WATCH: Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens with commemorative COVID-19 flash mob

WATCH: Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens with commemorative COVID-19 flash mob

Some of Italy’s major attractions are re-emerging from the country’s three-month coronavirus lockdown and beginning to welcome visitors again.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened on Saturday, with a flash mob held at the famous Italian site to commemorate those who lost their lives to COVID-19 and to attract visitors to the site.

https://www.facebook.com/TgrRaiToscana/videos/646864215864091/

According to The Guardian, the Leaning Tower – which usually attracts five million visitors a year – is only permitting 15 people to enter it at a time.

Visitors will also be required to wear face masks and an electronic device that warns them if they are less than a metre of anyone else.

The president of the board of directors responsible for the tower and surrounding monuments, Pierfrancesco Pacini, told Italian news agency Ansa: “Our budget will suffer heavy losses but we wanted to send a signal of confidence and hope.”

It comes as Italy’s much-loved tourist attractions begin to welcome visitors again – differently – following the lifting of lockdown measures put in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of 33,415 Italians.

Ahead of the country easing restrictions on inter-regional travel on 3 June, all sites and museums are reopening with strict safety measures in place for local residents.

The Colosseum and Vatican Museums opened on Monday with tourists required to wear protective masks and have their temperatures taken before entering.

Furthermore, entrance times at the Colosseum have also been staggered to discourage crowding and tickets must be bought online, according to news agency DPA.

The agency also reported reduced-price tickets will be available for afternoon visitors in an effort to encourage Romans to visit the monument at the end of their working day.

Elsewhere in Rome, a huge exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of the death of Renaissance painter Raphael opened on Monday at Le Scuderie del Quirinale.

While in Florence, the Uffizi gallery is set to open from Tuesday.

On Monday, Italy confirmed 355 new cases of COVID-19.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]