Medieval History
The wonders of the ancient city of Rome will be re-created as a gigantic theme park a few kilometres from the original monuments, if Gianni Alemanno, the mayor, has his way.
The grandiose project is being nicknamed the Disneyland of Ancient Rome or Romaland. Those backing the project envisage millions of tourists having the chance to stroll through the ancient forum, race chariots around the Circus Maximus, climb down into the catacombs or loll in the Baths of Caracalla.
Visitors will get to watch gladiator fights and battle re-enactments in the Colosseum, although officials say it is unlikely that a full-size version will be built. "The idea is to give the visitor a sense of what the ancient life of Rome was. That's the target," Antonio Gazzellone, Rome's leading tourist official, said.
The plans call for a 240-hectare site on the outskirts of Rome with five hotels, all of which will generate 9,000 jobs. The designers say that an estimated five million foreigners and three million Italians will visit the park every year.
Click here to read this article from the Ottawa Citizen
See also Qatar could invest in ancient Rome theme park: reports
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- Rome's Colosseum Leaning Precariously
The ancient Colosseum of Rome, where gladiators fought for their lives, is slanting about 40 centimetres lower on the south side than on the north, and authorities are investigating whether it needs urgent repairs. Experts first noticed the incline about...
- 'capitoline Wolf' Could Be 1,700 Years Younger
A study has shown that the ?Capitoline Wolf,? a bronze statue representing Ancient Rome's most famous symbol, was probably sculpted during the Middle Ages, some 17 centuries later than what has long been thought, media reports said Saturday. Researchers...
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Medieval History
$800-million ancient Rome theme park planned - in Rome
The wonders of the ancient city of Rome will be re-created as a gigantic theme park a few kilometres from the original monuments, if Gianni Alemanno, the mayor, has his way.
The grandiose project is being nicknamed the Disneyland of Ancient Rome or Romaland. Those backing the project envisage millions of tourists having the chance to stroll through the ancient forum, race chariots around the Circus Maximus, climb down into the catacombs or loll in the Baths of Caracalla.
Visitors will get to watch gladiator fights and battle re-enactments in the Colosseum, although officials say it is unlikely that a full-size version will be built. "The idea is to give the visitor a sense of what the ancient life of Rome was. That's the target," Antonio Gazzellone, Rome's leading tourist official, said.
The plans call for a 240-hectare site on the outskirts of Rome with five hotels, all of which will generate 9,000 jobs. The designers say that an estimated five million foreigners and three million Italians will visit the park every year.
Click here to read this article from the Ottawa Citizen
See also Qatar could invest in ancient Rome theme park: reports
- Rome's Lost Empire, Bbc One, Review
Iain Hollingshead reviews Rome's Lost Empire, BBC One's one-off documentary in which Dan Snow uses satellite technology to identify the lost cities, amphitheatres and forts of ancient Rome. Just when you thought television had had its fill of...
- Rome's Colosseum Leaning Precariously
The ancient Colosseum of Rome, where gladiators fought for their lives, is slanting about 40 centimetres lower on the south side than on the north, and authorities are investigating whether it needs urgent repairs. Experts first noticed the incline about...
- 'capitoline Wolf' Could Be 1,700 Years Younger
A study has shown that the ?Capitoline Wolf,? a bronze statue representing Ancient Rome's most famous symbol, was probably sculpted during the Middle Ages, some 17 centuries later than what has long been thought, media reports said Saturday. Researchers...
- Rome Cracks Down On Marauding Centurions
Rome has given the centurions a deadline to clear out. The solders in question aren't from the ranks of an ancient legion, but are modern-day performers who pose for tourist photos at the Colosseum. Men and women decked out in chest plates and helmets...
- Large Ancient Shipyard Discovered Near Rome
University of Southampton and British School at Rome (BSR) archaeologists, leading an international excavation of Portus ? the ancient port of Rome, believe they have discovered a large Roman shipyard. The team, working with the Italian Archaeological...