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For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, Rome’s world-famous tourists colosseum There will be an opportunity to pass through a hidden royal path which was once allowed Roman The emperors reaching the invisible ancient theatre.
The once-secret corridor — known as the “Commodus Passage” and named after the Roman emperor turned into a pop icon by Ridley Scott’s film “Gladiator” — opens to the public on Oct. 27, marking an extraordinary milestone in archaeological preservation and accessibility.
archaeologist The Colosseum Archaeological Park reports that Roman emperors used the passage to enter an invisible and protected area, leading directly to their reserved box of honor while watching the games.
The route was named after the emperor Commodus, who lived between 180 and 192 AD, when it began in the 1810s. Commodus was known to be fond of gladiator games and history tells that while he was passing through a tunnel, someone attempted to assassinate him, but failed.
At the entrance to the passage, archaeologists discovered the remains of decorative elements directly related to the spectacles of the arena, including depictions of boar hunting, bear fighting and acrobatic performances. He said that these artistic elements provided a fitting prelude to the brutal entertainments that awaited ahead.
The corridor is ‘S’ shaped and continues outside the Colosseum area, but its final destination remains uncertain.
,visitors Now they can get a taste of what it would have been like to have an emperor enter the arena,” said Barbara Nazzaro, the architect who supervised the restoration works. ”With a little effort of imagination and the help of a virtual reconstruction, they can appreciate the decorations, stucco, frescoes and marble that cover the walls.”
The project – completed between October 2024 and September 2025 – included structural conservation, restoration of decorative plaster and stucco, and the installation of a new walkway.
A new lighting system recreates the natural light that once filtered through small vault openings, and a digital reconstruction helps visitors see the original appearance of the passage.
A second restoration project, expected to begin in early 2026, will include the section of tunnel extending beyond the perimeter of the Colosseum.