Photos show first visitors returning to Europe's most famous monuments as they open to the public again

Sophia AnkelJun 27, 2020, 14:25 IST

A worker wearing a protective mask cleans a divider made of plexiglass at the entrance of the Acropolis in Athens on May 18, 2020.Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images

Cities around the world are reopening their famous landmarks to the public after they were shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.
From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Colosseum in Rome, several countries are hoping to attract tourists back after months of lockdown that left the world-famous monuments eerily deserted.
But officials are still cautious: safety measures including social distancing stickers and a rule on face coverings have been implemented in some venues.
Scroll down to see how some of the world's most popular landmarks are reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Acropolis in Athens, some of the world's most famous landmarks are to open to visitors again as more lockdown restrictions are lifted.

For months, famous galleries, public squares, and landmarks were deserted as millions of people were instructed to stay at home and shelter from the novel coronavirus.

But now, cities are reopening and famous landmarks will again be able to greet tourists and visitors.

But post-lockdown, officials have put a range of safety measures in place, including making face coverings mandatory and placing social distancing stickers on the floor.

Scroll down to see how some of the world's most popular landmarks are reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For months famous landmarks were left looking like ghost towns after millions of people were ordered to stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Getty/Miguel Medina

But now, these monuments are finally reopening to visitors as countries begin to gradually lift their COVID-19 lockdown measures.

Italy has reopened its borders, allowing tourists to come back to iconic sights like Rome's Trevi Fountain. Getty/Franco Origlia

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower reopened to the public this week. It has been on a three-month shutdown — the longest closure since World War II.

People wearing protective face masks visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France on June 25, 2020. Reuters/Charles Platiau

Source: NPR

But visitors still need to follow health safety measures. For example, instead of taking an elevator to the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower, people have to climb the (many) stairs for now...

People wearing protective face masks climb the stairs as they visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on June 25, 2020. Reuters/Charles Platiau

To avoid having people cross each other on the stairs, those ascending will go on the Eiffel Tower's East pillar and those descending on the West pillar, according to the official Eiffel Tower website.

But visitors still need to follow health safety measures. For example, instead of taking an elevator to the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower, people have to climb the (many) stairs for now...

...and social distancing markers have also been put down. Anyone above the age of 11 is required to wear a face mask while visiting.

A sign which indicates social distancing is seen at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on June 25, 2020. Reuters/Charles Platiau

Photos of the queue to climb the tower show a much smaller crowd than you would usually see at the iconic tower that draws 7 million visitors a year.

People maintain social distance as they queue to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France on June 25, 2020. Reuters/Charles Platiau

Source: Eiffel Tower official website

The world-famous Louvre museum in Paris is also planning on opening its doors to visitors on July 6, but will only make 70% of its galleries accessible.

The route in the Louvre to Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", which is protected by bullet-proof glass, is regulated on June 23, 2020, in Paris, France. Sabine Glaubitz/picture alliance via Getty Images

Source: New York Times

The world's largest museum, which usually welcomes around 10 million visitors a year, will control visitor numbers through its online ticketing system.

In the reception area of the Louvre, there are signs indicating the prescribed course on June 23, 2020. Sabine Glaubitz/picture alliance via Getty Images

Source: New York Times

The Palace of Versailles has also opened its golden gates to the public again, with photos showing queues that were almost back to normal.

A queue outside one of the entrances to Chateau de Versailles as the palace is reopened on June 6, 2020. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Meanwhile, in Athens, the ancient Acropolis site has also started welcoming visitors again after two months of shut down.

Tourists enter at the entrance of the Acropolis on May 18, 2020, in Athens, Greece. Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The site can host around 2,000 people at the same time and the use of masks is strongly advised.

Greece, which successfully clamped down quickly on the COVID-19 outbreak, is now eager to get its economy started again.

A couple takes selfie picture next to a sticker marking social distance in front of the Parthenon temple on the archeological site of the Acropolis in Athens on May 18, 2020. Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images

While the Acropolis site is outdoors and can host up to 2,000 people at a time,only a limited number of tourists will be allowed in, and safety measures, including plastic dividers, will encourage them to respect social distancing rules.

Tourists take photos behind plexiglass at the entrance of the Acropolis on May 18, 2020 in Athens, Greece. Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Source: Euronews

While the Acropolis site is outdoors and can host up to 2,000 people at a time,only a limited number of tourists will be allowed in, and safety measures, including plastic dividers, will encourage them to respect social distancing rules.

