Police later used water cannons as confrontations broke out elsewhere in Rome during nationwide protests over living costs, war and government policy.
ROME, ITALY — Protesters forced their way into the Colosseum on Saturday during demonstrations across Italy, briefly entering the ancient landmark before being escorted out, as a day of mostly peaceful marches later gave way to clashes between demonstrators and police in parts of Rome and other cities.
The Oct. 24 protests drew thousands of people into the streets of Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna and other cities amid anger over rising living costs, government policies and wars abroad. Authorities had prepared an unusually large security operation after violent demonstrations the previous weekend included clashes with police, looting and property damage. Saturday’s unrest was more limited, but confrontations were reported in Rome, Turin, Bologna and Florence.
In Rome, a group broke away from a larger demonstration and moved toward the Colosseum, where protesters removed or pushed through security barriers and entered the archaeological site. Videos and news reports showed demonstrators inside the grounds chanting before security personnel escorted them out. Italy’s Culture Ministry said no damage to the Colosseum and no injuries at the site had been reported. Accounts from Reuters and Italian media described the confrontation at the monument as tense but did not report clashes there.
The more serious confrontation in Rome developed later, when demonstrators moved through the city center and encountered police lines. Authorities blocked protesters attempting to advance toward government areas. Bottles and other objects were thrown toward officers during the standoff, according to Italian news reports, and police used water cannons and other crowd-control measures. ANSA reported clashes near the Quirinal Palace area after objects were thrown toward police vehicles. The demonstrators eventually moved away from the blocked route.
The events came after Rome police announced an expanded security plan for the weekend. Officers, carabinieri and other units were deployed around demonstrations that had been formally announced as well as gatherings promoted through social media. Police said surveillance included ground patrols and aerial monitoring. Before the marches began, officers identified more than 50 young people during preventive checks in central Rome, according to ANSA. Twenty, including a minor, were taken to police offices after authorities said they were found with items including masks, balaclavas and spray cans.
Security operations extended far beyond Rome. ANSA reported that authorities identified nearly 5,000 people nationwide during Saturday’s demonstrations and temporarily detained 371, including 110 minors. Nine people were arrested, according to the national tally. The figures covered several Italian cities and were not limited to the group that entered the Colosseum. Reuters reported that, unlike the previous weekend, its journalists did not observe shops being looted or property vandalized during Saturday’s demonstrations.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said after the protests that the right to demonstrate must be protected alongside the right of residents to live safely in their cities. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised police for what he described as containing violent groups while allowing peaceful demonstrations to continue. Their comments followed new security measures approved by Meloni’s government earlier in the week as authorities sought additional tools to respond to violent disorder and crimes involving young people.
The protests reflected several overlapping grievances rather than a single national campaign. Demonstrators in different cities marched over the cost of housing, fuel and other everyday expenses, while some groups protested Italy’s government, military spending or conflicts in the Middle East. Palestinian flags were visible at some demonstrations. In Milan, a large march remained largely peaceful under heavy security, while confrontations were reported in Bologna and Turin as some protesters challenged police lines.
The Colosseum incident drew particular attention because of the landmark’s global prominence and because the surrounding area was already subject to increased security controls. The Rome prefecture designated the Colosseum and nearby archaeological areas as a security “red zone” in August following earlier public-order problems. The measure increased police powers and patrols in one of the capital’s busiest tourist districts and was scheduled to remain in force through late December.
Authorities had been preparing for renewed unrest after demonstrations the previous weekend turned violent, particularly in northern Italy. In Milan, masked groups clashed with police, damaged property and looted stores during earlier protests. The possibility of another round of disorder led businesses to close or board up storefronts in some cities and prompted officials to deploy additional police and security personnel ahead of Saturday’s gatherings.
By the end of Saturday, authorities said the level of violence had not matched the previous weekend, although investigations into individual confrontations and alleged offenses were continuing. No damage was reported at the Colosseum following the protesters’ brief entry, and the archaeological site remained the most visible symbol of a broader day of demonstrations that tested Italy’s expanded security operation.
Author note: Last updated October 25, 2026.