The first major snowfall in Rome for 26 years has led to the closure of the world-famous Colosseum over fears that tourists could slip on the icy ruins.
The cold weather also left buses struggling to drive up the Italian capital's slush-covered roads and cars without tyre chains were temporarily ordered off the road.
Scores of vehicles were blocked for hours on the city's ring road after cars skidded and crashed.
Drivers, frustrated at waiting for accidents to be cleared, ended up abandoning their cars.
About 6cm (2.4in) of snow fell in many areas of the capital.
As well as the Colosseum, authorities stopped visitors from entering the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the former home of Rome's ancient emperors.
However, those already inside the ruins before heavy snow began to fall were allowed to finish their visits.
The north of Italy was hit far harder than Rome with heavy falls of about 40cm (1ft 4in).
Authorities appealed to Italians to avoid unnecessary travel as the cold spell was forecast to continue.
The last substantial snowfall in Rome occurred in 1986, though lighter snowfalls have occasionally and briefly blanketed the city since, including in 2010.
In Bosnia, snow trapped people in their homes and cars and even prevented the presidents of neighboring Serbia and Croatia returning home from a summit meeting.
More than a metre (3.3ft) of snow fell on the capital, Sarajevo, keeping most people in their homes while about 30 people had to spend the night in their vehicles in a tunnel south of the city.
At least 122 people have died in Ukraine as a result of the bitterly cold weather that has swept the country over the past week, the emergencies ministry said.
Twelve people died in hospitals and 32 in their homes while 78 succumbed to the cold on the streets, it said.
More 3,000 shelters have been set up to provide people with warmth and food.
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