Tourists ripped off at popular landmark by 'impossible' ticketing schemes attract investigation

Many travelers who visit Rome, Italy, find themselves at one of the most iconic architectural marvels in the world: the Colosseum.

And now tourists visiting the famed Colosseum may have an easier time of it, as Italian authorities have concluded a crackdown on ticketing policies that made it more difficult for visitors to access the landmark. 

The Italian Competition Authority found that agencies were exploiting tourists by using practices that made it harder for regular visitors to buy basic online tickets, according to The Associated Press (AP).

The fines against companies totaled $22 million, with the Cooperative Culture Society agency receiving the largest portion at nearly $8 million, AP reported. 

Authorities said the group "failed to take adequate steps to counter automated ticket hoarding … It [also] kept a sizable share of tickets for bundled sales tied to its own educational tours, which generated considerable profits."

The Cooperative Culture Society managed ticket purchases to the Colosseum from 1997 to 2024.

Approximately six million Americans traveled to Italy in 2023, according to the State Department.

The building has a surface area of six acres.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.