Colosseum Restoration: first 5 gates installed

Gonzato Contract, the division of Ind.i.a. spa handling special projects, has installed the first five new gates at the Flavian Amphitheatre in Rome. The arcades, from number 52 to 48, are now protected by over 5 tons of forged iron produced by Ind.i.a. spa, a company with seat in Malo, Vicenza, world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of metal for the building and structural industry through its over 24 companies in the world.

On Monday, October 6th the installation started after the arcades had been cleared from the scaffolding and the stones brought back to their ancient splendour thanks to their restoration. The arcades of various dimensions and the different possibilities of fixing the structures to the stone have required a specific intervention for every arch. Nonetheless the team of our specialists have concluded the installation of the first supply of gates in only five days.

The supervisor, Arch. Bruno Gonzato, president of the company Ind.i.a. spa, together with his son Davide, manager of the contract division, has declared: «These gates are engineering and craft works to the service of the new security and quality standards. We are proud of being part of those companies called to attend the restoration of the most famous amphitheatre in the world, symbol of the Italian history and culture».

The Colosseum is the third important restoration in Rome for the company of Vicenza, which has already produced artistically forged parts for the gates in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and for the grilles of the Palace of Justice.

The planning and production

For every gate and grille there have been made special 3D-surveys by means of a modern laser instrument able to scan the setting at 360°, to map points, distances and surfaces. Based on these data specific planning followed so to match the arrangements for the anchorage with those of the arcade, being one different from the other, by taking advantage of the holes and the missing pillars. In order to grant that the final result was complying with the archaeological memory of a symbol of the history of our country, a special attention was paid to the finishing of the steel, by giving it an antique appearance through a manual working process. Finally, the gates and the grill were treated with a special varnish which grants a high protection against atmospheric agents.

The cooperation agreement

The cooperation agreement, signed last February, concerns the supply and installation of 69 gates in wrought iron with straight final spear points to close the arcades of the amphitheather first order. The totality of works requires a precise scheduling to maintain the monument open for the public, without any interruption. The Colosseum in fact attracts about 5 millions of visitors a year and then the restoration has to advance gradually to not obstruct the access