Friday, August 15, 2008

Italy Plans Disneyland-style Theme Park Depicting Ancient Rome

The ANNOTICO Report

 

I'm divided. Why the "Faux" in the middle of the REAL. But then what better place to have it, to better appreciate the Historic Sites?

Would it be better to have, or an equally good idea to have, "Ancient Romes" all over the world ?

 

Italy plans Disneyland-style theme park depicting Ancient Rome

The Italians have come up with a novel plan to halt the decline in tourists to their capital city - a Disneyland-style theme park depicting the sights and sounds of Ancient Rome.

The Ancient Rome theme park plan is a response to falling visitor numbers

London Telegraph

By Richard Alleyne
August 15,  2008

Despite having the genuine marvels on offer, from the Colosseum to the Forum to the Pantheon, civic leaders feel it is not enough and want the new park to come complete with gladiators and Julius Caesar.

Mauro Cutrufo, the deputy mayor, said: "Our model is EuroDisney in Paris." The aim is to have the family friendly entertainment park or "Rome from Rome" open for customers within three to four years, he said.

Instead of Pirates of the Caribbean, visitors would be offered rides through a replica of the Colosseum, where they could watch gladiators fighting each other or wild animals, as the Emperor looked on.

The park would offer attractions based on life both in republican Rome, ending with the murder of Julius Caesar and civil war, and the power and might of the Roman Empire.

But the plans, which will be built on a 1,000 acre site and cost more than #500m, have been criticised by some quarters.

Claudio Mancini, head of tourism for the Lazio region said the theme park was incompatible with Rome's character and urban preservation plan.

"I say no to Americanisation," he said. There were, in any case, considerable planning regulation hurdles to overcome, since "1,000 acres is no small amount of land".

This year is proving a "black year" for tourism in Rome with tourist numbers down five per cent. Fears are that thousands of waiters, cooks and hotel staff will have to be laid off.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/2562473/Italy-plans-Disneyland-style-theme-park-depicting-Ancient-Rome.html

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