Italian archaeology officials on Wednesday played down news reports that chunks of masonry had been falling off the Colosseum, left. That first-century arena is one of the most popular tourist draws in Italy. "Nothing has collapsed" at the Colosseum "since r the 18th century," said a statement issued by a department of the culture ministry that is responsible for the archaeological sites of Rome. On Christmas Day tourists found on the ground small fragments of tufo, the porous rock typically used in ancient Roman monuments. Anna Maria Moretti, the official responsible for the ancient sites, denied that any more material had fallen on Tuesday and noted that the tufo that detached on Sunday came from a patch smaller than five centimeters, or less than two inches. The Colosseum is about to undergo an extensive restoration, costing about 33 million and sponsored by Diego Della Valle, owner of the Tod's luxury goods brand. Work is scheduled to begin in March.