More tourists the solution to the cost of Colosseum upkeep?

By Hanns-Jochen Kaffsack Aug 10, 2010, 13:23 GMT

Rome - A trip to the Colosseum is an essential part of any Rome visit but one of the world's most visited attractions is also one of the most threatened.

Nearly six million tourists make their way to the ancient monument each year but exhaust fumes from Rome's hectic traffic have stained the outer walls while reverberations from buses and cars have also increased maintenance costs for what was the greatest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire.

Construction on the site east of the Roman Forum began between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and the arena capable of seating 50,000 spectators was completed in 80 AD under Titus.

The Colosseum survives to the present day but over the centuries was severely damaged by several fires and also the great earthquake in 1349 when much of the tumbled stone was subsequently used to build palaces and churches elsewhere in Rome.

Now almost two millenia later, restoration experts are busy working on 100,000 cubic metres of travertine stone slabs while planks cover the Colosseum's interior where gladiators once shouted 'Morituri te salutant' (those who are about to die salute you).

However, the restoration work is expensive, leading city officials to seek out sponsors for the project.

'We need 23 million euros (30 million dollars) to clean the stonework, modernise the security systems and restore the boundaries and walkways in the first and second floors,' explains monument director Rossella Rea.

It will take a year to completely restore the exterior walls while the ugly barriers between the lowest arches will be removed and replaced by protective fences.

The threat to the structure was made abundantly clear in May when three thin slabs of the Colosseum's original mortar, together measuring about 0.5 square metres, came off the ground floor of the building.

'This mortar came loose because of chemical reactions taking place in the stone,' explains Rea.

The stone is also under attack as pollutants react with the calcium compounds in the stones to create gypsum, which then flakes off.

The yearly income of 32 million euros isn't enough to cover the cost of restoring the Colosseum and instead is swallowed up to ensure the daily running of the monument. There is also pressure to complete all the measures by next year in time for Italian celebrations of 150 years as a united country.

Night tours of the Colosseum have been organized on a twice-weekly basis in an effort to raise revenue while beneath the structure, a network of subterranean passageways once used to transport wild animals and gladiators to the arena opened to the public this summer.

Work is also well under way to open up and make safe the Colosseum-topping attic and the third tier while the location will also get a permanent illumination system.

Currently there are only two metal detectors in place on site but the renovations will include the installation of state-of-the-art devices which will be positioned at some distance from the monument, making it safe for years to come.