A tunnel that was used by ancient Roman emperors to get to the Colosseum will open to the public for the first time on October 27, 2025, reported the Associated Press.
The tunnel is known as the "Commodus Passage," and is named after the Roman Emperor Commodus. Commodus ruled in Rome from 180-192 A.D. It was used by him, and other emperors, to walk into the Colosseum without being seen by the public.
Legend has it that Commodus was nearly assassinated in the s-shaped tunnel, which connects directly to the emperor's box seats in the arena.
“Visitors can now have a taste of what it was like to be an emperor entering the arena,” said Barbara Nazzaro, the architect who oversaw the restoration works, in the Associated Press.
“With a little effort of imagination and the help of a virtual reconstruction, they can appreciate the decorations, stuccoes, frescoes and marbles that covered the walls," she added.
The tunnel itself was rediscovered in the early 19th century. Archaeologists found "decorative elements directly related to arena spectacles, including depictions of boar hunts, bear fights and acrobatic performances" at the entrance of the tunnel. It is believed that these images "provided a fitting prelude" to the main show in the arena, said the Associated Press.
Restoration efforts began in October 2024 and continued through last month. In addition to structural work, decorative stuccoes and plasters along the tunnel were restored, and a new walkway was added ahead of its opening to the public, said the Associated Press.
A new lighting system installed in the passageway will mimic what an emperor would have seen using the tunnels, and a "digital reconstruction" will help transport viewers to how the passageway looked in the second century A.D.
Colosseum more than just an arena
Aside from being one of the most recognizable landmarks in Rome, the Colosseum has long been regarded as a place of martyrdom.
Whether or not this is factual (and this is disputed), in 1675, Pope Clement X declared that the Colosseum was a sacred site of martyrdom.
Eventually, a cross was erected in the arena, and there is a small chapel where Mass is still celebrated centuries later. On Good Friday, the pope usually leads the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum.
