed for several weeks during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown.
According to the INAIL trade union, occupational accidents are common in Italy, with an average of three workers dying each day nationwide.
In response to the news, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “The death of a 22-year-old is unacceptable, especially when it happens at work. In Andrea’s name, we will continue to play our part, fulfill our responsibilities and do everything we can to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.”
