Rome’s Colosseum and Pantheon to stay open later in August
From 1 August 2026 Italy’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, together with the municipality of Milan, will run a pilot that extends the opening hours of several key monuments for the whole month of August. The Colosseum will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 19:45 to 23:30, while the Pantheon will be open daily from 19:00 to 23:00 except on Thursdays. In Milan, the Castello Sforzesco will remain open each day until 19:30, two hours beyond its usual closing time. The experiment aims to alleviate heat‑related discomfort, reduce peak‑time crowding and make cultural sites more accessible during cooler evening hours. Culture minister Alessandro Giuli said the extensions “offer a unique opportunity to experience two universal testimonies of history and human ingenuity,” and tourism minister Gianmarco Mazzi noted that cultural tourism now contributes about €58 billion to the national economy. Ticket prices stay unchanged, but advance reservation is advised because capacity may be limited.