Protesters Rome Colosseum entry made headlines on Saturday, October 24, 2026, when a group of young demonstrators got past secured entrances at the ancient landmark during anti-war marches in Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna and Florence. Security staff pushed them out, and the site was cleared quickly.
The protests were aimed at the war in Gaza, rearmament, rising living costs, and government policy. Many demonstrators waved Palestinian flags. In Rome, a small group broke away from the main march on Via Cavour and headed for the Colosseum.
Tensions also rose near government buildings in the capital, where protesters threw bottles at police. Officers responded with water cannons and tear gas. Before the march began, police took 43 young people to police stations after finding balaclavas, gloves and masks on them.
Authorities had braced for trouble after violent clashes and looting in Milan the previous weekend. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government sent 500 more soldiers to Milan and increased checks across the country. By the end of the day, nine people had been arrested nationwide and 87 reported to the authorities, according to the Department of Public Security.
Overall, the marches passed with far less violence than the week before, though isolated clashes were reported in several cities.
