Rome Metro Line A

The Cavour - San Pietro in Vincoli - Colloseo section of the Rome Metro Line A was the most complicated part of the entrire Metro Line due to the open excavation happening through the busy via Cavour and the historical buildings including the Colosseum.
It was expected to be completed in 1942 for the Universal Exhibition although in 1940 it was put in stand by due to the second World War. At such date, the 1,630m tunnel from Termini to Arco di Costantino  had already been completed. Only the Colosseo connection was to be built while the Giovanni Lanza station, due to a modification to the initial design, was still to be built.
During the War, the tunnels were used as Underground Air Shelters together with other tunnels, ramified from the existing ones, built purposely for protection of local population.
Works restarted again in the late 1946.