The Colosseum and Airbnb will team up to stage after-hours gladiatorial battles inside the world’s most famous ancient amphitheatre. The initiative has promoted fury from locals and experts who claim the Unesco heritage site is being turned into a “Disneyland”.
In two three-hour “experiences” at the Colosseum on 7 and 8 May, visitors will be led into the candle-lit arena after sunset, shown around the underground chambers where gladiators once prepared for battle, watch a gladiatorial fight and—following a light warriors’ supper of pomegranates, almonds and walnuts—take up swords in their own mock battle. Sixteen people will be selected to participate in the experiences, which can be booked via the Airbnb site from 27 November. “For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, the Colosseum returns to its original purpose as a venue for performances,” the rental platform said of the initiative, which was unveiled as the Ridley Scott film Gladiator II hit UK and US cinemas last week.
Airbnb is donating $1.5m to the archaeological park that runs the amphitheatre to support renovation and conservation work including a revamp of the site’s permanent collection.
However, the plans quickly drew a wave of derision. “We cannot turn one of the most important monuments in the world into a theme park,” wrote Rome city council's head of culture, Massimiliano Smeriglio, adding he had written to Airbnb to request that the company cancel the experiences without withdrawing the $1.5m donation.
Enzo Foschi, the local head of the Democratic Party, said: “we are not Disneyland, we are Rome”. Viviana Piccirilli Di Capua, the head of an association representing residents in the historic centre, described the initiative as “an insult to the city’s world heritage status”.
As controversy over the Colosseum initiative swirled, Airbnb released a statement explaining that “immersive activities” were “in full respect of the monument” and “based on rigorous historical research”. Alfonsina Russo, the head of the Colosseum archaeological park, said the project aimed to “enhance historical and cultural heritage”.
The row has erupted as residents across Italy accuse Airbnb of contributing to a boom in short-term lets that is creating a shortage of housing and driving out locals in cities like Rome, Florence and Venice due to unaffordable rents.
This month, Florence locals have shown their discontent by plastering red tape over key boxes, a loathed symbol of over tourism. Mayors in cities including Florence and Rome have called on the government to provide more powers for limiting short-term rentals.
The Colosseum initiative has won plaudits from senior members of Brothers of Italy, prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s party. Federico Mollicone, a key Meloni ally who heads the culture commission in Italy’s lower house, accused left-wing politicians of harbouring “prejudice against Romanness” and “hatred towards the tradition of Roman history.