Colosseum as a kitsch fairground?
Living statues dressed as Roman centurions or gladiators, market stalls and cars selling street food, photos and cheap souvenirs. Colosseum has degenerated to a kitsch fairground.
Booking.com
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, classic archaeological sites like Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain are being taken over by hustlers and hawkers, tourists are being ripped off, but most of the money they spend do not benefit the preservation of the heritage. Yet the council gets part of the booty. Most of the street vendors have authorization from the City of Rome to sell Italy souvenirs like Berlusconi rubbers, candy necklaces, fridge magnets, printed t-shirts, water bottles and inedible sandwiches at exorbitant prices and poseurs without a license are regularly arrested by the police. The clashes can get abusive and violet, but chaos is accepted as part of the ruling capitalist system.
For a price of a few euros you can have your picture taken with these ancient Romans.
Those who advocate for a more dignified presentation of the monument are now turning their hopes to the businessman Diego Della Valla. He has proposed to fund the restoration and management of Colosseum as a model of elegance. Maybe he can sort out the mayhem surrounding the site today?
Bit sad this. Are the hawkers inside the Colosseum, too, now?
I’ve heard about this before. It’s sad because it takes away from the experience. I guess we’ll see for ourselves next month – must make a mental note to buy things elsewhere, away from these haunts.
Julia
Must admit I haven’t been inside for years, so I’m not sure if there are hawkers. I doubt it though, but maybe Julia can enlighten us when she comes back from her Rome trip.