Elevator Debuts at Rome Colosseum After Five Years of Construction

An elevator that makes the higher levels of Rome’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum accessible to people with mobility issues was inaugurated with much fanfare on May 30 after five years of construction, La Prensa Latina is among outlets to report. The lengthy construction was partly due to a decision to install the shaft while avoiding any alterations to the historic amphitheater, which welcomed nearly 7 million visitors last year. The idea for an elevator emerged in summer 2018 during a charity benefit screening of the movie Gladiator, starring actor Russell Crowe, who was on hand for the event. For the May 30 inauguration, the Orchestra Italiana Del Cinema performed selections from the Gladiator soundtrack. As part of the design, the shaft can be removed in the future without impacting the Colosseum’s structural integrity. The elevator is set to open every day at dawn.