Madonna’s plans to host a birthday party among the ancient ruins of Pompeii have sparked outrage among Italians who have discovered how “cheap” she is renting the historic site for.
The Queen of Pop has reportedly rented out the Teatro Grande, the 2,200-year-old amphitheater in Pompeii, for her 66th birthday on August 16.
Around 500 A-list guests are expected to attend, possibly including Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, who are already holidaying in the area.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano is also rumoured to be on the guest list, local media reported.
Although the event has not yet been confirmed by the venue, Italian newspaper La Repubblica quoted Pompeii’s mayor as saying: “We are ready to welcome the singer.”
And the Queen of Pop’s Italian fan club has already posted on Facebook that it is “preparing” for her arrival.
Madonna’s plans to hold a birthday party among the ancient ruins of Pompeii have sparked outrage among Italians
Pictured: The Teatro Grande amphitheater in Pompeii, where Madonna is reportedly set to celebrate her birthday party.
The Queen of Pop has reportedly rented out the Teatro Grande, the 2,200-year-old amphitheater in Pompeii, for her 66th birthday on August 16.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano (pictured) is also rumoured to be on the guest list.
The historic amphitheater is now used to host theatrical and musical performances.
The historic amphitheatre, which now hosts theatre and musical performances, is believed to have been booked by an American events company for just €30,000 – the price alone shocked the Italians.
Michele Campisi, secretary general of the heritage association Italia Nostra, said that according to The times:30,000 euros is absurd. It’s like giving away Pompeii.
He also questioned why Madonna needed to go to Pompeii for her birthday and couldn’t use a “beautiful beach” instead.
Rosanna Carrieri, president of the cultural presence group Mi Riconosci, added that Italian heritage should not be used as a “stage backdrop” for “exclusive events”.
Madonna, who is of Italian descent on her father’s side, has previously chosen to hold her exclusive birthday parties in the country, with events held in Sicily and Puglia.
Her grandparents immigrated to the United States from Pacentro, Abruzzo, but she is named after her mother even though the name Madonna is of Italian origin.
Although exact plans for the birthday party have not yet been confirmed, Madonna is expected to arrive in the area via the port of Marina di Stabia, near Castellammare.
You will then take a 15-minute drive to the old Teatro Grande where the exclusive dinner will take place.
There are also rumours that Madonna’s birthday celebrations could continue afterwards on a megayacht in the Gulf of Naples.
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Aerial view of the Teatro Grande in Pompeii, where Madonna is supposed to celebrate her birthday party
Going back 2,000 years, Pompeii, 22 kilometres south-east of Naples, was a bustling city. But on 24 August 79 AD, it was destroyed by the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius.
Located on the west coast of Italy, Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe.
After the eruption, the bodies of Pompeii’s victims were preserved in a protective shell of ash before they eventually decomposed (file photo)
Pictured: The ruins of Pompeii, once a thriving Roman city in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius (file photo)
Pompeii, once a prosperous and wealthy Roman city with a population of around 11,000, was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The catastrophic event destroyed the city, as well as the settlements of Herculaneum, Torre Annunziata and Stabiae, killing 16,000 people in the process.
After the eruption, the bodies of Pompeii’s victims were preserved in a protective shell of ash before they finally decomposed.
Since the mid-19th century, the voids left by these bodies were eventually filled with plaster casts to recreate their final moments.
Today, the ruins of Pompeii are a popular tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors each year.
The 2,200-year-old amphitheater, where Madonna is said to have celebrated her 66th birthday party, was once one of the city’s thriving centers.
The Queen of Pop also recently celebrated her son Rocco’s birthday and sent him an emotional message for his 24th birthday.
The pop star, who shares Rocco with ex-husband Guy Ritchie, wrote on Instagram on Sunday: ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCCO. The long and winding road through all your moods and incarnations has been tumultuous and full of surprises.
“But through it all, your curiosity and artistic soul were the glue that held us together.”
The Queen of Pop recently celebrated her son Rocco’s birthday and sent him an emotional message for his 24th birthday.
Today, the ruins of Pompeii are a popular tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Madonna, who is of Italian descent on her father’s side, has previously chosen to hold her exclusive birthday parties in the country.
The Material Girl singer concluded: “Thank God for art. Thank God for you. We’ve been together for so many lifetimes. Thank you for choosing me again. I love you for eternity.”
In Sunday’s birthday post, Madonna revealed that Rocco had acting chops by sharing a video of him reciting lines in a Cockney accent.
Another video, this one in black and white, showed a very young Rocco laughing exaggeratedly at a Lourdes joke.
The children sat at a table in a restaurant and the joke was: “Knock, knock. Who is it? Wilmer. Wilmer who? Wilmer, will lunch be ready soon?”
She also shared some of her fantastic artwork, including a painting of Madonna from her younger years.