Ancient Roman VIPs used secret Colosseum tunnel

Visitors to the world-famous Colosseum in Rome, can now walk through a secret tunnel, following in the footsteps of ancient emperors.

The hidden walkway is called the Commodus Passage, named after a Roman emperor.

It let emperors get VIP access into the arena without walking through the busy crowds.

Historians believe Emperor Commodus once survived an attack on his life in an underground passage and that this might be the very tunnel where it happened.

The Colosseum is a giant stone arena where people in ancient Rome watched organised shows and gladiator battles.

It opened almost 2,000 years ago, in the year 80 AD.

It's believed the secret tunnel was added later, around 100 AD, and was first re-discovered in the 1800s.

Long ago, the tunnel had shiny marble walls, colourful paintings of animals and spectacles such as bear fights and acrobats, and even scenes from myths.

Some of these decorations are still there today, but the damp underground has made it hard to keep them in good condition.

Luckily, a special video for visitors shows what the passage might have looked like all those years ago – full of colour and scenes of action.

Archaeologist Barbara Nazzaro, who helped restore the tunnel, said:

"This passage is now open to the public, it's the first time. And so (visitors will) appreciate what it was like to be an emperor."