Airbnb was hoping to capitalise on the release of Gladiator II – but critics say the short-term rental platform’s plans have gone too far.

Last week, Airbnb announced guests will be able to re-enact gladiator battles in Rome’s iconic Colosseum, where the original fights took place almost 2000 years ago.

The event is planned for May 7-8 in 2025, and will be limited to a maximum of three hours for groups of up to 16 guests.

Airbnb said the special Colosseum offering followed measures and commitments by the platform to revitalise heritage tourism in Europe.

Colosseum Archaeological Park superintendent Alfonsina Russo defended the plan, telling The Associated Press the Airbnb agreement was one of several deals to help finance projects at the historical site.

For example, Italian fashion brand Tod’s previously funded a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Colosseum, including cleaning, replacing the locking system of arches with new gates and redoing the subterranean areas.

Culture ‘commodification’

But Rome’s councillor for culture Massimiliano Smeriglio said the plan encouraged the “commodification” of culture.

“We understand the needs … to strengthen the meritorious work of conservation and restoration, however with this initiative, once again, a principle of commodification and consumption of culture is reaffirmed,” he wrote on Instagram, asking Airbnb to cancel its plan but leave the deal’s agreed figure of $1.5 million ($2.3 million).

“We cannot turn one of the most important monuments in the world into a theme park.”

The involvement of Airbnb, which is widely considered to be driving housing shortages for locals in major global tourism destinations by encouraging short-term rentals, also added another layer to criticism.

Visiting from Naples, Salvatore Di Matteo told The Associated Press the Airbnb-Colosseum deal was “yet another takeover of the territory” by big companies.

“If they start to touch sacred monuments such as the Colosseum here in Rome, it is obviously something that should make us think and is, in any case, a bit worrying,” he said.

Jaime Montero, a tourist visiting from Madrid, said the current purpose of the Colosseum was to be a tourist attraction, not an  amusement park.

“In the end, tourism eats the essence of the cities, here in Rome, as in other capitals,” Montero said.

The Colosseum, once capable of seating tens of thousands of spectators, was one of the most important amphitheatres constructed in Ancient Rome.

Today, it draws more than seven million visitors every year.