For the first time in 40 years, the quinto ordine is open to the public. As one of the most iconic buildings in the world, you’d forgive Rome’s Colosseum for being a little over-exposed. 6.4 million visitors last year alone, immortality on the five (euro) cent coin, a background role in countless Hollywood movies… you’d assume there isn’t a stone unturned.
Not content with simply unveiling new details like an 1,800-year-old gladiator bas relief as part of a 33-month deep clean (and an ongoing restoration project funded by fashion brand Tod’s), Roman authorities have now gone one step further. In November, the top level of the structure opened to visitors for the first time in 40 years. First restored in the 1800s, after centuries of inaccessibility, the floor had been forced to close due to safety concerns.
