Tom Cruise, set to marry fiancée Katie Holmes near Rome later in the week, sparked a flurry of excitement in the Italian capital on Monday by arriving earlier than expected.
The Hollywood star landed at Ciampino airport on a private jet in the late morning and was whisked in a limo to a central Roman hotel, which was quickly besieged by photographers, reporters and fans.
"He's been my idol since I was a teenager. I can't miss this opportunity. Let me see him. Let me at least take a photo," said a 30-year-old Italian woman standing outside the Hassler Hotel near the famous Spanish Steps.
The number of people gathered in the street quickly caused a traffic blockage.
Despite the crowds, by early evening Cruise had not made an appearance and it remained unclear whether his bride-to-be was with him.
The pair are due to stage Italy's most glamorous wedding of the year at a lakeside castle in Bracciano, north of Rome, on Saturday. Festivities are scheduled to begin on Thursday.
The event is to be attended by a gallery of Hollywood stars flown in by actor friend John Travolta on his private plane. English soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria are also known to be on the guest list.
