Extreme Weather in Rome Damages Colosseum

Severe snow and cold in Rome have taken a toll on one of its architectural wonders, the Colosseum.

The Colosseum had to shut its doors to tourists after bits of the massive structure crumbled and fell, AccuWeather is reporting. The loosening of plaster masonry and stone was attributed to ice forming on the walls, according to government spokesman Cristiano Brughitta. The damage is a result of what is known as the "freeze-thaw cycle." Brughitta called the cold wave exceptional. "Maybe every 30 years it gets this cold, but it's very rare."

Most nights this month have been subfreezing in the city, weather data accessed by AccuWeather.com show. Moreover, there have been two outbursts of snow that have left an accumulation of wet snow on parts of the Colosseum.