Colosseum Partly Closed After Fatal Accident, as Rain Reaches an Uffizi Room

Rome: Colosseum partly closed after fatal accident

A rope-access technician died overnight in an accident during works at the Colosseum, and the culture ministry and the monument's management responded by closing part of the amphitheatre to visitors, Wanted in Rome reports.

If the Colosseum is the centrepiece of your Rome trip, do not cancel. The site is large and much of it can stay in use during a partial closure, but check the official ticketing page on the morning of your visit. If you booked a guided tour, ask the operator whether the section you paid for is still included. The arena floor and the upper tiers are usually sold as separate add-ons, so those are the parts to confirm first.

Florence: rain reached an Uffizi room

The Florentine reported on 18 September that heavy rain infiltrated an Uffizi room holding seven 17th-century paintings. The museum says none of the works were damaged, and the report gives no sign of a closure.

For Florence, the practical point is to book ahead. Uffizi timed slots sell out on autumn weekends, and the first entries of the day, usually from around 8:15 AM, are the calmest. Buy on the museum's official site rather than from people selling skip-the-line tickets near the entrance. If a storm hits during your stay, covered galleries like the Uffizi are the safer bet, while garden and open-air sites can shut at short notice.