Rome Opens Its Nights to Tourists as Florence Watches

Rome is testing a new strategy this summer to cope with the twin pressures of heatwaves and overwhelming crowds: opening its most famous tourist sites at night. According to France 24, the initiative covers museums, parks, archaeological sites, monuments, villas, and historic residences, allowing visitors to explore the Italian capital's heritage after dark.

The experiment comes as southern Europe swelters through another summer of extreme temperatures, and as historic centres from Rome to Florence struggle to manage visitor numbers that saturate daytime attractions.

For Florence, the implications are direct. The Tuscan capital's Uffizi Gallery and Accademia draw millions each year, and its narrow medieval streets are often overwhelmed in peak season. Night-time openings could offer a template for spreading visitor pressure across more hours of the day.