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Colosseum in Rome is leaning, officials say
Experts say ancient building has started to tilt, with south side 40cm lower than north, and may need urgent repairs
The ancient Colosseum in Rome is slanting about 40cm lower on the south side than on the north, and authorities are investigating whether it needs urgent repairs.
Experts first noticed the incline about a year ago and have been monitoring it for the past few months, Rossella Rea, director at the 2,000-year-old monument, said in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, another of Italy’s most popular attractions, was reopened in 2001 after being shut for more than a decade as engineers worked to prevent it from falling over and to make it safe for visitors.
Rea has asked La Sapienza University and the environmental geology institute IGAG to study the problem and report back in a year.
Tests have begun to observe the effects that traffic on nearby busy roads may have on the monument.
Tim
July 31st, 2012
40 cm. in 2000 years?
That ain’t so bad.
We build for what, a 40 year structure life?
But the Flavians didn’t build that, themselves.
RANDO
July 31st, 2012
What Tim said.
Way better than the pisans…
Chuck U Farley
July 31st, 2012
Is that Mussolini in the lower left?
Bad Brad
July 31st, 2012
I’d contact a real estate attorney and pursue that Latent and Blatant defect clause and try and get some compensation out of the builder.
Robert Fine
August 1st, 2012
It’s leaning left.
Robert Fine
August 1st, 2012
– That’s why it’s going to fall.
Bad Brad
August 1st, 2012
Not if your standing on the opposite side. Hmm wonder what that means?
MaryfromMarin
August 1st, 2012
Make all the tourists walk only through the higher side for a while.
(I know, that was stupid–it’s been a long day.)