Airbnb criticized for ‘making tourists fight like gladiators’ at the Colosseum

In Italy, there is public indignation regarding the permission issued by the state administration of the Colosseum to the American company Airbnb to rent the monument of ancient Roman architecture, for the purpose of two-day advertising.

Transfers UNN citing Wired and Spiegel.

Details

Online accommodation provider Airbnb rented the Colosseum from the Italian state for two nights for $1.5 million (over €1.4 million) to

Conduct a PR campaign called “Gladiator Experience”.

This event is scheduled to take place on May 7 and 8, 2025: it is expected that it will allow 16 participants, divided into eight pairs, to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of ancient Rome. The event is free, but requires a reservation through the Airbnb website.

But local public initiatives are outraged by the American company’s project.

The initial indignation turned into a real rebellion against the Airbnb gladiators – currently, the state administration of the Coliseum is accused of betraying all the promises to regulate mass tourism.

The Association of Residents of the Historic Center of Rome calls Airbnb’s PR performance “shameful” because it “contributes to the destruction of history and human lives.”

Others complain about the commercialization of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

“We’re not Disneyland, we’re Rome,” protests Roman police secretary Enzo Foschi, who accuses Airbnb of taking over the historic center, completely disfiguring it and turning it into a big tourist park, and now wants to make a mockery of the Colosseum “.

Airbnb says it wants to improve Europe’s cultural heritage, a project in which the platform has already invested nearly 10 million euros in restoration and donations. The agreement will actually serve the Coliseum for the reconstruction of its museum area.

Reference

The famous Colosseum in Rome is one of the most outstanding cultural monuments. The Amphitheater of Flavia (as the ancient Romans called it) was built in 80 AD. BC The Colosseum operated from 80 to 404, mainly as a venue for gladiator fights, spectacular animal fights, and public executions.

In addition to gladiatorial battles, naval battles were also held in the Colosseum. It was an amazing show that flooded the arena and used detailed reconstructions of warships. The preparation required large investments and scale, so naval battles were held only in the Colosseum.

For about 8 centuries, the Colosseum was abandoned and falling into disrepair. Building materials for other buildings were taken from it. Until now, marble and some stones of the amphitheater decorate St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Lateran Basilica, Palazzo Venezia.