Archinect - News 2024-12-24T07:41:12-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150271859/the-colosseum-in-rome-opens-its-ancient-hypogeum-to-the-public-for-the-first-time The Colosseum in Rome opens its ancient Hypogeum to the public for the first time Josh Niland 2021-06-30T14:59:00-04:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ec/ec5296f05ab505b477b77e78b50a1ab4.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>A newly restored Hypogeum has been unveiled in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/58996/rome" target="_blank">Rome</a> over the weekend, opening the catacombs of the famed <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/73369/colosseum" target="_blank">Colosseum</a> to the public for the first time in its 2,000-year history.</p> <p>The Italian Ministry of Culture has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/26/world/europe/colosseum-underground-opens.html" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;that the little-seen section is finally open thanks to a <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lower-levels-colosseum-open-public-1984267" target="_blank">decades-long</a> restoration project funded in part by a $29.8 million gift from fashion brand <a href="https://www.tods.com/us-en/tods-world/tods-for-colosseum.html" target="_blank">Tod&rsquo;s</a>.</p> <p>Planned on a whim at the end of the first century AD, the Colosseum was the last great project under Emperor Vespasian and incorporated a labyrinth-like, wood-covered underground area (added under Emperor Domitian) used as a multi-purpose space by the building's grounds crew and as barracks and staging area for gladiators. Just like the ancient fighters, who were meant to be hidden as they entered the arena floor through a series of tunnels, visitors are now free to explore.</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/4c/4ca99ac9218f1d0037dfaa859cce2133.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/4c/4ca99ac9218f1d0037dfaa859cce2133.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Related on Archinect: <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150262080/take-a-look-at-the-newly-unveiled-high-tech-floor-for-the-colosseum-arena-in-rome" target="_blank">Take a look at the newly unveiled high-tech floor for the Colosseum arena in Rome</a></figcaption></figure><p>The Colosseum&rsquo;s final <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venatio" target="_blank">Venatio</a> came in ...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/60465903/paris-is-like-a-wedge-of-gruy-re-cheese Paris is like a wedge of Gruyère cheese Nam Henderson 2012-11-01T11:48:00-04:00 >2012-11-01T11:48:43-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/r3/r3ao8xmdnn21skpo.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Our aim is to examine the city's connection to its underground in a way no one has before: we will attempt to walk from the southern edge to the northern, using only catacombs, telecom tunnels, sewers and other hidden infrastructure. It is a 14-mile trek, every step illegal.</p></em><br /><br /><p> <img alt="" src="http://moreintelligentlife.com/files/ParisUnderground1.jpg"></p> <p> Will Hunt spent a few days and nights underneath Paris, as part of an expedition led by Steve Duncan, a photographer and urban historian from New York. The group discovered a parallel universe populated by: "<em>cataphiles</em>" - young, bohemian Parisians who use the tunnels as party venues, ossuaries and "<em>An 800-year crawl</em>".</p>