Italy: Man sentenced for building fake Roman amphitheater

An Italian court has finalized the conviction of 69-year-old Franco Malosso for constructing and operating a fake Roman amphitheater near Vicenza. Malosso was sentenced to 28 months in prison and fined €3,000 for crimes including the falsification of works of art, unauthorized construction, and damage to a protected landscape.

Between 2014 and 2016, Malosso operated the site, known as the Anfiteatro Berico, in Arcugnano. He charged tourists up to €40 per person to visit the 5,000-square-meter complex, which he claimed was an ancient site discovered after a landslide. To enhance the illusion, he used modern materials such as concrete, plaster, fiberglass, and artificially aged stones to create columns and statues.

Malosso fabricated historical narratives to deceive visitors, claiming the site had links to the Neolithic period, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire. He even falsely asserted that historical figures like Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had visited the location. The deception was uncovered in 2016 by the Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Artistico after investigations revealed the structure was a contemporary construction.