Critics say the deal between Airbnb and the Colosseum will “trivialise” the arena, transforming the Roman icon into a theme park.
Romans are furious about an “insulting” deal to allow tourists to dress up as gladiators and stage mock fights in the Colosseum.
The public can apply to participate in the experience between November 27 and December 10, and will be chosen by lottery. The “fights” are set to take place in May.Enzo Foschi, a city councillor from the centre-left Democratic Party, said: “Having taken possession of the historic centre of Rome, making it into a huge theme park, now they want to trivialise the Colosseum. Rome is not Disneyland.”
He said Airbnb should cancel the “tourist-gladiator show” while still donating the $US1.5 million. That would demonstrate that the company was “a friend of Rome, protecting its unique artistic heritage without transforming it into a theme park”. The gladiator experience would “bring an increasingly wider audience closer to the cultural richness of the amphitheatre”. The gladiatorial sparring would have no impact on access to the site because it will take place “outside opening hours”.
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