The Colosseum was fully brought back to light after two excavations that took place at the beginning of the 19th century. The idea of bringing the old monument back to its old splendour and using it once again had been flying around Rome ever since the 18th century, but the site had undergone serious damage throughout the centuries. During its long and turbulent life, it had been used as a home, a Christian place of worship and, most importantly, a source of rubble used to build other structures found across Rome. An effective restoration project was essential.