A new arena is set up in the Colosseum to see the grandeur of the monument (gallery)

A project to build a high-tech and light stage inside the ancient Roman Colosseum will allow visitors to have a view from the center of the site and contemplate the “grandeur of the monument”, the Italian Minister of Culture said today, quoted by the Associated Press and BTA.

In the ancient Colosseum in Rome after its opening in April 2021 (Photo: AP / BTA)

Dario Francescini has announced a contract worth 18.5m euros to build and install a movable structure that will restore the traditional Roman arena (or stage) for gladiatorial fights at the Colosseum.

The stage in the first-century amphitheater existed until the 19th century, when it was removed due to archeological excavations in the underground levels of the ancient site, Francescini said.

In the ancient Colosseum in Rome after its opening in April 2021 (Photo: AP / BTA)

Did you know that naval battles also took place in the Colosseum?

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The project should be completed by 2023. The mobile structure will be able to quickly cover or detect underground finds, thus protecting them from rain and allowing them to be viewed by visitors. The project is reversible and the stage can be removed if the plans for the Colosseum change in the future.

The innovation will allow visitors to stand in the center of the amphitheater and view the vaulted walls, as they were seen by gladiators in ancient Rome. Cultural events related to the Colosseum as a symbol of Italy will also be presented on the stage.

In the ancient Colosseum in Rome after its opening in April 2021 (Photo: AP / BTA)

Last week, the Colosseum was reopened to the public after a 41-day closure due to pandemic-related restrictions. Authorities introduced a one-way route inside the site as part of security measures, and the number of visitors was limited to 1,260 per day, compared to 25,000 per day before the pandemic.