Colosseum Reclaims Original Perimeter: Southern Ambulacra Restoration Project Completed
Rome, March 18 – The Colosseum, one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, has officially unveiled its newly restored southern ambulacra, facing the Caelian Park. This significant four-year project, directed by Stefano Boeri Interiors with the technical and scientific oversight of the Colosseum Archaeological Park (PArCo), has successfully redefined the amphitheatre’s perimeter, offering a renewed understanding of its ancient geometry and visitor interaction.
A Four-Year Endeavor to Restore Ancient Grandeur
The restoration, initiated under CIPE resolution no. 67 of 2019, utilized funds allocated from the Metro C compensation works, allowing for a meticulous archaeological excavation and restoration of ancient surfaces. The area, previously obscured by 19th-century modifications that hid both the original ground level and remaining ancient pavement structures, is now accessible to the public, revealing a forgotten section of the monument.
Alfonsina Russo, Head of the Department for Cultural Heritage Enhancement and former Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, commented, “After four years of work, the Colosseum regains the perception of its original geometry. The archaeological excavations have brought to light a sector of the monument forgotten for fifteen centuries – the one through which the Emperor and his retinue entered the Amphitheatre in antiquity. This has allowed us to deepen various aspects of the Colosseum’s construction and operation, previously only hypothesized, starting from its efficient hydraulic system. The new arrangement, which leaves part of the archaeological area visible to the public, finally returns this space to the city, which from today will be able to experience a part of the Colosseum it was previously unaware of.”
Redefining the Visitor Experience Through Restoration and Interpretation
The intervention by Stefano Boeri Interiors reintroduces fundamental elements such as travertine paving, crepidines (plinths), and pillars, offering a renewed appearance that helps visitors, even from the exterior, grasp the original layout of the ancient structure. Architect Giorgio Donà explained, “Through the architectural abstraction of the missing ambulacra support pillars, the intervention evokes the system of past accesses to the internal spaces of the monument. A choral action enriched by a multiplicity of voices, supported by the contributions of archaeologists, researchers, architects, and technical partners. A project that aims to return a new piazza and a close-up viewpoint to the city, the international community, and visitors: an entirely new way to interact with the monument and its history.”
A Complex History Unveiled
The southern facade of the Colosseum, known as the Emperor’s access, located between the current Stern and Valadier buttresses, began to show signs of collapse between the 6th and 7th centuries AD due to earthquakes and structural failures. Over subsequent centuries, the space was repurposed and transformed; paving materials were removed, and surviving structures were adapted for various uses, including shelters, stables, and enclosures, until the leveling and flattening phases of 19th-century restorations.
These processes created a dense stratification, systematically documented by recent investigations conducted between 2021 and 2024. These studies have also clarified significant construction aspects. Stefano Boeri Interiors’ contemporary intervention addresses this complexity with an approach that combines restoration and interpretation. The new travertine pavement, laid at the original elevation, recreates the ancient design based on preserved traces, openly declaring its contemporary nature. Similarly, architectural devices subtly suggest the presence of lost structures without resorting to mimetic reconstructions. The project also adheres to criteria of reversibility and material compatibility, ensuring respect for existing elements.
“Designing the space facing the southern facade of the Colosseum,” commented Stefano Boeri, “has been an extraordinary experience […]. The reform of the southern forecourt of the Flavian Amphitheatre has finally restored the perception of the monument’s original dimension and its ground level, while also offering the public the opportunity to approach its walls and imagine the rhythm and sequence of the ambulacra and arches now lost. A respectful and useful project that completes the research carried out with intelligence and care by the archaeologists of the Colosseum Archaeological Park.”
The result is a newly accessible space that allows visitors to better understand the Colosseum’s original configuration and to appreciate the transformations that have shaped its history. While maintaining the now-consolidated asymmetrical image, the intervention restores continuity and depth to the perception of the monument, strengthening its architectural and archaeological comprehension.
Project Credits:
- Head of Department for Cultural Heritage Enhancement: Alfonsina Russo
- Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park: Simone Quilici
- Administrative Director: Aura Picchione
- Archaeological Manager of the Flavian Amphitheatre, Arch of Constantine and Meta Sudans: Paola Quaranta
- Architectural Manager of the Flavian Amphitheatre, Arch of Constantine and Meta Sudans: Barbara Nazzaro
- Project Manager: Federica Rinaldi
- Works Director: Barbara Nazzaro
- Operational Director for Restoration Aspects: Angelica Pujia
- Operational Director for Archaeological Aspects: Federica Rinaldi, Elisa Cella, Astrid D’Eredità
- Design Studio: Stefano Boeri Interiors
- Material Sponsor: MAPEI
Source: https://www.professionearchitetto.it/news/notizie/33862/roma-il-colosseo-riconquista-il-suo-originario-perimetro-completato-il-progetto-di-valorizzazione-degli-ambulacri-meridionali
