We are taking Classic Italy, Small Groups in a few months and I have been looking for a recent article or photo to find out if any of the massive scaffolding erected on the outside walls of the Colosseum a few years ago is still there. So far everything I found on the web is at least a year old and still shows the scaffolding. It is not supposed to cover the entire exterior and is moved when the repairs to that section have been completed.
If you weren't aware, the Italian Government, spurred on by considerable private donations, is finally undertaking major, much-needed repairs to the structure and appearance (work started in 2013?). This has resulted in big debates about what and how much should be done, e.g. install a wood floor like the original over the entire arena, not just part of it. They supposedly built a copy of one of the (many) elevators used to hoist animals to the arena from the cages below, too.
Can any recent traveler to Rome give me an update on the Colosseum?
