PHASE ONE: The first phase of the restoration works on the Colosseum is over — one year after it began, thanks to a total 25 million euros sponsorship by Tod’s. As scaffolding started being pulled down on Monday, Diego Della Valle, who helms the Italian luxury group, said, “Let’s hope that operations such as this will increasingly proliferate because our country is rich in monuments and wonderful locations that deserve to be restored and made available to everyone.” Della Valle has repeatedly urged his peers to contribute to the preservation of Italy’s historical sites and beauties and several, including Renzo Rosso and Brunello Cucinelli, as well the Ferragamo family, Fendi, Prada and Gucci, to name a few, have channeled funds to this end. “We are confident that many other firms, in addition to those that [are already part of it], will join this great project to support our country,” concluded Della Valle. The works on the Roman amphitheater are expected to be completed in mid-2016.