Rome's Colosseum was closed after a 22-year-old rope worker, Andrea Moretti, fell about 10 meters while installing lighting during an overnight shift. Authorities initially planned to close only the top tier but extended the restriction to the entire monument for safety and public-order reasons. Italy's Culture Minister and the prime minister offered condolences and vowed action; the ministry said investigations and safety checks will continue.
Rome's Colosseum Closed After 22-Year-Old Rope Worker Falls to His Death
Tourists gather outside the Colosseum in Rome on Wednesday, as it's closed to the public. - Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/AP
The Colosseum in Rome was closed to visitors on Wednesday after a specialist rope worker fell to his death while performing maintenance, Italy's Culture Ministry said. The full public shutdown was the site's first comprehensive closure since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorities identified the worker as 22-year-old Andrea Moretti. Ministry officials said Moretti was suspended near the amphitheatre's highest point and fell roughly 10 meters while installing a new lighting system during an overnight shift on Tuesday.
Official Response and Closure Details
"It is a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement, offering condolences to Moretti's family and calling the death "senseless" for a young worker. The ministry said the initial plan was to close only the top tier where the accident occurred, but officials extended the restriction to the entire monument for safety and public-order reasons.
"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. 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 ministry said.
Context
The Colosseum, built between 70 and 72 A.D., remains one of Rome's most visited heritage sites and typically attracts tens of thousands of tourists each day. The site is normally closed to the public only on December 25 and January 1, though it was also shut for several weeks during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.
Workplace accidents are a serious concern in Italy. The INAIL trade union reports that an average of three workers die each day in workplace accidents across the country.
National Reaction
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."
The Culture Ministry indicated that authorities will continue their inquiries into the circumstances of the accident. The Colosseum's temporary closure is intended to allow a thorough response and to ensure visitor safety while officials assess the site.
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