Italian students on Thursday occupied the Leaning Tower of Pisa and barged into the Roman Colosseum as part of nationwide protests against the government's proposed reform of the university system and budget cuts.

Around 20 students entered into the tower, while hundreds of them formed a cordon in front of the object preventing tourists from visiting it, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Foreign tourists observed the scenes in disbelief, while many of them took photos of the students at the top of the freestanding bell tower of an XI century cathedral, at the Cathedral square in Pisa.

Later during the day, tens of students separated from the line of protesters , and managed to enter the Roman Colosseum.

Around 1,000 students occupied five main bridges across river Arno in Pisa, blocking the traffic, and in Perugia, Torino and Salerno students gathered on university buildings’ roof tops.