Rome’s Colosseum in rare closure after worker falls to his death

Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/AP

Rome’s world-famous Colosseum was closed to the public on Wednesday for the first time since the Covid pandemic after a specialist rope worker fell to his death, Italy’s Culture Ministry said.

Andrea Moretti, 22, was suspended above the highest point of the amphitheater when he fell around 10 meters while installing a new lighting system during an overnight shift Tuesday, according to the ministry.

“It is a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned,” Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said a statement, offering condolences to Moretti’s family over what he called “the senseless death of a young man engaged in work.”

Tens of thousands of tourists usually visit the ruins of the amphitheater each day, which was built between 70 and 72 A.D. as a stadium for gladiator events.

Tuesday’s rare closure was implemented after the first group of tourists left the building, according to the ministry.

Originally, only the top tier where the worker fell was to be closed but it was extended to the full venue.

“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 has previously closed for only a few hours a time for special visits by important dignitaries, including former US President Barack Obama in 2014. It was also closed for several hours last October for a prayer for peace.

The only two days of the year it is closed to the public are December 25 and January 1, according to the Colosseum Archeological Park. It was also closed for several weeks during COVID lockdowns in 2020.

Workplace accidents are common in Italy, with an average of three workers a day dying in workplace accidents across the country, according to the INAIL trade union.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “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.”

Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/美联社

意大利文化部表示，罗马举世闻名的斗兽场周三自新冠疫情爆发以来首次对公众关闭，此前一名绳索作业专家从斗兽场坠亡。

据该部称，22 岁的安德烈亚·莫雷蒂在周二晚间值班时，在圆形剧场的最高点上方安装新的照明系统，结果从大约 10 米高处坠落。

意大利文化部长亚历山德罗·朱利在一份声明中表示：“这是一起令人震惊的悲剧事件。”他向莫雷蒂的家人表示慰问，称这是“一名正在工作的年轻人的无辜死亡”。

每天通常有数万名游客参观这座圆形剧场的遗址，该剧场建于公元 70 年至 72 年间，曾是角斗士比赛的体育场。

据该部称，周二罕见的关闭是在第一批游客离开大楼后实施的。

最初，只打算关闭工人坠落的顶层看台，但后来扩大到整个场馆。

该部表示：“这项决定是在夜间做出的，当时第一批游客——数千名对事件毫不知情的游客——已经参观完遗址。立即关闭入口会导致大量游客聚集在纪念碑外，可能危及安全和公共秩序。”

罗马斗兽场此前曾因重要政要的特别访问而关闭数小时，其中包括2014年美国前总统巴拉克·奥巴马的访问。去年10月，斗兽场也曾关闭数小时，举行和平祈祷仪式。

据罗马斗兽场考古公园介绍，斗兽场每年仅于12月25日和1月1日不对公众开放。2020年新冠疫情封锁期间，斗兽场也曾关闭数周。

据意大利工伤事故协会 (INAIL) 称，意大利工作场所事故很常见，全国平均每天有三名工人在工作场所事故中丧生。

总理乔治娅·梅洛尼在得知这一消息后表示：“年仅22岁就去世是不可接受的，尤其是在工作场所发生的悲剧更令人痛心。为了纪念安德烈，我们将继续尽自己的一份力量，做出承诺，并竭尽全力确保类似的悲剧不再重演。”