Italy has earmarked more than $30 million to rebuild the arena floor in the Colosseum where gladiators once fought wild beasts.
"A promise kept: the Colosseum will have its arena once more. Plan for reconstruction financed," Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said said on Twitter after announcing 18.5 million euros ($31.5 million) for a refurbishment which could see the ancient space host modern day cultural events.
In total, the cultural ministry approved 80 million euros worth of investments in the country's museums and heritage sites.
Of that, 18 million euros will go towards enlarging the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, while 5 million has been set aside for the Museum of Ancient ships in Pisa, where nine Roman cargo ships discovered in 1998 are set to go on display.
Franceschini said in December last year that he hoped to rebuild the wooden and sand floor in Rome's famous 2000-year-old monument, after it was removed by excavators in the late 19th century.