ROME — The iconic Colosseum of ancient Rome is set to host gladiator battles once again, albeit staged, for the first time in over 2000 years. This is part of a $1.5 million sponsorship agreement with Airbnb, aimed at fostering “a more conscious form of tourism.”
However, the announcement was met with mixed reactions from visitors and housing activists on Thursday. Many expressed concerns about the impact of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb on overtourism and the availability of affordable housing for locals and students.
The partnership between Airbnb and the Colosseum, announced on Wednesday, will see the short-term rental behemoth funding the revamp of an educational program within the ancient amphitheater. This program will delve into the history of the structure and the gladiators who once fought there.
As part of the experience, eight Airbnb users and their guests will have the unique opportunity to participate in mock gladiator battles after the Colosseum’s closing hours on May 7-8. They will follow the same underground path that the ancient gladiators used to reach the arena. Applications for this experience will open on Nov. 27 at no cost, with the “gladiators” being selected via a lottery system.
Alfonsina Russo, the superintendent of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, revealed to the Associated Press that the sponsorship deal coincides with the release of Ridley Scott’s new film “Gladiators II,” which premiered in Italy on Thursday.
Russo described the sponsorship as one of many such collaborations aimed at funding projects within the park. For instance, Italian fashion brand Tod’s has previously sponsored a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Roman monument, which included cleaning, replacing the arches’ locking system with new gates, and refurbishing the subterranean areas.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the partnership. Alberto Campailla, the coordinator of the Nonna Roma nonprofit organization, which focuses on providing housing and food for the underprivileged, labeled the campaign with Airbnb as “a disgrace” and a form of “touristification.”
He argued that Airbnb and similar platforms offering short-term rentals are “literally driving people out of not only the city center but also the outskirts and suburban neighborhoods.”
Tourists from other European cities struggling with overtourism also expressed their reservations about the deal.
“The Colosseum’s purpose today is to be a tourist attraction, not to transform into an amusement park,” said Jaime Montero, a tourist from Madrid. “In the end, tourism devours the essence of the cities, here in Rome, as in other capitals.”
Salvatore Di Matteo, visiting from Naples, viewed the deal as “another encroachment on the territory” by large corporations.
“If they start to meddle with sacred monuments like the Colosseum here in Rome, it is certainly a cause for concern,” he added.
The Colosseum, the largest amphitheater built by the ancient Romans, is a significant historical landmark. Constructed in the 1st century, it served as the hub of popular entertainment, hosting hunts and gladiator games, until the 6th century.
Bad punctuation and grammar, disagree
This is outrageous and disrespectful to the historical significance of the Colosseum. We should not be promoting violence for entertainment purposes.
Disagree – This is a gross exploitation of history and shows a lack of respect for the Colosseum’s significance.