Colosseum Shuts Down After 22-Year-Old Worker Dies in 10-Metre Fall During Restoration Work

Image Credit: AP

Rome’s Colosseum has been temporarily closed after a 22-year-old worker died in an accident while installing a new lighting system inside the ancient monument. The incident happened late Tuesday, September 22, prompting an investigation by Italian authorities.

The worker, identified as Andrea Moretti, was carrying out specialist rope-access work when he fell approximately 10 metres from the second level of the Colosseum. Emergency services responded, but he died at the scene. Police, prosecutors and workplace safety officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fall.

The Colosseum Archaeological Park initially closed the section where the accident occurred before the entire monument was shut to visitors on Wednesday. Italy’s Culture Ministry said the closure was also intended as a mark of respect for the worker. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli expressed condolences to Moretti’s family following the tragedy.

The closure affected tourists visiting one of Rome’s most popular landmarks. Visitors who had already entered were allowed to leave before the site was fully closed. Authorities have not indicated that the incident will lead to a prolonged shutdown of the monument.

The death has also renewed attention on workplace safety in Italy. Data from the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work shows that 1,189 workers died in workplace accidents in 2025, although fatalities declined compared with the previous year.

The investigation will examine how the fall occurred and whether the required safety procedures were followed during the lighting work. No conclusions have yet been released, and authorities have not announced any arrests or charges.

The Colosseum, one of Italy’s most important archaeological sites and a major tourist attraction, is nearly 2,000 years old and regularly requires specialist conservation and maintenance work. Officials are expected to determine the circumstances of the accident before deciding whether any additional safety measures are necessary.