The Colosseum has over the past two thousand years suffered due to environmental pollution, discolouring many of the Travertine surfaces.

The first phase of the makeover has involved cleaning these surfaces using water spray and gentle brushing so as to avoid any damage to the Travertine. The Travertine had become blackened due to smog created by traffic and home heating. This is only the first phase in a 25 million Euro makeover project, and cost approximately 6.5 million Euros to complete.

The cleaning works focussed only on small areas at a time in order for the monument, which is Italy’s most popular tourist attraction, to stay open to the public.

 

Image credit: Paul Zangaro