Following an initial snub, the ‘sponsorship’ offer by Diego della Valle has been accepted and signed on the dotted line. The Italian businessman, a multi-millionaire footwear producer, is donating 25 million Euro to fund the repairs, restoration and facelift that the Colosseum has been begging for for many years.
Pledges to not cover the Colosseum in advertising are flying all over tha place, and Sig. della Valle is quoted as saying ‘I won’t put a Tod’s shoe on the Colosseum’ and that it was ‘a duty but also a pleasure’ to be involved in the landmark restoration. Work is expected to take 2 to 3 years and it appears that it will business-as-usual for visitors during the restoration.
A rough breakdown of the costs was posted on the Culture Ministry website:
- Repairs to north face: €5,165,000
- Repairs to south face: €1,936,000
- Substition of ‘ugly’ perimiter arch closures: €1,680,000
- Work to tunnels, walkways and passageways: €7,000,000
- Work to underground areas: €4,500,000
- Services and utilities: €900,000
- Lighting: to be confirmed
- Visitor amenities: €2,500 per square metre