More than 80 archaeologists, architects and engineers were involved in the two-year project to “bring back to the centre of attention a monument that the whole world loves”, said Diego Della Valle, the chairman of Tod’s. She said the 15 restored corridors recounted “traces left over time”. “What emerged is that the hypogeum had a 400-year-long history, from when the amphitheatre opened in AD80 to the final show in 523.” “Today we are returning to the public a monument within a monument,” Russo said. Now there are walkways allowing visitors to explore the tunnels and chambers.Īlfonsina Russo, the director of the Colosseum, said the hypogeum, which was originally excavated in the 19th century, was the true “backstage” of the amphitheatre. Although people have been able to descend into the hypogeum network – which lies beneath what was the amphitheatre’s arena and was invisible to spectators in ancient times – since 2010, they could enter only a small section.
