Roman fans queue at dawn for Elton John concert

Elton John’s Italian fans began queuing at dawn for a concert which the star is giving this evening outside the Colosseum in Rome.

The free concert will take place on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the large boulevard that leads to the Colosseum and is lined with ancient Roman relics.

“I love places that have an incredible history,” John said in taped remarks that were released to news organisations in advance of the concert.

“I love the Italian way of life, I love the food, I love the people, I love the attitudes of Italians.”

Sir Elton performed in Italy for the first time in 1973, according to a release from the Rome municipality.

Last year, a Simon and Garfunkel concert on the same stage drew hundreds of thousands of fans.

In 2003, Sir Paul McCartney also performed on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.