Rome Opens Its Sights to the Night to Beat Heat and Crowds

Rome is testing a new way to visit the city this summer: by opening its tourist sites at night. Faced with recent heatwaves and the large crowds that saturate historic locations during the day, the Italian capital has launched an initiative that includes museums, parks, archaeological sites, monuments, villas and historic residences, according to France 24.

The experiment comes as Rome contends with record summer temperatures and the strain of mass tourism on its most celebrated landmarks. Foreign visitors, who once packed the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums from dawn, are now being offered evening entry as a means of spreading footfall and easing pressure on the city's ancient infrastructure.

City officials have framed the move as a revolution in how the capital manages its heritage, according to the report. The night openings allow tourists to experience Rome's monuments in cooler air and softer light, while giving the city's daytime operations some relief.