$800-million ancient Rome theme park planned - in Rome

M II A II R II K · #1 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 3:00 PM**

$800-million ancient Rome theme park planned - in Rome

April 20, 2012

By James Bone

Read More: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/mi...881/story.html

Quote:

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 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. A survey of 1,300 tourists who visited Rome recently found that 36 per cent would return to see a "Romaland" theme park. One official said the theme park would extend the length of the average tourist's stay in Rome from 2.4 days to three days. Officials hope to identify a location in the next few weeks and then announce an international competition to design the theme park.

- The provincial tourism chief called it "a useless kitsch idea." Some joked that it would be "like building a zoo in the jungle" - but the $800-million project has been given new life by the interest of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani. Alemanno, the centre-right mayor of Rome, presented the project to the emir this week as one of several proposals. "We showed the emir several plans. The one that most caught his attention and the one which he said he wants his people to work on is the idea of a theme park on ancient Rome," Alemanno said. "He said he was very willing to take part in this investment."

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rs913 · #2 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 3:45 PM**

Can they build "Vaticanland" right next to it?

krudmonk · #3 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs913

Can they build "Vaticanland" right next to it?

Hopefully not a kids' park...

miketoronto · #4 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 4:05 PM**

What a stupid idea. Part of the fun now is walking through the ruins and imagining what it was like.
People need way too much stimulation today.

M II A II R II K · #5 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 4:18 PM**

It would even have virtual reality taking place in it to view history as it was happening.

vid · #6 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 4:36 PM**

How many North American cities have replicas of the forts that were the first white settlements in their community? The one in my city is our top tourist attraction.

M II A II R II K · #7 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 4:41 PM**

That's probably because there's little else in Thunder Bay to attract people there, unlike Rome.

Although this development wouldn't take away from the current tourist attractions and would add to it. Like they said it would add a few days on average to people's visits there.

SHOFEAR · #8 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

That's probably because there's little else in Thunder Bay to attract people there, unlike Rome.

Your dismissal of those recreations are rather unfortunate. They provide wonderful interactive displays that provide a way to experience and learn about local history.

BnaBreaker · #9 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 8:33 PM**

This disgusts me on so many levels. Finally, dumb tourists have a way to travel to Rome and see it without having to also deal with icky gross undesirable things that reality offers such as real Italians speaking Italian, dirt build up on the centuries old buildings, the scary dark streets of an actual urban area, and Italian food that is nothing like the authentic stuff at The Olive Garden that they're used to.

jd3189 · #10 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 8:52 PM**

This should be in Dubai. They are ones trying to create their own "world".

M II A II R II K · #11 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 9:08 PM**

Well the Emir of Qatar stepped in to help develop it.

Darkoshvilli · #12 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 10:29 PM**

I'd love to visit both the actual ruins and this place.

TarHeelJ · #13 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 10:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

This disgusts me on so many levels. Finally, dumb tourists have a way to travel to Rome and see it without having to also deal with icky gross undesirable things that reality offers such as real Italians speaking Italian, dirt build up on the centuries old buildings, the scary dark streets of an actual urban area, and Italian food that is nothing like the authentic stuff at The Olive Garden that they're used to.

Don't blame this on Americans...at least it sounds like that's who you're disparaging. Although it seems like an American-style idea, I didn't see any mention of anyone from the U.S. being involved (thank God).

kool maudit · #14 Posted: **Apr 21, 2012, 11:50 PM**

inauthentic, late-capitalist phantasmagoria (i'll totally check it out).

bunt_q · #15 Posted: **Apr 22, 2012, 12:06 AM**

Hey, we made it a whole dozen posts before some stupid idea on the other side of the world became America's fault. Can we call that progress?

TarHeelJ · #16 Posted: **Apr 22, 2012, 2:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

Hey, we made it a whole dozen posts before some stupid idea on the other side of the world became America's fault. Can we call that progress?

Well, I believe the "blaming America" post was #9...I just opposed it in #13.

BnaBreaker · #17 Posted: **Apr 23, 2012, 1:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

Don't blame this on Americans...at least it sounds like that's who you're disparaging. Although it seems like an American-style idea, I didn't see any mention of anyone from the U.S. being involved (thank God).

I'm not blaming America. I didn't even use the word. But thanks for the lecture.

TarHeelJ · #18 Posted: **Apr 23, 2012, 4:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

I'm not blaming America. I didn't even use the word. But thanks for the lecture.

You didn't have to mention the U.S...your Olive Garden reference and "scary dark streets of an actual urban area" totally gave you away. Who else would you be talking about? Please let me know if I was incorrect.

Some people need a lecture. You're welcome.

isaidso · #19 Posted: **Apr 23, 2012, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

How many North American cities have replicas of the forts that were the first white settlements in their community? The one in my city is our top tourist attraction.

The fort in Thunder Bay is a replica? Good grief. All the ones I've ever been to out east are real.

jg6544 · #20 Posted: **Apr 23, 2012, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

$800-million ancient Rome theme park planned - in Rome

April 20, 2012

By James Bone

Read More: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/mi...881/story.html

They would be smarter to take the money and use it on preserving some of actual ancient Rome (e.g., the Colosseum) and uncovering more of what's there.