ROME—Following a violent storm in Rome, the Arch of Constantine, an ancient Roman arch located next to the Colosseum, sustained damage, as confirmed by conservation authorities on Tuesday.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park stated to Reuters that the monument was struck by lightning, causing the damage.
Constructed in the 4th century AD, the triumphal arch commemorates the victory of Constantine, the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, over his rival, Maxentius.
Standing at approximately 25 meters (82 feet) tall, the arch is situated in the same area as the Colosseum, a popular tourist destination.
One tourist described witnessing the lightning strike, causing a large stone block to fall to the ground. Other stone blocks and rubble were scattered around the arch, with park staff working to collect them.
All fragments have been recovered and secured, with damage assessments ongoing and further analysis scheduled for the following day, according to the archaeological park.
The southern side of the arch, where conservation work had recently commenced, was the area impacted by the lightning strike. The conservation efforts will now focus on repairing the damage caused.
The storm that struck Rome also resulted in the toppling of trees and branches and flooding in several streets of the city. The Civil Protection agency reported that central Rome received 60 millimeters (2.36 inches) of rain in less than an hour, equivalent to a month’s worth of rainfall in autumn.
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri described the weather event as a “downburst,” a severe storm characterized by powerful downward winds. This type of storm is believed to have been responsible for the recent sinking of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s yacht off the coast of Sicily.
Gualtieri emphasized the unprecedented nature of the storm that hit Rome, noting its intensity and concentrated impact on certain areas of the city, particularly the historic center.
