Yes, it really did snow in Maranello!

Thick snowflakes fell on Rome recently, forcing the closure of the Colosseum over fears tourists would slip on the icy ruins, and leaving buses struggling to climb the city's slushy hills. Other parts of the country experienced frigid temperatures unseen in years.

The last substantial snowfalls in Rome were in 1986, though lighter snowfalls have occasionally blanketed the city since, including in 2010. Since the capital is usually blessed with a temperate climate, heating in homes is only allowed by law for about 10 hours a day, to cut down on pollution.

The cold snap, with temperatures hovering around the freezing point, meant Romans were shivering in their homes, many with tile and marble floors.

Luca Fornetti owns the famous shop further north in Maranello across the street from the Ferrari factory known as Shopping Formula 1. He took these photos showing the front yard with the Ristorante Cavallino off to the right. Across the Abetone you can see the famous arch entryway of Ferrari. Now you know why the F1 press conference was cancelled.