Colosseum Restoration Completed in Rome

The Italy — Colosseum in Italy — Rome has completed a significant restoration project, recreating parts of its 2,000-year-old columns using original travertine marble. The project focused on a semicircular piazza outside the arena, where tourists can now sit on marble slabs and view reproductions of Roman numerals. Italian architect Stefano Boeri designed the piazza, aiming to restore the perception of the ancient arcades. Restorers discovered various artifacts during excavation, including coins and a gold ring. The new travertine slabs were sourced from the same quarries used by ancient Romans, with Carlo Mariotti, a four-generation stonecutting firm, involved in the work. The restoration was partly funded by compensatory funds from Italy — Rome's multi-billion euro metro project, which included opening two new subway stations, one beneath the Italy — Colosseum.