A section of the medieval Torre dei Conti in central Rome collapsed on November 3rd, killing one worker and injuring several others. The 13th-century tower, which was undergoing restoration funded by the European Union, is now the focus of an investigation into safety standards at the site.
By Talia Bega
The Torre dei Conti once stood as a medieval castle in the centre of Rome throughout the Middle Ages. It was built in the 13th century by the Conti family after a civil conflict broke out between two powerful families at the time—the Conti and the Orsini—over control of the city. Commissioned by Pope Innocent III, who was a member of the Conti family, it was constructed in remembrance of the conflict that had once divided Rome. Designed by the architect Marchione d’Arezzo in 1238, the tower was built in several stages.
Located at the heart of the Roman ruins, just steps away from the Colosseum, the Torre dei Conti now stands 29 metres (95 feet) tall, though it originally rose to around 60 metres before earthquakes and other damage reduced its height. By the 19th century, the tower had largely been forgotten. It was used for coal storage, and new streets and pavements, including the Via dei Fori Imperiali, were built around it. The interior has not been open to the public but was used for museum displays and as city offices in the early 21st century. Due to limited documentation and space constraints, little was known about earlier repairs until the recent 2025 renovation works.
On the morning of November 3rd, parts of the tower collapsed in two stages over a span of 90 minutes, killing one person and injuring several others. The man who later died, a Romanian worker, succumbed to his injuries after being trapped under the rubble for more than 11 hours before firefighters managed to rescue him. Heavy debris and dust in the air made the rescue operation extremely difficult.
JUST IN: Rome, Italy 🇮🇹
The Middle Ages come crashing down
The 95-foot-tall tower, a magnificent example of Rome’s medieval tower-houses that served as both homes and fortresses for baronial families and ecclesiastical authorities, just collapsedpic.twitter.com/rZ6AQMQpdd
Earlier in the year, the Torre dei Conti had been undergoing extensive renovations funded by the European Union. At the time of the collapse, a crowd of tourists nearby recorded the event as it happened. Many reported that it felt like an earthquake, with the ground shaking as debris fell. Several workers were said to have been inside the site when the collapse occurred, though the exact cause of the failure remains unknown. The tower’s structure also made it difficult for rescuers to reach those trapped, as additional debris continued to fall during the operation.
The following morning, many gathered at the scene in disbelief at what had occurred. One tourist remarked that they had not even known such a building existed, as much of Rome’s medieval past is now hidden or lost. News crews and journalists arrived to cover the story, alongside members of the fire department and emergency services. Some speculated that a recent earthquake in Lazio may have contributed to the collapse, while others pointed to vibrations from the nearby Metro line as a possible cause.
At 11:00 p.m., Octav Stroici, 66, of Romania, was rescued after being trapped for 11 hours. However, he suffered cardiac arrest and died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The Romanian embassy sent condolences to his family, including his wife, who was present at the site when the incident occurred. Another Romanian worker sustained minor injuries. Both men were employed on the conservation project funded by the European Union.
The case remains under investigation, with new charges of manslaughter being considered in connection with the worker’s death and ongoing concerns about safety practices at the site.
A section of the medieval Torre dei Conti in central Rome collapsed on November 3rd, killing one worker and injuring several others. The 13th-century tower, which was undergoing restoration funded by the European Union, is now the focus of an investigation into safety standards at the site.
By Talia Bega
The Torre dei Conti once stood as a medieval castle in the centre of Rome throughout the Middle Ages. It was built in the 13th century by the Conti family after a civil conflict broke out between two powerful families at the time—the Conti and the Orsini—over control of the city. Commissioned by Pope Innocent III, who was a member of the Conti family, it was constructed in remembrance of the conflict that had once divided Rome. Designed by the architect Marchione d’Arezzo in 1238, the tower was built in several stages.
Located at the heart of the Roman ruins, just steps away from the Colosseum, the Torre dei Conti now stands 29 metres (95 feet) tall, though it originally rose to around 60 metres before earthquakes and other damage reduced its height. By the 19th century, the tower had largely been forgotten. It was used for coal storage, and new streets and pavements, including the Via dei Fori Imperiali, were built around it. The interior has not been open to the public but was used for museum displays and as city offices in the early 21st century. Due to limited documentation and space constraints, little was known about earlier repairs until the recent 2025 renovation works.
On the morning of November 3rd, parts of the tower collapsed in two stages over a span of 90 minutes, killing one person and injuring several others. The man who later died, a Romanian worker, succumbed to his injuries after being trapped under the rubble for more than 11 hours before firefighters managed to rescue him. Heavy debris and dust in the air made the rescue operation extremely difficult.
Earlier in the year, the Torre dei Conti had been undergoing extensive renovations funded by the European Union. At the time of the collapse, a crowd of tourists nearby recorded the event as it happened. Many reported that it felt like an earthquake, with the ground shaking as debris fell. Several workers were said to have been inside the site when the collapse occurred, though the exact cause of the failure remains unknown. The tower’s structure also made it difficult for rescuers to reach those trapped, as additional debris continued to fall during the operation.
The following morning, many gathered at the scene in disbelief at what had occurred. One tourist remarked that they had not even known such a building existed, as much of Rome’s medieval past is now hidden or lost. News crews and journalists arrived to cover the story, alongside members of the fire department and emergency services. Some speculated that a recent earthquake in Lazio may have contributed to the collapse, while others pointed to vibrations from the nearby Metro line as a possible cause.
At 11:00 p.m., Octav Stroici, 66, of Romania, was rescued after being trapped for 11 hours. However, he suffered cardiac arrest and died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The Romanian embassy sent condolences to his family, including his wife, who was present at the site when the incident occurred. Another Romanian worker sustained minor injuries. Both men were employed on the conservation project funded by the European Union.
The case remains under investigation, with new charges of manslaughter being considered in connection with the worker’s death and ongoing concerns about safety practices at the site.
Talia Bega, who studies at the American University of Rome, is our correspondent. You can follow her History with Talia substack or on Instagram @history_with_talia
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