An Italian fraudster has been sentenced to prison for constructing a fake Roman amphitheater and charging visitors £35. Franco Malosso ‘von Rosenfranz’ falsely claimed that the site, located near Vicenza, was the world’s oldest open-air amphitheater with ancient ruins dating back to before 393 AD. However, an investigation revealed that the artifacts on the site were fabricated using modern materials like fibreglass and papier-mâché, including a man-made lake.
Malosso, 69, spun elaborate tales to tourists about historical figures supposedly associated with the amphitheater, such as Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet. Despite his outlandish claims of being a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and orchestra conductor, Malosso managed to deceive even the local government, leading to the site’s inclusion in a tourism app funded by the EU.
The fraudster alleged that he had discovered the Berico Maritime Amphitheater in 2005 after a landslide exposed Neolithic, Greek, and Roman artifacts. Promotional materials touted the amphitheater as the “oldest and largest” of its kind, claiming it to be among the most spectacular in the world. However, police investigations in 2016, aided by archaeologists, revealed that there were no genuine ancient structures, and Malosso had artificially flattened the hill.
Rather than admitting to the fraud, Malosso escalated his deception by creating a blog post in 2017, falsely accusing the mafia of involvement in the amphitheater and claiming multiple murders and personal attacks. He also falsely asserted that the amphitheater had undergone restoration in the 19th century. After a prolonged legal battle spanning a decade, Malosso was convicted of illegal construction, forgery of artworks, and unauthorized artifact production. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, fined €3,000, and ordered to clear the area.