Rome blanketed in heavy snow

In St. Peter's Square, priests and seminarians from the Vatican threw snowballs at each other. Rome rarely sees snow, but when it does, public transport grinds to a near halt. Rome's Mayor Virginia Raggi even ordered public schools closed, and many private ones followed suit.

The Colosseum was shut along with the nearby Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, while authorities urged people to stay at home as much as possible.

Of course, these kids did not follow these instructions, but took their chances and went to play in the snowy parks of the city.

Rome's Mediterranean climate usually results in mild winters. On this account restaurants often keep outdoor seating open even through the coldest months of the year.

Roman parks that usually stay green through winter were blanketed with snow, and even the Circo Massimo became a hotspot for snowball fights, while Piazza Navona, with its famed Bernini fountains, turned into a snow-dusted winter wonderland.

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. Rome’s major airport Fiumicino, was forced to operate with only one runway during the night, when 10 cm (4 inches) of snow fell in less than four hours.