A stone building in Pompeii that was used for training by gladiators has been reopened to the public after a painstaking three-year restoration, becoming an emblem of the renaissance of the ancient site.

The House of the Gladiators collapsed eight years ago after days of heavy rain, with many of its precious frescoes damaged or destroyed.

At the time it was seen as a symbol of Italy’s neglect for its unrivalled cultural heritage, with Pompeii in particular suffering from years of bad management and underinvestment.

“It was a metaphor of Italy being incapable of taking care of its cultural treasures,” Corriere della Sera, a leading Italian newspaper, commented recently.

But the ancient city, which was buried under lava, pumice and ash from the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD79, has had its fortunes turned around under the leadership of director Massimo Osanna, who took up his post in 2016.