A rare snowstorm brought Rome its first snowfall in six years and disrupted transport, shut down schools and prompted authorities to call in the army to help clear the streets.
Residents woke to a city blanketed in snow as chilling winds from Siberia swept across Europe, bringing freezing temperatures that have claimed at least four lives.
The Italian capital’s first snowfall since February 2012 saw about three to four centimetres settling on the ground on Sunday.
Schools were closed in the city on Monday as local authorities opened several train stations as emergency shelters for the homeless.
British and American students were captured on camera as they took part in a snowball fight, singing their respective national anthems as they pelted each other with snowballs in St. Peters Square in the Vatican.
A rare snow storm in Rome on Monday disrupted transport, shut down schools and prompted authorities to call in the army to help clear the streets. Pictured, the Colosseum
A snow-capped St. Peter’s Basilica is seen after Rome was hit by its first snowfall in six years, disrupting transport in the city
Residents woke to the city’s first snowfall in six years on Monday as chilling winds from Siberia swept across Europe,
Schools and public offices were closed and snow-removal crews were in place as Rome was on high alert for the winter blast. Pictured, a couple kiss in front of the Colosseum on Monday
It was zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in Rome on Monday morning, with a low of minus six Celsius forecast until Wednesday – but no more snow is forecast.
The ‘Beast from the East’, as the phenomenon has been dubbed, is expected to bring cold air from Russia over the next few days that will make it feel even chillier than thermometers indicate.
Rome’s Mediterranean climate and proximity to the sea usually result in mild winters, such that restaurants often keep outdoor seating open even through the coldest months of the year.
Therefore, Monday morning’s snowfall – though not huge in quantity – brought excited young Romans out for a rare snowball fight or walk in the slush.
The city, which is not equipped to deal with snow emergencies due to their rarity, asked other areas to send in snow ploughs to help clear roads.
Then, Italy’s civil protection agency decided to send in the army to clear snow-clogged streets in Rome after the Arctic storm paralysed the capital with just a few inches of snow.
RAI state radio also announced that the civil protection agency was rounding up its volunteer corps on Monday to help commuters stranded at railway stations.
Schools were ordered closed in the Italian capital, where many people could not reach their places of work. Police asked residents to stay at home if possible.
This Ventusky map shows the path of an Arctic storm that is bringing chilling winds from Siberia across to western Europe
Italians ventured outside to play in the few inches of snow that settled outside the Colosseum in Rome overnight
British and American students (above) were captured on camera as they took part in a snowball fight in St. Peter’s Square
The students sang their respective national anthems as they pelted each other with snowballs in St. Peters Square
Tourists from across the world came together to play with the snow in the iconic St. Peter Square in the Vatican on Monday
A young priest throws a snowball at others in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after Rome woke to several inches of snow
Monday’s storm covered the city with the most snow it has seen in six years and the most for the end of February in decades
Shawn Roser, from Venice, Florida, a student at the North American college in Rome, throws a snowball in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Monday
Seminarians of the Pontifical North American college in Rome play in the snow that blanketed St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican
Local police patrol in front of St. Peters Basilica after the square in the Vatican was covered by snow on Monday
St. Peter’s Basilica is seen in the background as young people work on snowmen in the streets of the Italian capital
Sculptor Francesca Antonello moulds snow into a face as people look out towards the ancient Roman Forum covered in snow
A view of Rome’s snow-capped skyline, with the Monument of the Unknown Soldier seen at right, after snowfall on Monday
Piazza del Popolo (The People’s Square) in Rome is seen covered in snow after much of Europe was hit by bitterly cold weather
Mayor Virginia Raggi had signed an ordinance on Sunday evening closing public schools as a precaution, and many private ones followed suit.
Only one runway was operating at Rome’s main airport, Fiumicino. The Italian capital’s second airport, Ciampino, was closed overnight and workers were clearing a runway to allow it to reopen on Monday morning.
Italian aviation officials said Ryanair, which uses Ciampino as it Italian hub, had decided to cancel all flights to and from the airport. But they said most of Italy’s other main airports were open despite delays to some flights.
Piazza Venezia, Rome’s central square which is usually a cacophony of car horns and a tangle of traffic, was eerily empty, quiet and white as dawn broke.
