Saturday now car-free in addition to Sunday

The second experimental phase of pedestrianisation along Rome's Via dei Fori Imperiali, which began on 28 June, will continue until 25 October and not the originally scheduled date of 31 August.

During that time the street, which runs parallel to the Roman Forum, will remain closed to private traffic between Piazza Venezia and Largo Corrado Ricci at the bottom of Via Cavour.

The traffic ban will be in force 24 hours a day but does not apply to taxis, registered chauffeur-driven cars and tourist buses, which must turn off Via dei Fori Imperiali at Largo Corrado Ricci onto Via Cavour, when driving in the direction of the Colosseum.

The stretch between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum is now completely pedestrianised all weekend after the city recently added Saturday to the traditional Sunday closure from 09.00-19.00.

The only vehicles permitted to use the entire length of Via dei Fori Imperiali, from the Colosseum to Piazza Venezia, are public buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles.

Also until 25 October the timetable for the limited traffic zones (ZTL) in the historic centre will be extended by an hour, remaining active until 19.00.