The Colosseum's hidden underground has been closed to the public for 2,000 years - until now. See what it's like inside.

Monica HumphriesJun 30, 2021, 03:21 IST

An underground section of Rome's Colosseum is now open to the public.Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Visitors can now walk along a 525-foot pathway through the subterranean levels of Rome's Colosseum.
The area was once the backstage for gladiator fights, wild animal hunts, and even public executions.
Restoring the Colosseum's underground section was part of a $29.8 million restoration project.

For 2,000 years, the Colosseum in Rome could be explored from the interior and exterior of its walls. Meanwhile, the underground part of the arena was inaccessible.

The Colosseum pictured on March 19, 2020. Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

That changed in June, when Italy's Ministry of Culture unveiled the restoration of the hypogea, or the "heart" of the Colosseum. Now, visitors can explore the previously closed-off area.

An overview image of the newly opened underground area of Rome's Colosseum. Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

That changed in June, when Italy's Ministry of Culture unveiled the restoration of the hypogea, or the "heart" of the Colosseum. Now, visitors can explore the previously closed-off area.

The underground region served as the backstage for the action that happened on the Colosseum's stage.

A tunnel that's now accessible by the public inside the hypogea. Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

When the Colosseum was first built, the hypogea was covered by a stage made of wood. This was later destroyed, and now sunlight shines into most of the area.

The 2,000-year-old walkways were once covered by a wooden stage. Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

Today, tourists can walk underground the structure where gladiators used to roam. A wooden platform was built that allows visitors to walk through the passageways and corridors of the Colosseum.

A person walks through the newly opened underground area of Rome's Colosseum. Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

Today, tourists can walk underground the structure where gladiators used to roam. A wooden platform was built that allows visitors to walk through the passageways and corridors of the Colosseum.

The reveal of the hypogea is part of a decade-long project to restore the entire Colosseum.

A worker carries out restoration work at the Colosseum in June 2020. Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The restoration of the 2,000-year-old hypogea involved washing away centuries of dirt, deposits, and microorganisms.

A team of experts spent more than three years restoring the area. Marco Ravagli/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

The goal of the new walkway is to allow historians, archaeologists, and the general public to walk into the landmark's past.

A group walks through the hypogea area of Rome's Colosseum. Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

7 abandoned movie and TV sets that are still standing years after the cameras stopped rolling

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

The Colosseum's hidden underground has been closed to the public for 2,000 years - until now. See what it's like inside.

For 2,000 years, the Colosseum in Rome could be explored from the interior and exterior of its walls. Meanwhile, the underground part of the arena was inaccessible.

That changed in June, when Italy's Ministry of Culture unveiled the restoration of the hypogea, or the "heart" of the Colosseum. Now, visitors can explore the previously closed-off area.

The underground region served as the backstage for the action that happened on the Colosseum's stage.

When the Colosseum was first built, the hypogea was covered by a stage made of wood. This was later destroyed, and now sunlight shines into most of the area.

Today, tourists can walk underground the structure where gladiators used to roam. A wooden platform was built that allows visitors to walk through the passageways and corridors of the Colosseum.

The reveal of the hypogea is part of a decade-long project to restore the entire Colosseum.

The restoration of the 2,000-year-old hypogea involved washing away centuries of dirt, deposits, and microorganisms.

The goal of the new walkway is to allow historians, archaeologists, and the general public to walk into the landmark's past.