Rome is the most famous city in the world. Millions of tourists each year come to visit the Vatican, heart of the Catholic faith, and admire Rome's ancient ruins. But it is the Colosseum that is perhaps their favourite stop: the iconic heart of the Roman Empire, where heroes were made and broken. But it is not the first gladiatorial arena to be built in Italy.

Scientists and engineers are interviewed as they carefully wash and repair the Colosseum facade thanks to a controversial public-private partnership involving the Italian fashion house Tod's. But returning the Colosseum to its ancient glory is no small task. Scaffolding stretches 55 meters up to the top of one of the Eternal City's best viewpoints.