Reactions have been provoked in Italian society for the new collaboration of the short-term property rental platform, Airbnb, with the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, which offers its customers the experience of living as… gladiators.
As in the film “The Gladiator” by director Ridley Scott with Russell Crowe and as the relevant announcement on the Airbnb website states, “those brave enough to take up the challenge will follow the steps once crossed by victorious fighters, clothed in historically accurate armor and will test their abilities to determine their fate in battle.”
What it specifically offers are two three-hour experiences on May 7-8, 2025. Up to 16 people can participate in each, and those interested can apply on the platform from November 27 to December 9. The lucky ones will enter the Colosseum after the monument is closed to the rest of the visitors, follow the underground route that gladiators took in ancient Rome to reach the arena and participate in mock fights.
“For centuries,” continues Airbnb, “the Roman Colosseum has been the scene of epic battles and legendary gladiators. Now, for the first time in nearly 2,000 years, the Colosseum is returning to its original purpose as a performance venue, inviting bold warriors to set foot inside the historic arena to chart their own course and shape their destiny,” he notes. the announcement.
The curator of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Alfonsina Russo, told The Associated Press that the deal was made in conjunction with the release of Ridley Scott’s new film “Gladiator 2.”
Italian fashion brand Tod’s funded the multi-million renovation of the Roman monument, including cleaning, replacing the locking system of the arches with new gates and renovating the underground passages.
“Don’t turn Roman antiquities into a playground”
This initiative, however, was not liked by everyone. Alberto Cabaila, coordinator of Nonna Roma, a nonprofit organization that houses and feeds people in need, called it “disgraceful.” “Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms are literally driving people not only out of the inner city, but out of the suburban neighborhoods as well,” he told The Associated Press.
The president of the Housing Policy Committee, Yuri Trombetti, spoke of a “bad taste initiative” and appealed “not to turn the Roman antiquities into a playground”.
Also, tourists who have been to the Colosseum in recent days have expressed concerns about the said decision.
Read also:
Solz and Putin contact for the first time in two years: End the war in Ukraine
USA: A mother who was sentenced to death for infanticide is acquitted after 16 years in prison
Italy: In the streets students and pupils against Meloni for the “lack of support for schools and universities”
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘
fbq(‘init’, ‘726515947549353’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Airbnb #rents #Colosseum #clients.. #gladiators #Reactions #Rome
