Tourists were charged $65 each to enter this ‘ancient’ site. It was a fake

The AgeIndependentCenter5 hr. ago

Tourists were charged €40 ($65) to visit what was marketed as the 'Berico Maritime Amphitheatre,' an ancient site in northeastern Italy. However, the site was later exposed as a complete fabrication, with structures built in the early 2000s using modern materials disguised as antiquities. Franco Malosso von Rosenfranz, the site's curator, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for creating the fake archaeological site, forging artifacts, and violating building regulations. Local authorities, including the government, were initially deceived, incorporating the site into tourism promotions funded by the European Union. Investigations by Italian archaeologists and satellite imagery confirmed the site was entirely man-made, with steps made from stacked blocks, artificial lakes, and fake statues. Malosso falsely claimed the site was linked to historical figures like Julius Caesar and even suggested it was connected to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses a cultural hoax involving a fabricated archaeological site, with no direct reference to politics, governance, or public policy. The focus is on the deception committed by an individual and the subsequent legal consequences, making it a non-political story.

The Sydney Morning HeraldIndependentCenter5 hr. ago

A tourist attraction known as the 'Berico Maritime Amphitheatre' in northern Italy was revealed to be a modern-day fake. Franco Malosso von Rosenfranz, a 69-year-old self-proclaimed philanthropist and orchestra conductor, created the site by leveling a hill and constructing a replica using artificially aged materials. He charged visitors €40 to access the site, which was promoted as an ancient archaeological wonder. Local authorities, including the municipality of Vicenza, included the site in their tourism promotions, partly due to funding from the European Union. In 2016, an investigation by the Italian Carabinieri confirmed the site was a fraud, with archaeologists finding evidence that the structure had been built in the early 2000s. Malosso was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for forgery, unauthorized artifact production, and code violations. His claims included historical figures like Julius Caesar visiting the site and connections to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, all of which were proven false.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a criminal act involving fraud and misrepresentation, without overtly promoting any political ideology. While the incident involves local governance and public trust, the focus remains on the individual's legal actions rather than partisan agendas. The tone,