The fourth and fifth levels of the Colosseum will be accessible to visitors on guided tours from 4 October, for the first time in 40 years.
In addition to the top floors, tourists can visit a connecting tunnel which was has never been open to the public until now.
The tour will begin on the third floor, once reserved for ancient Rome's middle-classes, and upwards to the fourth and fifth floors, reserved for the city's ordinary citizens, or plebians. Although they were far from the grisly spectacles in the arena below, the plebians were sheltered from the sun and rain by a colonnade, and tickets were free.

At a height approaching 50 metres, the fifth ring of the Colosseum provides today's visitors with a unique perspective of the 2,000-year-old monument as well as a 360° view of Rome.

The reopening of the upper levels is part of the €25 million restoration project financed by Italian shoe magnate Tods, the first phase of which was completed in July 2016.
From 4-31 October, those who have already booked a guided tour of the underground and the arena floor can request access to the fourth and fifth level without any extra charge. However from 1 November reservation is compulsory and tickets to visit the fourth and fifth tiers cost an extra €9 on top of the €12 ticket covering entry to the Roman Forum, Palatine and Colosseum. To book tickets tel. 0639967700 or see Coopculture website.