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Rome’s ancient Colosseum has witnessed a number of historic battles, with toga-clad crowds once storming the massive hall to watch gladiators duke it out against opponents including lions and baboons.

But apparently the days of struggle are not over yet.

The 2,000-year-old site is now the scene of another epic clash – one emblematic of Italy’s current struggle to balance its growing post-Covid tourism industry with the needs of locals who feel under siege now that their villages and towns are becoming unliveable tourist playgrounds.

On one side of the arena is vacation rental giant Airbnb and the Colosseum Archaeological Park, which oversees the ruined structure, one of Rome’s most visited attractions.

The two organizations have signed a $1.5 million deal to offer 16 tourists the opportunity to “unleash their inner gladiator” by booking a free experience at the Colosseum as part of the recently released Paramount film “Gladiator II.” directed by Ridley Scott.

“You feel the rush of adrenaline, the sand between your fingers and the weight of your armor. You’ll hear the echoes of past gladiators in the catacombs of the Colosseum and the unmistakable clash of steel in the arena. You will see the reflection of the moon on the travertine stone through the sweat that drips down your face. You will become a gladiator,” the AirBnB ad promises.

On the other side is Rome’s cultural councilor, Massimiliano Smeriglio. He has asked the rental platform to withdraw the plan, but to leave the money. He says the promotion is an insult to the historic status of the Colosseum.

“The problem is not the public-private relationship or the desire of big brands to support protection and conservation,” Smeriglio said in a statement shared with CNN. “But to avoid a demeaning use of our historical-artistic heritage, especially when it comes to a monument as unique in the world as the Colosseum.”

‘Place of Jokes’

As part of the Airbnb promotion, announced this week, would-be gladiators can sign up on the short-term rental platform from November 27 for a chance to be one of 16 eligible to take part in a ‘mock battle’ against each other in full gladiator attire in May 2025. The experience is free, but winners must arrange their transportation and accommodation in the Eternal City.

Smeriglio is not alone in his opposition. The president of Rome’s Cultural Commission, Erica Battaglia, has warned that the UNESCO heritage site cannot be turned into an amusement park.

“For what it represents, the Colosseum is a World Heritage Site and you need to move in the direction of protecting it, but also making it accessible to everyone and preventing it from becoming a joke for a select few,” she said . in a statement Friday.

The city of Rome, which will receive millions of visitors for the Vatican’s declared Holy Jubilee year of 2025, is struggling to find the balance between managing its cultural offering and turning the city into what some dismiss as an amusement park.

The Trevi Fountain, which is undergoing a major renovation, will soon start restricting entry for tourists and may soon start selling tickets to visitors who want to queue up to throw their coins into the water for good luck.

‘We are not Disneyland’

Enzo Foschi, a politician from the center-left Democratic Party that currently controls Rome, criticized the Colosseum Archaeological Park, which operates under the national culture ministry, for agreeing to the Airbnb deal at a time when many Italian cities are struggling with overtourism.

“A publicity stunt by Airbnb which, after actually taking possession of the historic center, completely distorting it and turning it into a large tourist park, now wants to make fun of the Colosseum,” he said on Friday. “We’re not in Disneyland, we’re in Rome. Every now and then someone seems to forget.”

The Archaeological Park of the Colosseum has stood firm, insisting that the event will take place outside Colosseum opening hours and will not hinder access to the site.

Management said in a statement that the plan is essentially to “enhance the historical and cultural heritage of the amphitheater through immersive activities in full respect of the monument, based on rigorous historical research.” Upon request, Airbnb forwarded all questions to the authorities in Rome.

“The collaboration aims to combine conservation, education and innovation to bring an ever-wider audience closer to the cultural richness of the amphitheater,” the statement said. The $1.5 million would go towards the preservation and ongoing restoration of the site, it added.

The controversial collaboration is also supported by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy. Federico Mollicone, a member of her party and chairman of the House of Representatives’ Culture Committee, said he welcomes the innovative idea.

“The Archaeological Park of the Colosseum did well to sign a memorandum of understanding with the historical reenactment associations, which also guaranteed tourists a gladiator show of high scientific quality, coordinated by officials of the Ministry of Culture,” he said on Friday in response to Smeriglio’s criticism.

“We reiterate our absolute support for the agreement between public and private in the field of culture, through partnerships or sponsorship, provided that they support initiatives of scientific and cultural value and approved by the Ministry of Culture.”

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