The images are unmistakable. Two tourists climb over the gate at the entrance to the Colosseum at night and enter the protected area. An Instagram post from the Welcometofavelas account documents the state of degradation and abandonment around one of the symbols of the capital. One only needs to read the comments below the post to understand just how delinquent has now become a practice: evidence reports consistent violations, with impromptu picnics and couples choosing to separate themselves from the most popular options.
A complaint saying that the Colosseum was “disturbed” draws attention to the archaeological park again two weeks after the concert of rapper Travis Scott, organized at the Circus Maximus and accompanied by controversy and “alarms” that today may seem excessive in the face of the photographed situation with images of greetings in the favelas. The artist’s show, watched and danced by 60,000 people, fueled a debate about protecting Rome’s heritage. The director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Alfonsina Russo, intervened the day after the rapper’s performance. Both young and old danced and jumped so much during the evening that many complained about the earthquake effect caused by the performance. “Given what happened, including with regard to public safety, as well as the preservation and protection of the archaeological heritage,” Russo explained to AdnKronos, “we will give a negative opinion about such events. Personally, I think that the Great Circus is a monument and as such it should be respected and held only and exclusively for concerts of a certain type, for example, opera, ballet. Musical performances, but not rock concerts, which, in my opinion, should be moved to the appropriate premises or stadiums.