Men dressed as gladiators near the Colosseum demand €10-20 after "letting" you photograph them.
Plan your Italy trip →Men in costume (gladiators near the Colosseum, in Piazza Navona, at the Trevi Fountain) pose with tourists, initiate photos, then demand €10-20 per photo. They target families with children and anyone holding a camera. If you refuse to pay, they become confrontational.
Don't engage. Don't pose. If they jump into your photo uninvited, delete it in front of them and walk away. If they demand money for an unsolicited interaction, say "Non ho chiesto la foto" (I didn't ask for the photo) and leave. They rely on social pressure — being firm removes their leverage.
Note: Rome police periodically crack down on these operators. They're technically illegal but perennially present. The city has been trying to ban them for decades.
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