Rome’s Colosseum closes for two days after a worker plunges to his death

Carabinieri paramilitary police stand on patrol outside the Colosseum, closed to the public for the day to mourn a worker who fell to his death late Tuesday when installing cabling inside the ancient amphitheater, in Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

ROME -- Rome’s Colosseum, Italy’s most-visited monument, was closed to the public suddenly on Wednesday to mourn a worker who fell to his death overnight while helping install a new illumination project.

The 22-year-old man, Andrea Moretti, specialized in working at altitude on ropes. He had been installing cabling for the project that was expected to be completed next month and died inside the Colosseum, the archeological site’s press office said.

Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the government was deeply shocked and saddened by the death and called for the cause to be determined as quickly as possible.

“Dying at the age of 22 is unacceptable -- even more so when it happens in the workplace,” she said in a statement.

Authorities are working to determine the circumstances of Moretti’s death, the park’s statement said. A separate statement late Wednesday said the park would remain closed on Thursday to mourn Moretti and in solidarity with his family.

Representatives of Italy’s main union, CGIL, were on site after the death to request information about Moretti’s employer and contract and said that closing the monument was the least Rome authorities could do to honour his memory.

The Colosseum attracted 14.7 million visitors in 2024, according to Culture Ministry statistics. It topped the list of Italy’s most-visited monuments, followed by Florence’s Uffizi Galleries and the ancient ruins of Pompeii.

The Colosseum’s closure on Wednesday caught thousands of tourists who had bought tickets and tours in advance by surprise. But many said they appreciated the gesture.

Colosseum authorities had allowed the first morning tours to go ahead as planned, with just the Colosseum’s second tier closed. But they then closed the entire monument to visitors after the first group had exited.

Rachel Townsand, a tourist from New Zealand, said that she was disappointed.

“But then after looking up what’s happened, then it’s understandable,” she said.

By Paolo Santalucia And David Biller