In anticipation of this year's Jubilee, tighter security measures are being implemented in Rome including banning centurion impersonators, who pose with tourists in photos, at the ancient Colosseum amphitheatre.
This year's Jubilee will also see spruced parks and pizzas at the Italian capital. Considered as the Catholic Church's most important events, the Jubilee of the Catholic Holy Year brought millions of pilgrims to Rome in 2000 but has suffered fewer visitors the following years because of security concerns.
The city hall said that these kinds of money-making schemes could be dangerous in areas likely to get crowded when the Jubilee
'These individuals often act inappropriately, they are persistent and at times aggressive,' it said in a statement. Offering rides in rickshaws and other wheeled vehicles has also been forbidden in some parts of town, and roving salesmen peddling tours or museum tickets has also been prohibited, News reports.
The city hall reports that the Roman soldiers come from poorer communities in Rome and travel for hours to report for work at Rome's historic center.
Back in 2011, a similar situation happened in Rome when police have arrested 20 gladiator impersonators in an operation outside the Colosseum in Rome, BBC reports. The suspects were intimidating and attacking their competitors to monopolise the business in tourist spots in Rome.
Considered as one of the most famous landmark in Rome, the Colosseum was in built in 1st century AD, can seat 45,000 spectators and is the largest Roman amphitheatre in the world.
It is originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the family name of the emperors who built it. The name 'Colosseum' was not used until 7th century.
Used for gladiatorial combats, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology, the arena was restored by Emperor Alexander Severus in about 230 AD.
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