The Roman Amphitheater is preparing to reopen its doors to the public and, after years of waiting, return to being a fully accessible space for the city. While awaiting the site's definitive revitalization, which will also host small-scale performances in the future, the city's most famous and important Roman monument, currently only partially accessible from above via the old Malgarise trail, will once again be accessible. Even by electric go-kart. And to eliminate the current degradation in the area , the Municipality intends to relocate the feline colony that currently inhabits part of the archaeological site .
The construction site is now ready to begin . The contract for the partial reopening of the monument has been awarded. The project is valued at €209,000. This is the first stage of a two-stage reopening. The technical and economic feasibility study, developed by Studio DMC, represents a preparatory step for the final restoration and enhancement project of the Amphitheater, for which the Municipality of Cagliari has already allocated €4 million. The goal, therefore, is to intervene immediately without compromising future restoration work.
The first area to be affected by the work is the entrance and ticket office, which will be reorganized and connected to the access ramp via a continuous walkway between the ticket office and the entrance. The old barriers will be removed and the greenery will be landscaped. The existing cat colony will also be relocated to a specially equipped space in the gardens between Via Fra Nicola da Gesturi, Via Nicolodi, and Via Giussani . The move, according to the Municipality's documents, aims to "ensure more suitable conditions for the management and well-being of the animals and, at the same time, improve the decorum, hygiene, and usability of the archaeological site."
Particular attention will also be paid to the access ramp and the boundary wall. Another intervention will concern the border with the Botanical Garden . The wall will not be demolished, but its visual impact will be reduced by effectively "reconnecting" it with the surrounding landscape: metal mesh will allow climbing plants to grow to screen the wall. At the same time, weeds will be removed, and native and ornamental plants such as pomegranate trees, hawthorns, and acanthus will be planted in their place.
The former dressing rooms and restrooms block, now severely dilapidated, will be screened with printed canvases and panels that, in addition to hiding the ruins, will also tell the story of the Amphitheater. Shade cloths will also be installed on the roof for visitors.
The heart of the project, however, will be the arena, the underground areas, and the stage pit, where the system of walkways at different levels will be reorganized. Safety will be ensured through a series of measures.
Among the most significant interventions is the removal of the earth fill in the stage pit, which had previously accumulated to allow the passage of vehicles during the dismantling of the wooden steps. This will allow the area to be revitalized and included in the visitor route . New nighttime lighting is also planned, designed not only to enhance the monument's visual impact but also to deter intrusions and vandalism. The plan identifies four different routes , each with different characteristics, to allow the widest possible audience to experience the monument.
