Photos: Italy’s Colosseum welcomes visitors again

The Colosseum in Rome reopened its doors to the public along with Italy's other cultural sites in a step towards post-coronavirus normality after almost three months of closures.

The Italian capital's ancient amphitheatre welcomed visitors but without the normal queues of tourists and amid stricter security measures.

The Colosseum is a national symbol of Italian culture and the reopening ceremony had a celebratory air, attended by military officers and government officials.

There are a series of new security measures to avoid any fresh infections at the site. To enter the building visitors must pass in front of an electronic device that records their temperature and ensures they are wearing a mask.

Visitors stand by the Colosseum monument. From June 3, visitors from within the European Union will also allowed to travel for the first time to Italy, but borders remain closed to tourists from further afield.

Jets from the Italian Air Force acrobatic unit Frecce Tricolori (Tricolor Arrows) fly over the Colosseum.

A view shows a cross in the Colosseum monument.

A view shows the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Visitors view the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A visitor walks across the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Visitors (C) followed by a member of security staff, walk across the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A visitor takes a photo at the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A guide wearing a face shield conducts a tour for visitors at the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

TOPSHOT - A view shows the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Visitors walks across the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A girl poses for a photo on a terrace of the Colosseum monument overlooking the Arch of Constantine (Rear L) as the Colosseum reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A general view shows the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Visitors (C) go through security checks at the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

The Temple of Venus and Roma (Rear C) is viewed from the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE

A visitor walks across the Colosseum monument which reopens to the public on June 1, 2020 in Rome, while the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. The Colosseum monument reopens on June 1, 2020 after having been closed since March 8, 2020, with adequate sanitary protection for staff and visitors, secure routes, compulsory reservations and modified schedules to avoid crowds at peak times. / AFP / Filippo MONTEFORTE