US EditionOnce-Secret Emperor Commodus' Passage to Rome Colosseum Opens to Public for the First Time
- On October 27 in Rome, the Colosseum will grant public access to the long-hidden 'Commodus Passage' for the first time since ancient times.
- This unveiling came after nearly a year of restoration work, carried out from October 2024 to September 2025, which included reinforcing the structure, refurbishing decorative stucco, and installing a new walkway.
- Originally discovered in the 1810s, the passage allowed Roman emperors, including Commodus, to enter the arena unseen and reach their honor box overlooking the games.
- Barbara Nazzaro, who oversaw the restoration, explained that visitors are now able to experience what it felt like for an emperor to make their entrance into the arena.
- A second restoration project will begin in early 2026, aiming to further conserve the tunnel section that extends beyond the Colosseum's perimeter.
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58 Articles
'Commodus Passage' featured in 'Gladiator' opens to public
A once-secret passageway in the Colosseum, named after the fearsome ancient Roman emperor who features in the Hollywood blockbuster 'Gladiator', has opened to the public for the first time. The so-called Commodus Passage allowed emperors to enter the arena and watch gladiator fights and other spectacles without mixing with crowds. It was cut through the Colosseum's foundations between the end of the 1st century AD and the beginning of the 2nd ce…
The archaeological park of the Colosseum in Rome opens for the first time an area that has been hidden for centuries: the so-called Passaggio di Commodo. The arched underground corridor was once reserved solely for the Roman emperor – now visitors are also allowed to enter the secret path that led the ruler directly into the arena without being seen by the crowd. The passage connected the so-called "Pulvinar", the grandstand of honour for the em…
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Once-secret Emperor Commodus' passage to Rome Colosseum opens to public
A second restoration project, expected to begin in early 2026, will involve the section of the tunnel extending beyond the perimeter of the Colosseum.
In Rome, the "Commodus Passage" in the Colosseum has been opened to the public for the first time. This secret passageway allowed Roman emperors, including Commodus, unseen access to the arena. The passageway contains remnants of marble, frescoes, and stucco, despite the damp conditions that hamper its preservation. Thanks to a virtual reconstruction, visitors can get a sense of what it once looked like.
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