The gates open after sunset offering a striking view of the recently restored “Passage of Commodus.”

The underground corridor, inaugurated on October 7 is set to open to the public on October 27.

It once connected the imperial pulvinar (emperor's box) — the platform reserved for Rome’s elite — to the exterior of the ancient arena.

The association with Emperor Commodus (180–192 A.D.) stems from an uncertain claim that the unpopular ruler faced an assassination attempt by conspirators in a shadowy section of the amphitheatre.

Restorers working on the passage between October 2024 to September 2025 believe it was not built as part of the original design, but built later between the first and second centuries A.D.

The high-quality finishes of the structure reveal a lot about its use: "The covered corridor was covered with plaster painted with stucco and, in the early stages, also with marble", explained Federica Rinaldi, project manager of the restoration, "And was certainly used by the emperor and his family, who thus arrived at the imperial podium unseen, like a sort of epiphany."

Despite the passing centuries, the atmosphere of that time has been recreated by the skilful use of lighting, as described by Angelica Pujia, chief restorer of Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.

"The lighting of this gallery is marked by two different systems: a warm light that indicates the path to visitors and enhances the beautiful marble of the walls; and a colder light recalling the natural light that used to seep through the holes on the ceiling. The ceiling had holes through the ones in antiquity light used to seep and this is the same thing we recreated with artificial cold light", says Pujia.

For visitors, the night access offers an emotional connection with the monument’s past.

"The night tour, you get to sort of feel the history a little more down there. The quietness, the stillness. It is an excellent tour. I would highly recommend it.," says Melissa Smith, a Canadian tourist

AP video by Veronica Andrea Sauchelli