Madonna’s Pompeii party for 500 A-list guests sparks outrage among Italians after they discover how ‘cheaply’ she rents historic venue
Madonna’s plans to throw a birthday party among the ancient ruins of Pompeii have sparked outrage among Italians, who discovered how ‘cheaply’ she was able to rent the historic venue.
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.
About 500 celebrity guests are expected, including possibly Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, who are already on holiday in the region.
According to local media, Italy’s Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, is also said to be on the guest list.
Although the venue has not yet confirmed the event, Italian newspaper La Repubblica quoted the mayor of Pompeii as saying: “We are ready to welcome the singer.”
And the Queen of Pop’s Italian fan club has already announced on Facebook that they are ‘preparing’ for her arrival.
Madonna’s plans to throw 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 hosting her birthday party
The Queen of Pop has reportedly rented the Teatro Grande, the 2,200-year-old amphitheater in Pompeii, for her 66th birthday on August 16
Rumor has it that Italy’s Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano (pictured), is also on the guest list
The historic amphitheater is now used for theater and music performances
The historic amphitheater, which now hosts theater and music performances, was reportedly booked by an American events company for just €30,000. The price alone is a shock to Italians.
Michele Campisi, secretary general of the heritage association Italia Nostra, said according to The Times: ‘€30,000 is absurd. It’s like giving away Pompeii.’
He also wondered why Madonna had to go to Pompeii for her birthday and couldn’t go to a “beautiful beach.”
Rosanna Carrieri, president of the cultural presence group Mi Riconosci, added that Italy’s heritage should not be used as a “scenic backdrop” for “exclusive events”.
Madonna, who is of Italian descent on her father’s side, has previously chosen to celebrate her birthday parties exclusively in the country, with events in Sicily and Puglia.
Her grandparents emigrated to the United States from Pacentro in Abruzzo, but she was named after her mother, despite the name Madonna being of Italian origin.
While exact plans for the birthday party have not yet been confirmed, Madonna is expected to arrive in the region via the port of Marina di Stabia, near Castellammare.
She then drives 15 minutes by car to the ancient Teatro Grande, where the exclusive dinner takes place.
There are also rumors that Madonna could continue her birthday celebrations on a mega yacht in the Gulf of Naples.
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An aerial view of the Teatro Grande in Pompeii, where Madonna is said to be having her birthday party
Back in time, 2,000 years later, Pompeii, 14 miles southeast of Naples, was a bustling city. But on August 24, 79 AD, it was destroyed by the eruption of nearby Vesuvius.
Located on the west coast of Italy, Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland.
After the eruption, the bodies of victims at Pompeii were famously preserved in a protective shroud of ash before they eventually decayed (stock photo)
Pictured: The ruins of Pompeii, once a thriving Roman city in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius (stock photo)
Pompeii, once a thriving and prosperous Roman city with a population of about 11,000, was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The disastrous event destroyed the city and the settlements of Herculaneum, Torre Annunziata and Stabiae, killing about 16,000 people.
After the eruption, the bodies of the victims in Pompeii were preserved in a protective covering of ash before they eventually decayed.
From the mid-19th century onwards, the holes left by these bodies were eventually filled with plaster casts, to reconstruct 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 reportedly celebrated her 66th birthday, was once one of the city’s thriving centers.
The Queen of Pop also recently celebrated her son Rocco’s birthday, with a heartwarming message when he turned 24.
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 despite everything — your curiosity and Artistic Soul were the glue that held us together.”
The Queen of Pop recently celebrated her son Rocco’s birthday, sending him a heartfelt message as he turned 24
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 with, “Thank God for art. Thank God for you. We’ve been together for many lifetimes. Thank you for choosing me again. Love you for eternity.”
In Sunday’s birthday post, Madonna revealed that Rocco can act, sharing a video of him singing his lines in a cockney accent.
In another clip, this time in black and white, a very young Rocco was seen laughing exaggeratedly at a joke made by Lourdes.
The children were sitting at a restaurant table and the joke was, ‘Knock knock. Who’s there? Wilmer. Wilmer who? Wilmer, will lunch be ready soon?’
She also showed some of his fantastic artwork, including a painting of Madonna from her younger years.