Fake Roman amphitheater scam in Italy leads to prison sentence

An entrepreneur in Arcugnano, near Vicenza, has been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a long-running tourism scam involving a fake Roman amphitheater. Franco Malosso von Rosenfranz claimed to have discovered the ancient site in 2005 following a landslide, falsely asserting it was a site visited by Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.

Investigations by Italian prosecutors revealed the structure was a modern fabrication built in the early 21st century using concrete, fiberglass, plaster, and papier-mâché. The site, which featured artificial columns and a man-made lake, was widely promoted and included in local tourist guides and an EU-funded application. Tourists paid up to 40 euros for entry to the site, which also hosted lectures and concerts.

Malosso, 69, is serving a prison sentence of approximately two years for the forgery of cultural goods and illegal construction. The court has ordered the demolition of the unauthorized structures and the restoration of the hillside to its original state. The municipality of Arcugnano is seeking damages, while local authorities face the challenge of funding the significant costs associated with the demolition.