Enhancement Interventions on the Southern Ambulatories of the Colosseum
The project for the enhancement of the southern ambulatory of the Colosseum, developed by Stefano Boeri Interiors, restores the spatial legibility of the monument’s southern perimeter through a precise architectural and archaeological intervention. Following extensive investigations conducted by the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, the project reinstates the original ground levels and reconstructs the ancient crepidine—the double perimeter step defining the base of the Flavian Amphitheatre—through a controlled lowering of the surrounding piazza. The intervention restores the monument’s historical footprint while improving accessibility and the hydraulic organization of the public space. The new paving of the southern ambulatory reinterprets the amphitheatre’s generating geometry through a radial layout of trapezoidal travertine slabs, covering approximately 3,130 m². The design integrates contemporary architectural elements that trace the disappeared structures of the southern façade: raised travertine “imprints” that reveal the original plan while functioning as seating, alongside flush textured markers that guide circulation.
“Designing the space in front of the Colosseum’s southern façade was an extraordinary experience, carried out in close collaboration with the management and technical staff of the Archaeological Park. Following our collaboration on the new entrance to the Domus Aurea, the redesign of the Colosseum’s southern piazza has finally restored the perception of the monument’s original scale and pavement level, while offering the public the opportunity to approach its walls and imagine the rhythm and sequence of the ambulatory areas and arches that have been lost.” Stefano Boeri
An archaeological window between arches 65 and 71 exposes the monument’s foundations and stratifications, while the historic numbering system of the arches—lost after the collapse of the southern ambulatory—is reintroduced through engraved travertine slabs aligned with the entrances. Conceived according to principles of reversibility and accessibility, the intervention reconnects visitors with the original spatial order of the Flavian Amphitheatre, translating archaeological knowledge into a contemporary public landscape.
“The archaeological excavation campaign allowed for a new reading of the Flavian Amphitheatre’s history. The crepidine and the repaving of the excavation area, together with portions left exposed, restore the Colosseum’s original levels and reconstruct its ancient base. Through the architectural abstraction of the missing ambulatory supporting pillars, the intervention evokes the system of former access routes to the monument’s interior. This has been a collective effort enriched by a variety of contributions from archaeologists, researchers, architects, and technical partners. The project aims to offer the city, the international community, and visitors a new piazza and a close-up viewpoint: a completely novel way to engage with the monument and its history.” Giorgio Donà
Project: Stefano Boeri Interiors
Client: Parco archeologico del Colosseo
Year: 2026