Gladiators, Colosseum Heroes — this is more than a simple exhibit. It marks MARQ’s first major international showing after the pandemic and its debut visit to Spain. The collection presents a rare view of fighters, correcting the distorted image often spread by cinema and literature and offering a closer look at the real lives of ancient competitors.
The exhibition opened on April 13, and MARQ announced an extension to allow visitors to experience the show beyond the original closing date of October 16, extending the stay in Alicante to November 20. The decision will be presented to the executive committee on Wednesday, October 5, and then submitted for patron approval after Italian institutions backing the exhibit indicated their agreement with the plan. [MARQ Foundation]
The extension responds to strong public reception. By last Friday the exhibit had drawn 78,000 visits, and planners are weighing the next international show that will occupy MARQ’s three temporary spaces.
The Xian Warriors exhibition had been expected to take over, but its arrival has faced delays — initially for diplomatic reasons and then due to the covid pandemic — since its 2018 announcement. The Alicante Provincial Assembly recognizes the current challenges but maintains an open door to negotiating the inclusion of these unique terracotta figures, though it is unlikely they will replace the gladiators in the immediate future as MARQ continues its talks. [Provincial Assembly]
The expansion plan enjoys support from the Vice President and the Vice President for Culture, Julie Parra. Following the strong welcome and sustained interest, Parra says it is a great chance to extend the stay in Alicante through November 20, expanding access to the exhibition and its parallel events.
With this, Parra states, “A new opportunity is offered to the people of Alicante and visitors to enjoy this special collection focused on gladiators at MARQ, complemented by an extensive program of parallel activities.”
78,000 visits
As of last Friday, the count stood at 78,000 visits, with the initial closing date of October 16 already factored in. The public response is seen as a sign of recovery and a return to pre-pandemic normality. [MARQ Statistics]
140 reasons to explore the world of gladiators at MARQ
In fact, the Gladiators: Colosseum Heroes exhibition has already surpassed the numbers reached by the Etruscan exhibition Dawn of Rome, which drew 77,000 visitors during a longer run from August 21 to March 2022. It has not yet surpassed the Cradle of Civilizations exhibit, which exceeded 100,000 visitors from March 14 to September 1, 2019. [MARQ Exhibition Records]
Across the show, pieces from Italy’s most renowned cultural institutions — including the Naples National Archaeological Museum and the National Museum of Rome — have traveled to MARQ, bringing together about 140 artifacts and works. Visitors from Australia, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and France have engaged with the collection, underscoring the global reach of the display. [Italian and International Partners]
From January to mid-September, MARQ hosted more than 100,000 visitors to the Gladiators display, with about 90,400 from Spain and 14,600 from other countries, notably England, France, Eastern Europe, the Americas, and Scandinavia. Within Spain, fans came especially from Madrid, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Murcia. The summer program also drew strong numbers, logging 43,524 visits by September 18, following a July 1 start. Alicante’s regional authorities note that the figures reflect a robust post-pandemic return to cultural life and describe the summer of 2022 as among the best in the last decade. [Alicante Provincial Council]