Pompeii officials have dismissed claims that Madonna was going to hold a “mega-party” in the excavations of the site, saying the rumours were “unfounded” after the reports sparked fury among heritage experts.
Reports circulated this week that Madonna was due to throw a birthday party dinner in Italy, inviting 500 guests to dine in the Large Theatre, the 2,200-year-old amphitheatre on Pompeii’s archaeological site.
The restored theatre, built around the middle of the second century BC, is now sometimes hosts drama and music performances.
However, officials from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii released a statement this week about the rumours, saying that they were baseless.
“Regarding the rumours circulating in the press these days about a “mega-party” of an international celebrity with 500 guests in the excavations of Pompeii, as well as about an alleged rent of €30,000 for the Large Theatre, the Archaeological Park specifies that these are unfounded reports,” they wrote in the translated release.
The rumours made headlines earlier this week, with outlets reporting that an American events company was believed to have booked the Unesco World Heritage site for a mere €30,000 for Madonna’s 66th birthday on Friday.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica reportedly quoted Carmine Lo Sapio, the mayor of Pompei, saying he had been contacted about the event and said “We are ready to welcome the singer,” according to various outlets.
While the Pompeii archaeological site has now denied the rumours, this was not before the claims sparked outrage with heritage authorities, who criticised the use of publicly owned historical and cultural sites.
Michele Campisi, the general secretary of the Italia Nostra heritage association, asked, “Why does Madonna need to go to Pompeii? Is there not a more beautiful beach she could use?”
“€30,000 is absurd. It’s like giving Pompeii away,” he added, according to The Times.
Rosanna Carrieri, the president of the Mi Riconosci, a cultural pressure group, said that while the space had been used for events such as fashion shows, she warned against the use of the site as a “scenic backdrop” for “exclusive” events.
Madonna, who is said to have Italian…
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