Airbnb’s Colosseum Gladiator Experience draws outrage

Rome residents and local politicians are expressing strong opposition to an initiative by Airbnb to organize gladiator fights inside the historic Colosseum monument as part of the promotion for the Paramount film "Gladiator II," directed by Ridley Scott. The announcement sparked a wave of criticism from citizens and officials who believe the event trivializes the cultural heritage of the ancient amphitheater.

Viviana Piccirilli Di Capua, the coordinator of the association Inhabitants of the Historic Center of Rome, denounced the initiative as "an offense to UNESCO heritage," according to El Tiempo. 

She described the project as "unscrupulous" and stated that it will contribute "to alter the history and the daily life of the inhabitants" of Rome, according to El Espectador. 

"Our archaeological heritage deserves much more, and Rome cannot become an amusement park," councilors Michela Cicculli and Alessandro Luparelli stated. They further described the event as "meaningless entertainment."

Participants in the initiative will take the same underground route used by gladiators in ancient Rome to reach the arena, with the purpose of "overturning decades of stereotypes about the world of gladiators." according to a report by Milenio. 

Other local representatives, including councilor Mariastella Urru of municipality XIII, expressed their rejection of the initiative. Urru lamented the impact the event could have on the perception of the city, stating: "While a handful of tourists will play at being gladiators, the rest of the city will be excluded from this historic space." 

"While a handful of tourists will play at being gladiators, the rest of the city will continue the fight, the real one, against a rental market that now makes it impossible to rent an apartment in our city," she added. 

Despite the criticism, Airbnb emphasized that its collaboration with the Archaeological Park includes a commitment to support the project "Il Colosseo si racconta," which includes an educational program covering the history of the Colosseum and gladiators.

The Archaeological Park stated that the initiative aims to "combine conservation, education, and innovation to bring the cultural wealth of the amphitheater closer to an increasingly broad audience." 

The Colosseum, known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began construction in 71 A.D. under the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was inaugurated in 80 A.D. by his successor, Titus. Built in a valley after draining a lake from Nero's Domus Aurea, the Colosseum reached monumental dimensions: 188 meters long, 156 meters wide, and 57 meters high, making it the most important and largest amphitheater constructed by the ancient Romans. Constructed with brick and faced with travertine, the Colosseum had a capacity for 50,000 spectators distributed by social classes.

The Colosseum was the center of popular entertainment, hosting spectacles, hunts, and gladiator games, until the 6th century, once filled with crowds dressed in togas watching gladiators face opponents, including lions and baboons. Although the Colosseum suffered damage during World War II, it remains an icon of cultural heritage and a survivor of centuries of history and conflicts.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq