During a storm in Rome, lightning struck the Arch of Constantine, located next to the Colosseum, tearing off several fragments of the monument, reported the Adnkronos agency and the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.
A storm hit the centre of Rome on the evening of 3 September. More than 60 mm of rain fell on the streets, the same amount that falls in an autumn month, reports Il Fatto quotidiano. As a result of the bad weather, the Circus Maximus stands were partially damaged, several streets, metro stations and the Santo Spirito hospital were flooded.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park reported that its specialists immediately arrived at the site and collected the fallen fragments of the Arch of Constantine.
“All the fragments have been found and placed in a safe place. Damage assessment has already begun.” – the park’s press service reported.
They also noted that restoration work on the southern facade of the arch began two days before the storm.
“Lightning struck the arch here and then the corner and we saw it fly away.” — one of the tourists told Reuters.
The triumphal arch of Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, was erected in the 4th century AD on the occasion of his victory over Maxentius. The height of the arch is about 20 m, and it is located in the same pedestrian zone as the Colosseum, RBC recalls.
