View of the Colosseum dungeons which have been restored in a multi-million euro project sponsored by fashion group Tod's in Rome, Italy, June 24 2021. The operation will continue next week, the city government said in a statement, cleaning up the green areas surrounding the Colosseum, the drains where the rats are commonplace, and laying traps. There are around 7 million rats in the city, the statement said, or 2.5 for every inhabitant. City hall issued photos of cleaning staff collecting heaps of plastic water bottles, drink cans and other debris against the backdrop of an illuminated Colosseum. Built 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre in the Roman empire and was used to host gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts.

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Persons: Remo Casilli, Sabrina Alfonsi, Alfonsi, Gavin Jones, Alvise Armellini, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Rome's