Despite many tried defiantly to keep living their life, the crowd around the Colosseum was smaller this year compared to 2015, when some 40,000 presences had been estimated, according to both Italian media and authorities.

Gian Cesare from Bergamo, an Italian tourist who gave only his first name, admitted Brussels attacks almost made his family change their plan.

“We had this vacation in Rome already planned for the Easter weekend, but my wife was scared and thought of calling off the trip,” the man told Xinhua.

His 16-year-old son also felt worried, and Gian Cesare had almost to “drag both of them here”.

Once amid the multitude gathered at the Colosseum, however, the family looked quite at ease, and felt reassured by the security they found.

“Police cannot do more than what they are doing, and I find they carry out their job efficiently,” he said.

“The situation itself is particularly hard to tackle, since the threat we face is not like that of a conventional war,” the man explained.

“This would be a good reason for European security forces to join their efforts and coordinate better, but I am not confident this will happen any soon,” he added.

The Good Friday vigil was the opening event of a series of Easter celebrations usually attended by large crowds, and a first testing challenge for Italy’s security forces.

Anti-terror units were deployed to reinforce the police and army presence during the whole festivities, and a no-fly zone over Rome’s airspace declared since the Catholic Jubilee kicked off remained in place.

Franco Gabrielli, the prefect of Rome in charge of all the activities regarding the Jubilee, earlier this week stressed that “the level of attention was absolutely in line with the situation, not just for the special events like the Via Crucis, but for everything.”

Another vigil was to be held in St. Peter’s basilica on Saturday evening, while 15,000 to 20,000 people were expected to attend the Easter mass celebrated by the pope in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Xinhua/NAN