Rome’s iconic Colosseum was shut to visitors on Wednesday after a 22-year-old specialist rope worker fell to his death while working on the ancient monument.
The worker, identified as Andrea Moretti, was suspended near the highest section of the amphitheatre when he fell about 10 metres while installing a new lighting system during an overnight shift on Tuesday, according to Italy’s Culture Ministry.
Italy’s Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, described the incident as a tragic event and expressed condolences to Moretti’s family.
“It is a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned,” Giuli said in a statement, describing Moretti’s death as “the senseless death of a young man engaged in work.”
The ministry said the Colosseum was initially expected to have only the upper section where the accident occurred closed, but authorities later extended the closure to the entire site.
It said the decision was taken after the first group of tourists had already left the monument, noting that an immediate closure could have resulted in thousands of visitors gathering outside and created potential safety and public-order concerns.
“The decision, made during the night, was implemented after the first group of visitors — thousands of people unaware of the incident—had already toured the site,” the ministry said. “An immediate closure of the entrances would have caused a large crowd of visitors to gather outside the monument, potentially compromising safety and public order.”
The Colosseum attracts tens of thousands of tourists daily and had not been fully closed since the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, apart from brief closures for special occasions.
The ancient amphitheatre, constructed between 70 and 72 AD, was originally used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles.
It is normally closed to visitors only on December 25 and January 1.
Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, also reacted to the death, saying the loss of a young worker was unacceptable.
“Dying at 22 is unacceptable, and even more so if it happens in the workplace. In Andrea’s name, too, we will continue to do our part, to commit ourselves, and to make every effort to ensure that similar tragedies never happen again.”
Workplace fatalities remain a major concern in Italy, with an average of three workers reportedly dying each day in workplace accidents, according to the INAIL trade union.
