The Fake Amphitheater in Arcugnano
In the hills of northern Italy, just over three miles south of Vicenza, stands a structure that for years attracted visitors with promises of ancient history. Eight TripAdvisor reviews all give it five-star praise, with one calling it "an enchanting place," another "a world beyond space and time," and a third "unique on the planet." The "amphitheater" near Arcugnano, in the Veneto region, was presented as a 2,000-year-old Greek site, purportedly visited by Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and even Juliet Capulet. But as it turned out, the theater was anything but ancient.
According to reports from CNN and CP24, the site was built from scratch by Franco Malosso, the owner, creator, and self-styled discoverer of the nearly 54,000-square-foot "ancient" site. Malosso, who also went by the name Von Rosenfranz, employed a local construction firm to build seating and steps, which he had artificially aged. The construction used newly quarried stone from Puglia, cement, and polystyrene, according to court documents shared with CNN. He even instructed builders to "make it look old." The theater went by three names: Anfiteatro Berico, Anfiteatro Marittimo Berico, and Anfiteatro Porta degli Angeli.
The Deception and Discovery
Malosso charged visitors up to 40 euros ($46) to see the fake site. Out-of-town visitors were reportedly charged 12 euros, while locals paid 40 euros, and private group tours were said to be available for 600 euros ($692) for 45 minutes. He claimed to be the legal representative of the landowner, a business based in the British Virgin Islands.
The site was discovered by local law enforcement in October 2016, reported to the authorities two years after it opened. The inspection was concluded in a single day because it was clearly fake, as reported by CNN. The site was on UNESCO-protected Berici Hills landscape, and the inspection was carried out by a representative of the local heritage board and police from the Carabinieri's art squad, the Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Artistico. Lt. Col. Giuseppe Marseglia, commander of the TPC in Monza, said that in his 25 years in the force, he had never seen or heard of an entire archaeological site being faked.
The Legal Battle and Aftermath
After a 10-year legal battle, Malosso was convicted in 2019 for forging works of art, carrying out building works without authorization, and destroying a protected landscape. He lost an initial appeal in 2020, and his final appeal to the Corte di Cassazione was rejected. The sentence included a 28-month jail term and a fine of 3,000 euros plus 3,500 euros in legal fees. The site has been sequestered, and Malosso was ordered to tear down the theater. The mayor of Arcugnano said he would not spend public money on the removal.
Since Malosso's original conviction, the law has been tightened to allow sentences of up to five years for forgery, as reported by both CNN and CP24.
Expert Perspectives
Experts quoted in the reports pointed out several flaws in the fake site. Darius Arya, a Roman historian, and Mauro Puddu, an archaeologist, noted that the building was a fan-shaped theater, not an amphitheater, which is oval. It was not near the sea, despite the name Anfiteatro Marittimo Berico, and there was no ancient "Angels' Gate" at the sitestant. Peter Matthaes, a forensic archaeologist, and Andrea Rosignoli, an architect, also contributed insights. They pointed out that the ancient Greeks only colonized farther south, not as far north as Vicenza, and that the site was about 50 miles from the coast.
Current State of the Site
The entrance to Malosso's theater is still visible, with a modern-looking stone wall and a huge metal gate. The site is now covered by undergrowth. The case has scandalized Italy, a country that just edges out China for the most UNESCO World Heritage sites and is home to many legitimate Greek and Roman theaters, from those of Syracuse and Pompeii to the amphitheater of Verona, 40 miles west of Arcugnano.
Prosecutors said Malosso told visitors that he had discovered the site after a landslide and advertised it to the public starting in 2014. Malosso had originally applied for planning permission to build a garage, but instead had the theater constructed.
As one review noted, the site was "unique on the planet" — but not in the way the visitors imagined.