The Colosseum
In our day the Colosseum is undoubtedly the symbol of Rome. Throughout history, however, has had to endure over the persecution of those who actually reside. In the sixteenth century for example, the lower arches were the hideout of bandits and prostitutes. Clement X had to expel the ineffable idea: he closed the arches with their corridors, turning them into deposits of manure that ran until 1811.
Even nature has spared the Coliseum and three earthquakes have reduced the current texture. The travertine fallen, instead of being restored, were used for other Roman architecture: the Palazzo Venezia, the Chancellery, the Ripetta and substructures of Ponte Sisto. Buildings, with good reason, were called "daughters of the Colosseum."
Far more devastating earthquakes, however, are likely to be two proposals coming from the upper echelons illuminating papal. The theater runs a serious danger when Sixtus V decided to build a road linking the Vatican to the Lateran. The architects objected that the path would have met the Coliseum and he ordered without hesitation "cut" because the way he conceived would have been much more useful. Then, for an economic issue, had to give up his brilliant found. For once the economic crisis was also a providential event.
It was not enough. A quote for the best idea to Cardinal rightful Brunetti that, in 1832, had the brilliant idea of turning the Coliseum into a graveyard. According to him beneath the soil mixed with lime would be perfect for the decomposition of corpses. Fortunately, it is precisely the case of stress, and he died before the project fell through.