[Restore] Rome's Colosseum needs urgent restoration work

[DAVIDE]

The Colosseum in Rome is in desperate need of almost £5 million of restoration work, the Italian government has announced.



The Colosseum in Rome is in desperate need of almost £5 million of restoration work, the Italian government has announced. Photo: Getty Images




Rome is calling for international sponsors to help fund the restoration of the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre's crumbling facade, with the project expected to cost at least £4.5 million.
"Some bits of it are falling off," said the government's undersecretary for culture and heritage, Francesco Giro, adding that the arena, where gladiators once engaged in mortal combat, needed "immediate restoration".

The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemmano, said "a huge intervention" was required, and called for a "swift execution" of the project.
The restoration of the Colosseum is part of a broader plan to spruce up the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the jumbled collection of ruined temples and palaces which formed the heart of the Roman Empire.
The entire project is expected to cost at least £35million. "We're going to ask the government to allocate more funds in coming budgets because 60 per cent of Rome's archeological areas are not accessible – an alarming amount," Mr Giro said.
Construction of the Colosseum was started in AD 72 by the Emperor Vespasian and in its heyday it could seat 50,000 spectators.
A dusty battleground for gladiators, slaves, prisoners of war and wild animals, it now attracts around four million visitors a year.



Source:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...tion-work.html


Shame on Italian Government

[MathiasOfAthens]

Real Shame, but its not just Italy, governments all over the world neglect ancient structures and cities.

[DAVIDE]

Real Shame, but its not just Italy, governments all over the world neglect ancient structures and cities.

yep. But italian situation is worse than others. We use 0.3% of entire budget for cultural goods

[MathiasOfAthens]

For such a rich country in historical sites that is a real ing shame davide.

[DAVIDE]

Yes. Simply a shame. 90% of museums are maintained by privateers and monuments too.

15 metres long fragment of Aur. walls collapsed

[MathiasOfAthens]

Thats one of the main reasons why I want to see rome are the walls. Whats left of them.

[DAVIDE]

you can get a stone as souvenir

[Stavroforos]

you can get a stone as souvenir

Haha, I think you just persuaded me to go to Rome!

But there should definitely be more funding given to maintaining your rich antiquities. Just imagine what a few of Berlusconi's necklaces could do!

[DAVIDE]

Haha, I think you just persuaded me to go to Rome!

But there should definitely be more funding given to maintaining your rich antiquities. Just imagine what a few of Berlusconi's necklaces could do!

I see not future for cultural good in Berlusconi era. I m just expecting a "for rent" signal fixed on Colosseum

The problem is Italians are not interested in ancient history. They prefer the big brother and trash like that.

Hbo Rome audience, 1.200.000 viewers
Big Brother audience 9.000.000 viewers

this makes u understand how idiotic are the italians created by Berlusconi with veline and starlettes

[Stavroforos]

But you'd think that they would at least be concerned about something as iconic as the Colosseum. Greeks in general don't seem to be that interested in their history either, but I think there would be a huge fuss if we found out the Acropolis was deteriorating due to lack of government efforts.

[DAVIDE]

But you'd think that they would at least be concerned about something as iconic as the Colosseum. Greeks in general don't seem to be that interested in their history either, but I think there would be a huge fuss if we found out the Acropolis was deteriorating due to lack of government efforts.

here nobody cares about status of momuments. Archaeological huge discoveries arent reported by any media, a part local newspapers in a minor way. People doenst know walls are collapsing, except Romans, people doenst know Italy send 0.3% of budget to culture.

For example the rotating hall of Nero which is a huge find for sure, i m sure nobody knows it has been discovered. Except Romans offcourse. About this article about Colosseum, hasnt been told in Italian televisions or newspapers at all. You can read it just in forums or websites which speak about ancient things. And this is bad.

[Stavroforos]

Yeah, that definitely does sound bad. I hope there are people in Italian politics who are willing to do something for the preservation of these sites, and if worse comes to worse, I hope the EU can somehow force you to maintain them.

[DAVIDE]

i should run at the presidentials

[Stavroforos]

TWC stands behind you!

[DAVIDE]

lol