ROME (AP) 鈥� The ancient will be the venue of gladiator fights 鈥� albeit staged 鈥� for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote 鈥渁 more conscious tourism.鈥�
But some visitors to the monument Thursday, as well as housing activists, were skeptical about the value of the arrangement, citing ongoing over the role of short-term rental platforms in fueling overtourism and limiting affordable housing for residents and students.
Under the deal announced by Airbnb and the Colosseum on Wednesday, the sponsorship by the short-term rental giant will cover the renewal of an educational program inside the ancient Roman amphitheater covering the history of the structure and gladiators.
Eight of the platform's users and their plus-ones will be able to participate in faux gladiator fights after the Colosseum's closing time on May 7-8, taking the same underground route used by gladiators in ancient Rome to reach the arena. People can apply for the experience on Nov. 27 at no cost, and the 鈥済ladiators鈥� will be chosen by lottery.
The superintendent of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Alfonsina Russo, told The Associated Press that the deal is in conjunction with the release of Ridley Scott's new film which opened in Italy on Thursday.
Russo characterized the sponsorship arrangement as one of the many to help finance projects at the park.
The Italian fashion brand Tod's, for example, has funded a multimillion renovation of the Roman monument, including a cleaning, replacing the locking system of arches with new gates and redoing the
Alberto Campailla, the coordinator of the Nonna Roma nonprofit organization that focuses on housing and food for the poor, called the campaign with Airbnb 鈥渁 disgrace,鈥� and a form of 鈥渢ouristification.鈥�
Airbnb and other platforms offering short-term rentals 鈥渁re literally driving people out of not only the city center, but also the outskirts and suburban neighborhoods,鈥� Campailla said.
Tourists from other European cities grappling with overtourism also took issue with the deal.
鈥淚t seems to me that the purpose of the Colosseum today is to be a tourist attraction, but not to create an amusement park within it,鈥� said Jaime Montero, a tourist visiting from Madrid. 鈥淚n the end, tourism eats the essence of the cities, here in Rome, as in other capitals.鈥�
Visiting from Naples, Salvatore Di Matteo saw the deal as 鈥測et another takeover of the territory鈥� by big companies.
"If they start to touch sacred monuments such as the Colosseum here in Rome, it is obviously something that should make us think and is, in any case, a bit worrying," he said.
The Colosseum is the most important and largest amphitheater constructed by the ancient Romans. Built in the 1st century, it was the center of popular entertainment, hosting hunts and gladiator games, until the 6th century.
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Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
Paolo Santalucia, The Associated Press
