Madonna's Pompeii party for 500 A-list guests sparks outrage among Italians after they discover just how 'cheaply' she is renting historic site for
Madonna's plans to throw a birthday party among the ancient ruins of Pompeii have sparked outrage among Italians as they discovered just how 'cheaply' she is renting the historic site for.
The Queen of Pop has reportedly hired the Teatro Grande, the 2,200-year-old amphitheatre 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 on holiday in the area.
The Italian Minister for Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano is also rumoured to be on the guest list, local media has reported.
Although the event is yet to be confirmed by the venue, Italian newspaper La Repubblica quoted the mayor of Pompeii 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 throw a birthday party among the ancient ruins of Pompeii have sparked outrage among Italians
Pictured: The Teatro Grande amphitheatre in Pompeii where Madonna will reportedly hold her birthday party
The Queen of Pop has reportedly hired the Teatro Grande, the 2,200-year-old amphitheatre in Pompeii, for her 66th birthday on August 16
The Italian Minister for Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano (pictured) is also rumoured to be on the guest list
The historic amphitheatre is now used to host drama and music performances
The historic amphitheatre, which now hosts drama and music performances, is believed to have been booked by an American events company for just €30,000 - with the price alone shocking Italians.
Michele Campisi, general secretary of the Italia Nostra heritage association said according to The Times: '€30,000 is absurd. It's like giving Pompeii away.'
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 cultural presence group Mi Riconosci, added that Italian heritage should not be used as a 'scenic background' for 'exclusive events'.
Madonna, who is of Italian descent on her father's side, has previously chosen to host her exclusive birthday parties in the country - with events held in Sicily and Puglia.
Her grandparents emigrated to the United States from Pacentro, Abruzzo, but she is named after her mother despite the name Madonna being of Italian origin.
Although the exact plans for the birthday party are yet to be confirmed, Madonna is expected to arrive in the area via the port of Marina di Stabia, close to Castellammare.
She will then make the 15-minute journey to the ancient Teatro Grande by car where the exclusive dinner will be held.
There are also rumours Madonna's birthday celebrations could continue afterwards on a mega-yacht in the Gulf of Naples.
Madonna hosts the Vogue Ball House Battle onstage on June 29 in New York
An aerial view of the Teatro Grande in Pompeii where Madonna reportedly will hold her birthday party
Rewind 2,000 years and Pompeii, 14 miles south-east of Naples, was a buzzing city. But on August 24, AD 79, 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, bodies of the victims at Pompeii were famously preserved in a protective shell of ash before they eventually decayed (stock photo)
Pictured: The ruins of Pompeii which was once a thriving Roman city in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius (stock photo)
Pompeii, once a thriving and wealthy Roman city with a population of around 11,000, was famously destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.
The catastrophic event destroyed the city as well as the settlements Herculaneum, Torre Annunziata and Stabiae, killing up to 16,000 in the process.
After the eruption, bodies of the victims at Pompeii were famously preserved in a protective shell of ash before they eventually decayed.
Since the mid 1800s, the voids that these bodies left behind were eventually filled with plaster casts to recreate their final moments.
Today, the ruins of Pompeii are a popular tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year.
The 2,200 year-old amphitheatre - where Madonna is reported to be hosting her 66th birthday party - was once one of the thriving hubs of the city.
The Queen of Pop also recently celebrated her son Rocco's birthday as she sent him a heartfelt message as he turned 24.
The pop star who shares Rocco with her former husband Guy Ritchie - wrote on Instagram on Sunday: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCCO— the long and Winding Road through all your many moods and incarnations has been tumultuous and full of surprises.
'But through it all — your curiosity, and Artistic Soul has been the glue that held us together.'
The Queen of Pop recently celebrated her son Rocco's birthday as she sent him a heartfelt message as he turned 24
Today, the ruins of Pompeii are a popular tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year
Madonna, who is of Italian descent on her father's side, has previously chosen to host her exclusive birthday parties in the country
The Material Girl singer finished: 'Thank God for Art. Thank God for you. We have been together for many lifetimes. Thank you for choosing me again. Love you for Eternity.'
In Sunday's birthday post, Madonna revealed Rocco had acting chops by sharing a video of him running lines in a cockney accent.
Another video, this one black and white, showed a very young Rocco laughing exaggeratedly to a joke from Lourdes.
The children sat at a restaurant table and the joke went: 'Knock knock. Who's there? Wilmer. Wilmer who? Wilmer lunch be ready soon?'
She also shared some of his fantastic artwork including a painting of Madonna from her younger years.
