Italy: Man jailed for creating fake ancient Greek amphitheater

Franco Malosso, the owner and creator of a purported ancient Greek amphitheater near Arcugnano in Italy's Veneto region, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison. The conviction follows a decade-long legal battle regarding the falsification of artworks, unauthorized construction, and the destruction of a protected landscape.

Malosso had constructed the 5,000-square-meter site from scratch using modern materials, including cement, plaster statues, and stones from Puglia, which were then artificially aged to appear ancient. He successfully deceived tourists and local authorities, even securing a place in EU-funded tourist guides. Visitors were charged up to 40 euros for entry and as much as 600 euros for private tours.

Despite the fraud, the site maintained a five-star rating on TripAdvisor, with reviewers describing it as a ‘magical place’ and ‘unique on the planet.’ Archaeologists have characterized the deception as ‘diabolical,’ noting that the site's purported Greek origins were geographically impossible for that northern region of Italy.