The culture ministry has won a legal
battle that will enable its plan for an new archaeological park
around the Colosseum, ran by a director appointed via an
international selection process, to go ahead.
Italy's top administration court, the Council of State,
upheld an appeal by the ministry to overrule the verdict of a
lower court, the Lazio TAR.
The city of Rome had petitioned against the plan.
"We can start afresh," said Culture Minister Dario
Franceschini.
In February the selection process to appoint a general
manager for the newly created Colosseum Archaeological Park was
launched with an international call for applicants on the
culture ministry's website - www.beniculturali.it.
The successful candidate will sign a four-year contract and
have an annual salary of 145,000 euros, plus bonuses of up to
35,000 euros.
In addition to the Colosseum itself, the archaeological park
also includes the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and the Domus
Aurea.
Franceschini said Tuesday that "in 2017 the Colosseum may
have seven million visitors".
He also spoke about the controversy over where the revenues
from the new park will go, stressing that "not one euro ever
went to the city of Rome" from the Colosseum.
He added that the government's plan will see 30% of Colosseum
revenues going to Rome superintendency activities.
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