An Italian fraudster has been sentenced to jail for constructing a counterfeit Roman amphitheatre and charging visitors £35. Franco Malosso ‘von Rosenfranz’ falsely claimed that the site, located near Vicenza, was the world’s oldest open-air amphitheatre with ancient ruins dating back before 393 AD. However, an investigation revealed that the artifacts on display were fabricated in the early 2000s using materials like fibreglass and papier-mâché, including a man-made lake.
Malosso, 69, spun elaborate stories to tourists about historical figures supposedly connected to the amphitheatre, such as Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet. Despite describing himself as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and orchestra conductor, Malosso’s deceit managed to deceive even the local government, leading to inclusion in a tourism app funded by the EU.
He claimed to have discovered the Berico Maritime Amphitheatre, unveiling Neolithic, Greek, and Roman artifacts after a supposed landslide in 2005. Promotional material touted the amphitheatre as the “oldest and largest, among the most spectacular in the world.” However, a police investigation in 2016 and subsequent archaeological findings debunked Malosso’s claims, exposing that no ancient structures existed and that he had artificially reshaped the land.
In a desperate attempt to mislead authorities, Malosso fabricated wild allegations in a blog post, suggesting mafia involvement and murders related to the amphitheatre. Despite the mounting evidence against him, he continued to make baseless claims about the amphitheatre’s history, including alleging restoration projects in the 19th century.
After a decade-long legal battle, Malosso was convicted on charges of illegal construction, forgery of artworks, and unauthorized production of artifacts. He received a two-year and four-month prison sentence, a €3,000 fine, and an order to clear the fraudulent site.
