VETUSTATE FATISCENTEM

Under Napoleonic rule (1809-1815) the work was started to clear the amphitheatre from debris; according to the French project, the Colosseum should have been part of a huge archaeological park encompassing the whole centre of Rome. For the first time a modern survey was carried out. Repairs were made, and the arches were liberated from the walls that had closed them.

Left: a remembrance of the restoration works carried out by three Popes

When the power of the Church was restored, in 1815, the works continued; it was deemed necessary to reinforce the remains of the outer ring: in the 1820s, under Pius VII an abutment (buttress) of bricks was built to support the arches of the NW side (Celian hill); later on, Leo XII had the other, more photographed abutment, built by the architect Valadier.

Right: a print of the Leo XII/Valadier abutment

Left: the Pius VII abutment

From the 1840s on, more arches were restored and rebuilt on the side of the Celian Hill, by Salvi and other architects (these arches are easily recognized as they are made of bricks) and again restoration was made by the Italian State in 1901-2, 1938-40 and 1959.

The modern architectural study of the Colosseum started with Carlo Fontana, who around 1720 made a survey, of the amphitheatre and studied its geometric proportions, but a proper excavation only started at the end of the eighteenth century, when the French took the power in Rome. Later on, a partial excavation of the arena was carried out by Carlo Fea (1811-1813), and more excavations were carried out in 1870 which liberated about half of the arena from debris.

Right: a picture of the half excavated arena

Finally, in 1938-39 the excavations arrived at the very bottom of the arena, and a small part of the cavea – with seats – was reconstructed. Constant small repairs have been made since WW2, and a major restoration of some arches on the NW side was started in 1978. In 1992 a private bank financed a restoration, which should have lasted four years, of the outer face of the travertine arches. Works lasted until 2000, with only a section restored, its cleanliness dramatically contrasting with the rest of the monument.
Latest news (February 2002): it seems that restoration and cleaning works will soon continue on the nearby arches. Good !