Accidents at work

22-year-old worker dies at the Colosseum. ‘Rope not secured’. Amphitheatre closed

Andrea Moretti was a specialist in rope access work at height

by Rome Editorial Staff

23 September 2026

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Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Workplace tragedy at the Colosseum last night. At around midnight, a 22-year-old rock climber, Andrea Moretti, who was working on the installation of a new lighting system for the monument at height, fell from a height of approximately 10 metres. Despite attempts to resuscitate him by Ares 118 staff, he died.

The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case as manslaughter and has ordered a post-mortem examination of the 22-year-old. According to initial findings from the investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office, coordinated by Deputy Public Prosecutor Antonino Di Maio, the worker was reportedly found wearing his harness but with the rope unhooked.

As a mark of mourning, the Park had ordered the closure to the public of only the second-tier section where the accident took place – an area not subject to seizure by the judicial authorities. Subsequently, the closure of the entire site was announced. The Minister for Culture, Alessandro Giuli, has ordered the suspension of all work at the Colosseum until further notice. The CGIL trade union in Rome and Lazio organised a torchlight procession at the Colosseum, on the side facing the Imperial Forums.

The CGIL: it’s a disgrace not to close the entire Colosseum

The decision to impose a partial closure had sparked protests from the CGIL: ‘Andrea Moretti died at the age of 22 whilst working at the Colosseum. He was a public-sector contract worker,’ commented Natale Di Cola, general secretary of the CGIL in Rome and Lazio. “The Colosseum Archaeological Park has ordered the closure of the second tier, where the worker died. The Colosseum does not even stop in the face of death. It’s a disgrace. We expect Minister Giuli to shed light on what happened and to order the complete closure of the Colosseum. Human lives come before tourists.”

Colosseum closed as a mark of respect

Shortly after the announcement: “In accordance with instructions received from the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, who was on site during the night, the Colosseum Archaeological Park has ordered the closure of the Flavian Amphitheatre as a mark of mourning for the tragic death of the worker Andrea Moretti,” reads a statement. “The decision, taken during the night, was implemented after the first group of visitors – comprising thousands of people unaware of what had happened – had been seen through.”

Giuli clarified: ‘We spent the night alongside the investigators, the family, the victim’s body and the mortuary police. There was not a single moment when the Ministry of Culture and the Colosseum Park failed to stand by Andrea Moretti and his family. I have full confidence in the work of the investigators and we want the truth about what happened to come to light as soon as possible. We promptly arranged a controlled closure of the Colosseum park during the night. And a wreath of flowers like that cannot be put together in a matter of minutes.”

An experienced rock climber, he had followed in his father’s footsteps

Moretti was originally from the hamlet of Tottea in the municipality of Crognaleto, in the province of Teramo. A rock-fitter, he was a specialist and highly experienced despite being only 22 years old. This is a highly sought-after skill that is difficult to find on construction sites, a trade in which many young and older people from the Teramo mountains have tried their hand over the years. Andrea had followed in his father’s footsteps; his father had also been a labourer for many years but was forced to leave his job around thirty years ago due to an accident that left him disabled. The mayor of Crognaleto, Orlando Persia – a personal friend of Andrea’s – was deeply shaken by the tragedy. He described Andrea as a ‘cheerful young man, a lover of life and his homeland, devoted to his friends and to horses, his passion’. The mayor of the Abruzzo town has announced that he will declare a day of mourning on the day of the funeral.

Meloni: an unacceptable death; we will continue to work hard

‘The news of the tragic death of Andrea Moretti, a skilled worker who died last night following an accident at the Colosseum,’ said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, ‘has deeply shocked and saddened us. I wish to express my condolences and sympathy to his family, his loved ones and his colleagues at this extremely difficult time. I also hope that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be fully clarified as soon as possible. Dying at the age of 22 is unacceptable, and even more so when it happens at work. In Andrea’s name, too, we will continue to do our part, to commit ourselves and to make every effort to ensure that such tragedies never happen again.”

Giuli: a tragic event that leaves us appalled

“A tragic event that leaves us dismayed and stunned,” said the Minister for Culture, Alessandro Giuli, emphasising that “the few words we can muster are dedicated to Andrea, his family and his loved ones: we extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to them all in the face of the senseless death of a young man dedicated to his work”. As soon as he learnt of the worker’s death, Giuli went to the Colosseum and stayed there overnight alongside the Carabinieri who had attended the scene.

Ministry of Tourism postpones World Day celebrations

As a mark of mourning following the tragic death of Andrea Moretti, the Ministry of Tourism has announced that the celebrations for the UN World Tourism Day, scheduled for next Sunday, 27 September, at the Temple of Venus at the Colosseum, have been postponed until a date to be confirmed.