Online holiday rental platform Airbnb on Wednesday started raffling off tickets for gladiator-style fights at Rome’s iconic Colosseum next year, despite considerable criticism.
The ancient arena in Rome is to be opened for what would be the first such event in over 1,500 years on two evenings in May next year. Up to 36 tickets will be given away, with the draw open until December 10.
Airbnb has been facing backlash in Rome – as in other cities – for exacerbating the shortage of affordable housing by renting out apartments to tourists on a short-term basis.
In Rome, this issue is particularly severe, prompting strong opposition from local citizens’ initiatives. Another major criticism is the transformation of the UNESCO World Heritage site into a type of leisure park, drawing comparisons to “Disneyland.”
With about 7 million tourists per year, the Colosseum is one of Italy’s most visited attractions. Built between 72 and 82 AD, the arena was the site of gladiator battles until the…
