$800mn Ben Hur-based theme park to be built in Italy

Washington: A theme park, costing 800 million dollars, is being built in Rome based on movie classic Ben Hur.

Oscar-winning production designer Dante Ferretti is doing the job of creating the park, Cinecitta World, which will be modelled on Hollywood`s Universal Studios and also draw inspiration from the iconic movies shot in the historical city, most notably the work of legendary director Federico Fellini, reports Contactmusic.

The park will occupy part of producer Dino De Laurentiis` former studio south of the city, according to Daily Variety.

Construction is slated to begin next year (10).

The park is likely to open in 2011.

ANI