Romans woke up to juts a few inches of snow, but enough to create a winter wonderland atmosphere around the Eternal City
Parks which usually stay green throughout the winter were blanketed with snow, giving eager sledgers rare snow runs
People enjoy the snow in the spot that was once an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium then called Circus Maximus
A man carries a sledge up a slope at the Circo Massimo in Rome, on Monday after it was hit with more than 4cm of snow
Even the Circo Massimo became a hotspot for snowball fights, attracting adults and children who sledded down slopes
The area around Rome’s famous ancient Roman chariot racing stadium was transformed into a winter wonderland
Armed with skis and sleds, young and excited Romans headed to the Circo Massimo to enjoy the rare snow day
Men posing as a centurions brandish their swords in front of the Colosseum after it was covered by snow during a rare storm
An excited man pelts a friend with a snowball outside the Colosseum as Romans enjoyed the unusually cold weather
A tourist takes a selfie in front of the Colosseum after the Italian capital was hit by its first snowfall since February 2012
Snow settled around the Colosseum in Rome, where a rare snowfall dumped enough snow to force schools to close
People took their pets for walks at Villa Borghese in the Italian capital despite the city being disrupted by snow on Monday
Schools were closed on Monday as authorities opened several train stations as emergency shelters for the homeless
The residents of Rome are seen in front of the Spanish Steps to enjoy the unusual weather in the Italian capital
People enjoy the snow outside the Pantheon in Rome after the heaviest snow in six years forced schools in the city to close
A bike covered in snow in Piazza di Spagna in Rome, pictured left, and right, the snow-covered Spanish Steps in the city
A man is pictured as he carries his skis up the Spanish Steps during a heavy snowfall in Rome on Monday morning
Mayor Virginia Raggi signed an ordinance on Sunday evening closing public schools as a precaution, and many private ones followed suit. Pictured, the Trevi fountain is covered in snow
The Italian capital’s first snowfall since February 2012 saw about three to four centimetres settling on the ground on Sunday
The Spanish Steps are seen blanketed in snow after an Arctic storm passing over much of Europe dumped snow on the city
A monument is covered by snow during heavy snowfall in Rome, where the Mediterranean climate usually brings mild winters
Parks which usually stay green throughout the winter were blanketed with snow, giving eager sledgers rare snow runs.
In St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, priests and seminarians threw snowballs at each other.
Even the Circo Massimo became a hotspot for snowball fights, while the Piazza Navona, with its famed Bernini fountains, turned into a snow-dusted winter wonderland.
Elsewhere in much of northern and central Italy, the storm also closed schools and disrupted transport.
The city, which is not equipped to deal with snow emergencies due to their rarity, asked other areas to send in snow ploughs to help clear roads
Italy’s civil protection agency decided to send in the army to clear the snow-clogged streets in the city. Pictured, municipal workers clear snow from a footpath
The Colosseum is seen covered by snow as extreme cold weather is forecast to hit many parts of Europe with temperatures plummeting to a possible ten-year low
Tourists stand in front of the Colosseum in Rome after the famous landmark was covered with snow after a storm on Monday
Statues atop the Altare della Patria are seen covered by snow on Monday after the heaviest snowfall in Rome in six years
The Fori Imperiali, once the centre of the Roman Empire, is seen covered by snow in Rome on Monday morning
Several inches of snow is seen covering the ruins of the Fori Imperiali, one of the city’s major attractions, on Monday
Monday morning’s snowfall – though not huge in quantity – brought excited young Romans out for a rare snowball fight or walk in the slush
A resident traced the word ‘Roma’ in the heavy snow in front of the Altare della Patria in the city on Monday morning
Countless footsteps can be seen in the snow leading to Saint Angelo Castle in downtown Rome after the storm hit the city
A priest walks past the The Arch of Constantine, between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, as a snowfall blanketed the city
People take pictures of Via della Conciliazione, close to Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican, after it was covered by snow
A wintry blast of freezing temperatures swept across Europe on Sunday, blanketing the city of Rome with a layer of snow
A rare blanket of snow covering Rome on Monday morning made the Italian city appear even more beautiful than ever
RAI state radio also announced that the civil protection agency was rounding up its volunteer corps on Monday to help commuters stranded at railway stations
A man stands in front of the ancient Colosseum in Rome after area around it was covered by the snow on Monday
Scooters are covered in snow after chilly weather from Siberia swept across Europe, bringing a few inches of snow to Rome
A bicycle is seen covered by snow in front of the Colosseum during heavy snowfall in the city that disrupted public transport
Some parts of the city was blanketed by 5cm of snow after the Arctic storm moved across Europe. Pictured, the Colosseum
A man walks his bicycle through the snow in downtown Rome, Italy, after the city was hit by the heaviest snowfall in six years
The extremely chilly weather from Siberia swept across Europe, reaching Nice (pictured), France, on Monday
People walk through the snow along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice after the Arctic weather swept across Europe