Pop icon Madonna made sure all eyes were on her as she celebrated turning 66 with a stunning photoshoot while in Italy for an exclusive party with her friends and family

Queen of pop Madonna made sure to have a very fitting 66th birthday celebration.

She marked the occasion with a string of celebrations across Italy. Madonna turned 66 in style and even headed to an ancient Romana ampitheatre in Pompeii. She is believed to have toured Pompeii’s Teatro Grande and met with teenagers involved in the Dream of Flying community project.

The Hung Up hitmaker “aimed to connect” with the UNESCO world heritage site and dazzled with a series of stunning outfits. Madonna took to her Instagram to share a carousel of photos from her trip as she said: “‘Back in Italy………… Happy Birthday to ME.” The pop icon was dressed by Dolce and Gabbana for the photoshoot.

Madonna had a photoshoot to mark her birthday (Image: INSTAGRAM)

The pop icon turned 66 (Image: INSTAGRAM)

It included a series of sultry bedroom snaps as she wore a light pink corset, fishnet tights and sheer gloves reaching all the way up her arms. She looked gorgeous with her blonde locks in loose waves, smokey eye makeup and a nude lip while posing on a pink satin bed. In another photo, Madonna wowed in red as she became inspired by Roman design with a feathered cape and gold jewellery covering her forearms.

The Material Girl star donned a black lace number for a tabletop shoot as she lit a cigarette with a candlestick. Madonna sizzled in a form-fitting black gown with lace detailing across the arms and bottom. She added a large pearl necklace with a cross and wore oversized black sunglasses.

In a stunning finale photo, Madonna wore a black lace bustier with a sheer white organza and lace dress. She accessorised with a gold body piece and large gold earrings. It has been reported the music star planned to host a party for 500 A-listers in the ancient ruins of Pompeii. She reportedly hired the 2,200 year old Teatro Grande amphitheatre for her birthday extravaganza.

She headed to Italy for her celebrations (Image: INSTAGRAM)

Madonna wore a series of stunning outfits (Image: INSTAGRAM)
However, the news did not go down well with some Italians, who slammed the superstar’s choice of venue and complained that she paid just 30,000 Euro for the booking. 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.” And 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 held her exclusive birthday parties in the country. She has previously partied 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.

The singer has previously hit out at a ‘ world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45’, saying she is determined to be a trailblazer to ensure females following in her footsteps will have ‘an easier time in the years to come’.