The Colosseum in Rome denies reports that a man was injured on the grounds of the ancient amphitheater, as widely reported by local media outlets.
The Italian newspaper Il Messaggero initially reported that a 47-year-old United States citizen and resident of Taiwan attempted to climb a metal fence in the Piazza del Colosseo, an area outside the landmark, on Friday evening, May 2. The paper said the man lost control and a metal spike pierced his back. Day Italia News reported that the man was “stuck in a painful and dramatic position” until paramedics arrived at the scene and freed him over the course of 20 minutes.
A spokesperson for the Colosseum Archaeological Park told Hyperallergic in an email that no such incident occurred at the site and called the widely reported narrative “fake news.” However, the spokesperson said that “an investigation by the Italian police force is ongoing at the moment,” and therefore they could not provide any further details, such as whether an injury took place beyond Colosseum grounds. It is unclear what the police are investigating.
The spokesperson claimed that no tourist had attempted to climb the fence, which they said was manned by dozens of staff members during the reported time of the accident.
Hyperallergic has contacted the Italian national police (Carabinieri), the San Giovanni Hospital where the tourist was reportedly taken, and the Guardia di Finanza for comment.
Rome has long been a site of tourist tomfoolery, but few — if any — of the incidents have been as injurious as Friday’s reported accident. In recent years, Italian cultural officials have contended with anticipated surges in tourist numbers and have considered imposing fees and limiting access to cultural sites including the Trevi Fountain, the city of Venice, and Pompeii. Tourists at these sites have engaged in bizarre behavior, including drinking straight from the Trevi Fountain and etching names into the Colosseum.
Editor’s note 5/7/25 2:13pm EST: A previous version of this article reported that a man injured himself on a fence near the Colosseum and cited multiple news outlets’ reports on the alleged incident. After a Colosseum spokesperson denied the reports, this article and its headline were edited to reflect the latest information.