Roman Empire's most iconic heritage site might soon turn into "Disneyland"

Lawmakers and citizens of Rome are expressing outrage over a $1.5 million deal that could transform one of the city's most treasured heritage sites into a Hollywood promotional venue.

Airbnb, the US-based short-term rental platform, has signed an agreement with the Italian authorities overseeing the Roman Colosseum to offer 16 people a "gladiatorial experience" at the 2,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site next year.

"Those brave enough to rise to the challenge will follow in the footsteps once traversed by victorious fighters," the Airbnb advertisement on their website states.

"Suit up in historically accurate armour, and put their skills to the test to determine their fate in battle," reads the advertisement.

Erica Battaglia, president of Rome’s Culture Commission, has warned that the Colosseum, as a UNESCO World Heritage site, should not be turned into an amusement park.

As reported by NPR, she commented on the Airbnb initiative, part of a marketing plan for the upcoming “Gladiator II” hollywood film, saying, "For what it represents, the Colosseum is a world heritage site and one must go in the direction to protect it, but also to make it accessible to all and to prevent it from becoming a place of pranks for a select few."

Enzo Foschi, a politician with the center-left Democratic Party, which currently governs Rome, criticized the Colosseum Archaeological Park, managed by the national cultural ministry, for agreeing to the Airbnb deal during a time when many Italian cities are struggling with overtourism.

"A publicity stunt by Airbnb which, after having effectively taken possession of the historic center, completely distorting it and turning it into a large tourist park, now wants to ridicule the Colosseum," he said. "We are not in Disneyland, we are in Rome. Every now and then someone seems to forget it."

In response, the Colosseum Archaeological Park has defended the event, stating that it will take place outside the Colosseum’s regular hours of operation, and that the $1.5 million raised will go toward the conservation and restoration of the site.

Rome, which will host millions of visitors for the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee Year 2025, is grappling with how to balance its cultural heritage with the growing pressures of overtourism. An example is another major tourist attraction, the Trevi Fountain, which will soon begin limiting tourist access and may soon charge visitors who wish to throw coins into its waters for good luck.

By Nazrin Sadigova