The incident comes less than a year after the death of a worker trapped under the rubble of a collapsed medieval tower near the Colosseum
1-MIN READ1-MINReutersPublished: 7:09pm, 23 Sep 2026Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli ordered the one-day closure of the Colosseum on Wednesday as a mark of respect after a worker was killed overnight in an accident.
Andrea Moretti, a 22-year-old technician, died after falling several metres while installing a new lighting system inside the ancient Roman arena.
Built 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire, used to host gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts. It is Italy’s most visited tourist attraction.
“The news of the tragic death of Andrea Moretti, a skilled worker who died overnight … has deeply shocked and saddened us,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