Italy, which was one of the worst-affected countries in the world, has also started opening its world-famous sites.

A man cycles past the Trevi Fountain, in Rome, Italy on May 23, 2020. Reuters

One of the most-visited sites in the world, the Roman Colosseum, is being appreciated by a trickle of vistors...

People wearing protective masks wait to visit the Colosseo on June 10, 2020, in Rome, Italy. Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Colosseum's director, Alfonsina Russo, said it had been "surreal" seeing the empty landmark during the three-month closure, adding: "It's a symbol of Rome and of Italy."

"But the sense of emptiness highlighted the great beauty of this place and its fragility," Russo told AFP.

The Colosseum's director, Alfonsina Russo, said it had been surreal seeing the empty landmark during the three-month closure, adding: It's a symbol of Rome and of Italy.

But the sense of emptiness highlighted the great beauty of this place and its fragility, Russo told AFP.

...although it looked refreshingly empty compared to the masses of people that are usually standing in queues in front of it.

A general view shows the majestic Coliseum monument in Rome, Italy, on June 10, 2020. Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pictures of Venice, one of Italy's most-visited cities, people again lining up in front of the Doge's Palace.

Tourists are waiting to enter the Doge's Palace, which reopened on June 13, 2020, in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Other landmarks are also seeing similar crowds again, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa...

Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa opens to the public following the social distancing rules, on May 30, 2020. Enrico Mattia Del Punta/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Visitor numbers to the 14th-century tower are being restricted to 15 at a time, according to the BBC. It gets around 5 million visitors annually.

...the Duomo in Florence...

Tourists queue to enter the Baptistery, one of the most ancient churches in Florence, Italy, on May 22, 2020. Laura Lezza/Getty Images

But even in Italy, where there hasn't been a wave of the virus yet, officials remain cautious. The country has seen more than 34,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the beginning of the outbreak.

Sign on the rules and safety distances inside Florence Cathedral of Florence as it reopens following closure due to the coronavirus outbreak on May 22, 2020. Laura Lezza/Getty Images

Source: Johns Hopkins University

But even in Italy, where there hasn't been a wave of the virus yet, officials remain cautious. The country has seen more than 34,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the beginning of the outbreak.

...and the Milan cathedral.

Young women walk across Piazza del Duomo in front of the cathedral on June 3, 2020, in central Milan, Italy. Miguel Media / AFP via Getty Images

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Photos show first visitors returning to Europe's most famous monuments as they open to the public again

For months famous landmarks were left looking like ghost towns after millions of people were ordered to stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

But now, these monuments are finally reopening to visitors as countries begin to gradually lift their COVID-19 lockdown measures.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower reopened to the public this week. It has been on a three-month shutdown — the longest closure since World War II.

But visitors still need to follow health safety measures. For example, instead of taking an elevator to the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower, people have to climb the (many) stairs for now...

...and social distancing markers have also been put down. Anyone above the age of 11 is required to wear a face mask while visiting.

Photos of the queue to climb the tower show a much smaller crowd than you would usually see at the iconic tower that draws 7 million visitors a year.

The world-famous Louvre museum in Paris is also planning on opening its doors to visitors on July 6, but will only make 70% of its galleries accessible.

The world's largest museum, which usually welcomes around 10 million visitors a year, will control visitor numbers through its online ticketing system.

The Palace of Versailles has also opened its golden gates to the public again, with photos showing queues that were almost back to normal.

Meanwhile, in Athens, the ancient Acropolis site has also started welcoming visitors again after two months of shut down.

Greece, which successfully clamped down quickly on the COVID-19 outbreak, is now eager to get its economy started again.

While the Acropolis site is outdoors and can host up to 2,000 people at a time,only a limited number of tourists will be allowed in, and safety measures, including plastic dividers, will encourage them to respect social distancing rules.

Italy, which was one of the worst-affected countries in the world, has also started opening its world-famous sites.

One of the most-visited sites in the world, the Roman Colosseum, is being appreciated by a trickle of vistors...

...although it looked refreshingly empty compared to the masses of people that are usually standing in queues in front of it.

Pictures of Venice, one of Italy's most-visited cities, people again lining up in front of the Doge's Palace.

Other landmarks are also seeing similar crowds again, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa...

...the Duomo in Florence...

But even in Italy, where there hasn't been a wave of the virus yet, officials remain cautious. The country has seen more than 34,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the beginning of the outbreak.

...and the Milan cathedral.