Costumed centurions and skip-the-line tour promoters flout Rome ban.

Rome police surprised six costumed centurions in the act of pestering tourists for photograph souvenirs outside the Colosseum metro station, in violation of the city's ban.

The six individuals, aged between 26 and 56, were fined €400 each and had their costumes confiscated.

They also received a 48-hour ban, or daspo urbano, from returning to the Colosseum area, along with additional fines of between €100 and €300 each. 

Police also caught five illegal skip-the-line ticket touts, or saltafila operators, in the act of promoting tours outside the Colosseum, also banned by the city.

Between them the five tour promoters received fines totalling €1,800.

Photo Corriere della Sera