What we're really talking about here is fraud. That a bunch of unscrupulous, unwashed Italian blokes from the rag end of Rome have been scamming tourists for years in front of some of the most spectacular ruins in the world, comes as no surprise. What has been surprising, though, is the negative effect their dirty work has had on our own increasingly popular shared Rome tours, all of which have taken years to develop.
CNN, BBC, The Guardian, Sky News, all suffering from UK riots burn out, decided to headline a story about undercover police in Rome dressing up as the Praetorian Guard, waste disposal experts, and tourists - to infiltrate groups of cash-crazy fake gladiators. Their mission was to get the lowdown on what is upsetting so many people in such beautiful places when the sun is shining and everyone else is out and about enjoying the city.
Tourists have been complaining for years about being charged up to thirty euros for a "gladiator photo", and if they didn't pay up, threats were made and cameras taken. When news broke of fisticuffs between semi-official and totally illegal "fake gladiators" who prey on unsuspecting tourists for perhaps the most expensive photo ever, that is unless you've crossed swords with the gentleman from Bangladesh who charges plenty for a pretty poor polaroid pic of you and your inebriated mates on Campo dei Fiori - it didn't just go local, it went global.
In so far as we are concerned, police intervention against the uniformed touts and heavy news coverage of what transpired (arrests) compromised our Rome tour bookings, particularly Coliseum tour bookings. An unrelated search for Vatican tours unearthed another article by The Guardian about the gladiatorial scandal. The story was everywhere and millions were reading about it.
After flatlining for some 36 hours, bookings eventually picked up. It was as if everyone soon to be visiting or already in Rome really believed that the entire city was set up to rip them off, when in fact the only people intent on doing so are randomly corrupt cab drivers, occasionally twisted restaurant staff - and fake gladiators. When in Rome, avoid these people at all costs!
Eternal Tours Rome is one of the first ever Rome tour operators, serving revelatory private tours of Rome for curious travellers since 2008. In that time, we have curated over 40 unique tours of Rome and day trips from Rome with flexible ticket options for all the museums and archaeological sites in Rome, Florence, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
June 02, 2023
Taoiseach Kenny eviscerates the Vatican!
Pardon the exclamation mark, as none of the above will come as any surprise to those of us who have been following reports of sexual child abuse in the church in County Cork, Ireland. No help has been forthcoming from the Vatican, and Irish bishops claim that they have been somewhat left out in the cold. What help they required above and beyond proper implementation of 1996 legislation "Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a Church Response", however, is still in need of clarification.
The latest problem involves the Cloyne Report of July 13th. Findings detail the nefarious activities of Cloyne Bishop John Magee, former secretary to three popes. He paid scant attention to cases of sexual child abuse which landed on his desk as recently as 2008. The report states that in his lengthy communications with government officials, Magee claimed that his diocese was correctly reporting all allegations of clerical child sexual abuse to the civil authorities. In fact, he misled an inquiry team and his own advisors. Magee devised a plan to create two separate accounts, one for Vatican officials and another comprising diocesan files relating to his meeting with a friend priest suspected of abusing children, in order to delay an inquiry and "help" his friend.
Parliamentary debate and the ensuing judicial report, made public on July 20th, hinted that the Holy See hindered investigations only indirectly, as a result of extended administrative delays.
Whether or not any of this should concern visitors to the Vatican Museums on one of our Vatican tours is debatable, however, we are of the opinion that it is important to publish material which reminds tourists in Rome that all is not well behind the high walls of the Holy See.
The latest problem involves the Cloyne Report of July 13th. Findings detail the nefarious activities of Cloyne Bishop John Magee, former secretary to three popes. He paid scant attention to cases of sexual child abuse which landed on his desk as recently as 2008. The report states that in his lengthy communications with government officials, Magee claimed that his diocese was correctly reporting all allegations of clerical child sexual abuse to the civil authorities. In fact, he misled an inquiry team and his own advisors. Magee devised a plan to create two separate accounts, one for Vatican officials and another comprising diocesan files relating to his meeting with a friend priest suspected of abusing children, in order to delay an inquiry and "help" his friend.
Parliamentary debate and the ensuing judicial report, made public on July 20th, hinted that the Holy See hindered investigations only indirectly, as a result of extended administrative delays.
Whether or not any of this should concern visitors to the Vatican Museums on one of our Vatican tours is debatable, however, we are of the opinion that it is important to publish material which reminds tourists in Rome that all is not well behind the high walls of the Holy See.
The whys and woes of Vatican tours
An amazing Vatican tour during the busy high season of July and August is what every tourist wants. However, for every bona fide tour operator and great Vatican tour guide, there are hundreds of illegals. They hang round the Vatican 18 hours a day, gathering and even guiding unsuspecting tourists through what is more often than not the worst Roman holiday experience imaginable.
Imagine a weary eyed back-packing student inviting you to join an "official" Vatican tour as soon as you arrive at the metro station closest to the Vatican museums. This is normal. These gatherers are recruited by tour operators that rent poky offices on the streets that encircle the Vatican City. They call visitors to the Vatican "McDonalds tourists". All of this is an ugly fact of Vatican, indeed Rome tourism that needs to be policed with 100% more conviction.
Almost every street corner around the Vatican museums is owned by (mostly) unlicensed guides, definitively illegal gatherers, and more than a few money laundering Vatican tour operator owners. Most of these are American, Columbian, Cuban and Egyptian. When in Rome, as it were... The bottom feeders are from Bangladesh (also known as "Bindis" by the aforementioned tour operator...). Vast quantities of euros are handed over by tourists to these shady characters who can be very difficult to spot. No income tax, no VAT as anyone who grew up in eighties England will tell you. Better stay home and pick up that Trevor Francis tracksuit for a tenner. Viva Viale Sebastiano Veniero 19!
Imagine a weary eyed back-packing student inviting you to join an "official" Vatican tour as soon as you arrive at the metro station closest to the Vatican museums. This is normal. These gatherers are recruited by tour operators that rent poky offices on the streets that encircle the Vatican City. They call visitors to the Vatican "McDonalds tourists". All of this is an ugly fact of Vatican, indeed Rome tourism that needs to be policed with 100% more conviction.
Almost every street corner around the Vatican museums is owned by (mostly) unlicensed guides, definitively illegal gatherers, and more than a few money laundering Vatican tour operator owners. Most of these are American, Columbian, Cuban and Egyptian. When in Rome, as it were... The bottom feeders are from Bangladesh (also known as "Bindis" by the aforementioned tour operator...). Vast quantities of euros are handed over by tourists to these shady characters who can be very difficult to spot. No income tax, no VAT as anyone who grew up in eighties England will tell you. Better stay home and pick up that Trevor Francis tracksuit for a tenner. Viva Viale Sebastiano Veniero 19!
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