An urban jib segment on ancient architecture? I’m sure the vatican would be cool with that, right?
Europe is having an insane winter. Snow fell in Rome, Italy for the first time in 26 years on February 3rd, 2012.
“The last substantial snowfalls in Rome were in 1985 and 1986, though there have been other cases of lighter snow since then, including in 2010.” – dailymail.co.uk
The significant snow in Rome has been damaging ancient churches as well as the Colosseum.
“The Colosseum in Rome has been forced to shut after small pieces of its walls crumbled away as a result of freezing temperatures.” – CNN.com
How is the Colosseum being damaged?
“”When the temperatures drop below zero, and there is rain and snow, it causes ice to form which, with the increase in volume, pushes the external plaster masonry and causes small pieces to fall off.” – Cristiano Brughitta, spokesman for Italy’s Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities
“Normal low temperatures in Rome during midwinter are no lower than about 40 degrees. However, the average temperature for the first 15 days of February was more than 10 degrees below normal.
There is a financial fallout from the closure, as the Colosseum normally draws about 7,000 visitors a day, each visitor paying the equivalent of about $15, CNN said.” – accuweather.com