Around six million tourists a year visit the Roman Colosseum. However, the vast amphitheatre, where contests between gladiators were held in ancient Rome, is suffering from damage due to pollution and traffic.

It has also been recently discovered that parts of the structure are starting to tilt.

However, a $33m restoration project funded by Diego Dellavalle, president and CEO of Italian leather goods company Tod's, has led to questions of why a private investor should be left to handle the first comprehensive restoration of the iconic building in 73 years.

Al Jazeera's Claudio Lavanga reports from Rome.