Centurion impersonators near Colosseum banned

Rome has banned centurion impersonators who charge to scowl in photos around the Colosseum amphitheatre and frequently come under fire for their pushy tactics with tourists.

The Italian capital is imposing extra security measures and sprucing up parks and piazzas as it gears up to host a Catholic Holy Year, or ‘Jubilee’, that could draw millions of tourists.

City hall said the Roman soldiers, many of whom hail from the poorer periphery and commute for hours to the historic centre, pose risks both to people’s safety and the “respectability” of the city’s monuments.