The Colosseum, a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of ancient Rome has become a symbol of Italy. Plans to restore this historical structure have been a recent topic in the news.
Diego della Valle, owner of a luxury Italian brand called Tod’s, will sponsor $33 million (25 million euro) to restore the amphitheater in exchange for advertising rights.
But members of the Restorers Association of Italy are unhappy about the plans, because they believe non-specialist restorers are being employed, which could "run the risk of causing irreparable damage to the monument." The Director of the Colosseum says, however, that the workers employed to do the restorations are in fact "specialized in architectural restoration, they're not just ordinary workmen."
The Secretary General of Europa Nostra, an organization dedicated to protecting cultural heritage in Europe, says that the Colosseum has suffered in recent years from underfunding caused by government cuts and that the revenue from ticket sales only covers the yearly upkeep of the city's ancient sites. She added, "We at Europa Nostra and anyone dealing with heritage would say that it's wonderful to have private companies and individuals wanting to support heritage at a time when public budgets are being cut."
-Amelia Hernigle
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/06/world/europe/rome-colosseum-restoration-plan-protests/index.html?hpt=ieu_mid
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